HOUSTON ASTROS NEWS

Kyle Tucker - Runs bases, homers twice in live BP Tucker (lower leg) ran the bases and took live batting practice again Saturday, manager Joe Espada told SportsTalk 790.

Impact Houston's skipper noted that Tucker homered twice in live BP and said the outfielder is "getting close." Tucker cleared a major hurdle by running the bases -- typically one of the final steps before a player is cleared to return to a game setting. Sidelined since early June with a shin injury, Tucker suggested Friday that he's eyeing a return during the team's next homestand, which begins Sept. 6.

AUGUST 31 • ROTOWIRE

'Doing everything' he can, Tucker eyes return This story was excerpted from Brian McTaggart's Astros Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it reg...

AUGUST 31 • MLB.COM

Alex Bregman - Remains out Saturday Bregman (elbow) is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Royals, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Impact The third baseman will miss a second consecutive start due to elbow soreness, with Mauricio Dubon once again filling in at the hot corner. Bregman has been bothered by the elbow throughout August -- it cost him five games earlier in the month -- but there has been nothing to suggest an IL move will be necessary.

AUGUST 31 • ROTOWIRE

Ben Gamel - Pops first homer Gamel went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 3-2 win over the Royals.

Impact The journeyman outfielder led off the bottom of the third inning by driving a Seth Lugo fastball the other way into the Crawford Boxes. It was Gamel's first homer of the season, and his first long ball since Oct. 2, 2022 when he was a Pirate -- the 32-year-old has played for three major-league teams since then, including the Astros. Gamel appears to be working on the strong side of a platoon right now with Mauricio Dubon, seeing action in nine straight games and batting .367 (11-for-30) with two doubles, three RBI and six runs, but he figures to lose playing time once Kyle Tucker (lower leg) is ready to come off the IL.

AUGUST 31 • ROTOWIRE

Framber Valdez - Dazzles in no-decision Valdez came away with a no-decision in Friday's 3-2 win over the Royals, walking three batters over seven no-hit, scoreless innings. He struck out seven.

Impact The southpaw closed the books on August the same way he started it, by teasing a no-hitter, but Valdez left the mound after 98 pitches (60 strikes) with Houston clinging to a 1-0 lead that Josh Hader eventually squandered. The quality start was Valdez's 14th of the year, and he didn't give up more than three runs in any of his five August outings, posting a 1.59 ERA, 0.65 WHIP and 38:9 K:BB through 34 innings on the month. He'll look to keep rolling in his next start, which lines up to come at home next weekend against the Diamondbacks.

AUGUST 31 • ROTOWIRE

Royals look to stop losing streak in game against the Astros

The Kansas City Royals look to end their three-game slide with a victory over the Houston Astros

AUGUST 31 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

How to Watch Astros vs. Royals: TV Channel & Live Stream - August 31

Preview the August 31 matchup between the Houston Astros and Kansas City Royals with recent trends, how to watch, livestream info, and more.

AUGUST 31 • DATA SKRIVE

Astros Player Had One Request of Simone Biles After Throwing Out First Pitch Who could blame Houston Astros infielder Jon Singleton for getting a little starstruck after meeting 11-time Olympic medalist Simone Biles d...

AUGUST 31 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Astros Player Had One Request of Simone Biles After Throwing Out First Pitch Who could blame Houston Astros infielder Jon Singleton for getting a little starstruck after meeting 11-time Olympic medalist Simone Biles d...

AUGUST 31 • KANSASCITY.COM

Lugo tosses 'exceptional' outing in KC's loss to Astros HOUSTON -- Seth Lugo threw seven solid innings Friday night while the Royals nearly stole a victory from the Astros at Minute Maid Park. The...

AUGUST 31 • MLB.COM

USA Gymnastics Has Smug Reaction to Simone Biles' First Pitch at Astros Game The Houston Astros paid homage to the Houston-area Olympians prior to their 3-2 win over the Kansas City Royals on Friday, including USA gym...

AUGUST 31 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Astros edge Royals on Jose Altuve's walk-off double Jose Altuve socked a walk-off double with two outs in the ninth inning as the Houston Astros recovered from a gut punch in the top of that f...

AUGUST 31 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Altuve hits walk-off double to back Valdez's seven no-hit frames HOUSTON -- Jose Altuve’s walk-off double scored Jake Meyers from first base with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to send the Astros to t...

AUGUST 31 • MLB.COM

Framber Valdez holds Royals hitless through 7, Jose Altuve's hit in 9th lifts Astros to 3-2 win

Framber Valdez pitched seven no-hit innings and Jose Altuve hit a game-ending RBI double in the ninth to lift the Houston Astros to a 3-2 win over the Kansas City Royals

AUGUST 31 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Astros vs. Royals Prediction, Odds, Picks - August 31

Preview the August 31 matchup between the Houston Astros and Kansas City Royals with odds over/under, game spread, betting lines and more.

AUGUST 31 • DATA SKRIVE

Astros' Framber Valdez and Bryan Abreu lose no-hit bid in 8th on single by K.C.'s Isbel

Houston’s Framber Valdez and Bryan Abreu lost their no-hit bid with two outs in the eighth inning on Friday night on a single by Kansas City pinch-hitter Kyle Isbel

AUGUST 31 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Dodgers News: Recently DFA'd Dodger Aims for Fresh Start with Astros After Injury-Stricken Season After being designated for assignment, Jason Heyward joins the Astros seeking a new start in his career.

AUGUST 30 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Jon Singleton - On bench Friday Singleton is out of the lineup for Friday's game against Kansas City.

Impact Despite the right-handed Seth Lugo starting for the Royals, the lefty-hitting Singleton will take a seat. Victor Caratini will fill in at first base and is batting cleanup.

AUGUST 30 • ROTOWIRE

Alex Bregman - Dealing with elbow soreness Manager Joe Espada said that Bregman was not included in Friday's lineup against Kansas City due to elbow soreness, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Impact Bregman missed five games in August due to swelling in his right elbow, though he has started in each of the Astros' last nine games. It's unclear if the third baseman will be availalbe off the bench for Friday's contest. Over the nine games since his return, Bregman has gone 9-for-36 with two solo home runs.

AUGUST 30 • ROTOWIRE

Kyle Tucker - Aims to return next homestand Tucker (shin) said Friday that he will likely be activated from the 60-day injured list during the Astros' Sept. 6-12 homestand, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Impact Tucker ran at full speed and took a full round of live batting practice Friday. He still needs to run the bases at full speed, which is expected to happen soon. Tucker didn't totally rule out a return during next week's series in Cincinnati, but it sounds like the Astros' homestand is the much likelier scenario. He's been sidelined since early June with a bone bruise in his right shin.

AUGUST 30 • ROTOWIRE

Alex Bregman - Not in Friday's lineup Bregman is absent from the lineup for Friday's game against the Royals, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Impact Bregman had started each of the last nine contests following a five-game absence with an elbow injury, but he'll be given a day of rest Friday. Mauricio Dubon will occupy the hot corner for Houston.

AUGUST 30 • ROTOWIRE

Kyle Tucker - Taking live BP Tucker (shin) is taking live batting practice Friday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Impact The 27-year-old progressed to running full speed Friday and is now facing live pitching. The big hurdle left for Tucker is running the bases, which Astros manager Joe Espada said Thursday could happen soon after the outfielder recently began sprinting. A return in early September remains possible if he can continue progressing with no setbacks.

AUGUST 30 • ROTOWIRE

Josh Hader - Locks down 29th save Hader picked up the save over the Royals on Thursday, striking out one over a perfect ninth inning.

Impact Hader took over in the top of the ninth after the Astros had just taken a three-run lead on a four-run rally in the eighth. He then needed just 10 pitches to retire the side and secure his 29th save of the campaign. The veteran lefty is now just one away from reaching the 30-save mark for the fifth-consecutive season. Hader is also yet to allow an earned run in August while posting a 15:5 K:BB for the month.

AUGUST 30 • ROTOWIRE

Astros aim to benefit from bench play in rematch vs. Royals With their outfield production qualifying as suboptimal since the loss of injured All-Star Kyle Tucker in early June, the Astros’ recent add...

AUGUST 30 • SACBEE.COM

Hunter Brown - Third-straight quality start Brown did not factor into the decision in a win over the Royals on Thursday, allowing two unearned runs on two hits and two walks over 6.2 innings. He struck out four.

Impact Brown was efficient throughout the contest, allowing just one man to reach second through the first six innings. The right-hander then ran into some trouble in the sixth after a fielding error from Jeremy Pena led to a man reaching with one out in the frame. Brown was able to record the second out, but then issued a walk to MJ Melendez before being relieved by Bryan Abreu, who would see three runs come across for Kansas City while on the mound. It marked Brown's third-consecutive quality start and his fifth straight outing in which he allowed two or fewer runs. Perhaps the only downside is that he's also issued multiple walks in each of his last six starts.

AUGUST 30 • ROTOWIRE