AUGUST 26 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM
HOUSTON ASTROS 88-73 · 1ST IN AL WEST
88-73 · 1ST IN AL WEST
Philadelphia Phillies Welcome Houston Astros to the Bank The Philadelphia Phillies begin a three-game mid-week series with the Houston Astros on Monday.
Chas McCormick - Playing time vs. righties drying up McCormick is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Phillies, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Impact McCormick will hit the bench for the third time in the Astros' last four matchups with right-handed pitching. Slashing just .150/.224/.200 since the All-Star break, McCormick looks like he'll have to settle for a part-time role with Houston until his bat begins to come around.
AUGUST 26 • ROTOWIRE
Ben Gamel - Nabbing third straight start Gamel will start in right field and bat seventh in Monday's game against the Phillies, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Impact Gamel has now started in right field in four consecutive matchups with right-handed pitchers and seems to have settled into a strong side of a platoon at the position with either Chas McCormick or Mauricio Dubon (shoulder). Kyle Tucker (shin) should eventually take back an everyday role in right field, but he's without a clear timeline to return from the 60-day injured list. Gamel has gone 5-for-11 with two walks over his first four games since joining the Astros as a waiver pickup last week, and manager Joe Espada should continue to carve out a regular spot in the outfield for the journeyman while he's swinging a hot bat.
AUGUST 26 • ROTOWIRE
Mauricio Dubón - Exiting lineup Monday Dubon is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Phillies after he collided with the outfield wall in the bottom of the seventh inning of Sunday's 6-3 win over the Orioles...
Impact While playing left field Sunday, Dubon was in a full sprint while tracking down Ramon Urias' deep fly before his left side made full contact with the outfield wall, sending him tumbling to the ground. Dubon secured the catch on a backhanded grab for the final out of the inning, but he remained down on the field for a few moments until he was able to walk to the dugout under his own power. The Astros then lifted Dubon for a pinch hitter in the top of the eighth inning, with the 30-year-old admitting after the contest that he got the air knocked out of him in the collision and was feeling stiff from his neck down to his shoulder, per Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle. On a positive note, Dubon said follow-up tests revealed no major concern, so the Astros are seemingly viewing him as day-to-day. Dubon will see his streak of 12 consecutive starts come to an end Monday while he gets at least one game off to heal up.
AUGUST 26 • ROTOWIRE
Jose Altuve - Getting night off Altuve is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Phillies, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Impact Altuve will exit the lineup for just the sixth time all season in what appears to be a mental day off after he went 0-for-5 with three strikeouts in Sunday's 6-3 win over the Orioles. Shay Whitcomb will spell Altuve at second base while Alex Bregman climbs up from the two-hole to fill Altuve's usual spot atop the lineup.
AUGUST 26 • ROTOWIRE
Yordan Alvarez - Back in lineup in left field Alvarez (neck) will start in left field and bat second in Monday's game against the Phillies, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Impact Alvarez was on the bench for each of the Astros' last three games due to neck discomfort, but the team's willingness to use him in the outfield rather than at designated hitter Monday implies confidence in his health moving forward. He'll put an 18-game on-base streak on the line as he draws back into the lineup Monday. During that stretch, Alvarez has slashed .364/.475/.652 with five home runs and 12 walks against 10 strikeouts.
AUGUST 26 • ROTOWIRE
Houston Astros-Philadelphia Phillies free livestream: How to watch MLB game, TV, time The Houston Astros play against the Philadelphia Phillies in an MLB game this evening. Fans can watch this game for free online.
AUGUST 26 • AL.COM
Ryan Pressly - Throwing live batting practice Pressly (back) threw a live batting practice session Monday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Impact Everything seemed to go fine for the veteran reliever. Pressly is not expected to need a rehab assignment and is eligible for activation Thursday, so Monday's live BP session was likely the final hurdle he needed to clear before he's deemed fit to return. He's been out since mid-August with a lower-back strain.
AUGUST 26 • ROTOWIRE
2024 MLB Power Rankings: Dodgers or Yankees No. 1?
The Dodgers and Yankees surged, while the Orioles and Phillies treade water. All four landed in new spots in Ben Verlander's latest power ra...AUGUST 26
Ryan Pressly - Expected back when first eligible Pressly (back) threw another bullpen session Saturday and is expected to return from the injured list when first eligible, MLB.com reports.
Impact Saturday's activity marked Pressly's second bullpen session since being placed on the injured list. Manager Joe Espada also noted that Pressly won't need a rehab assignment, putting him in line to return Aug. 29.
AUGUST 26 • ROTOWIRE
Houston Astros Problems Could Be Solved by Landing This Flame-Throwing Japanese Star The Houston Astros haven't necessarily been a hot destination for free agents. That's due to many reasons, but their existing core is certai...
AUGUST 26 • SI.COM
Yusei Kikuchi - Allows just two hits in no-decision Kikuchi allowed three runs on two hits and three walks while striking out four over 5.2 innings in Sunday's win over the Orioles. He did not factor into the decision.
Impact Kikuchi cruised through four innings but allowed a leadoff single and then a walk in the fifth before Ramon Urias tied the game up on one swing a three-run homer. Kikuchi then went on to strike out the next three batters he faced but was pulled after a two-out walk in the sixth. Walks have been an issue for the lefty, as he's issued multiple walks in six of his last eight starts and hasn't reached six innings in any of them. Still, he's been a quality deadline addition for the Astros and now owns a 4.39 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 165:40 K:BB in 143.2 inning. Kikuchi lines up to face the Royals in his next start over the weekend.
AUGUST 26 • ROTOWIRE
Josh Hader - Locks down save No. 28 Hader walked a batter over a scoreless inning to pick up the save in Sunday's 6-3 win over the Orioles.
Impact Hader only threw five strikes out of the 12 pitches he needed to get through the frame. He began with a leadoff walk to Gunnar Henderson before getting a lineout and erasing the walk with a game-ending double play. Hader is now working on 11 straight scoreless appearances dating back to July 31. He's allowed just two hits and has posted a 12:4 K:BB while picking up eight saves over that span. He's sitting tied for fifth in baseball with 28 saves to compliment a 3.30 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 84:19 K:BB in 57.1 innings this season.
AUGUST 26 • ROTOWIRE
Yainer Diaz - Goes deep Sunday Diaz went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Sunday's win over the Orioles.
Impact Diaz was on the latter half of back-to-back home runs with Alex Bregman in the seventh to put the Astros ahead 5-3. The long ball extended Diaz's hitting streak to nine games. Over the last 30 games, he's hitting .350/.369/.602 with eight homers, 20 RBI and 17 runs scored. He's been one of the best catchers in baseball during just his second full season, slashing .301/.327/.462 with 16 homers, 72 RBI, 57 runs, a steal and a 19:76 BB:K in 493 plate appearances.
AUGUST 26 • ROTOWIRE
Alex Bregman - Homers in Sunday's win Bregman went 2-for-5 with a solo home run in Sunday's win over the Orioles.
Impact Bregman pushed the Astros back in front with a solo home in the seventh and they would never look back. It's a continuation of what's already been a strong month for Bregman. He now has eight multi-hit efforts and at least a hit in 14 of his last 16 games while only striking out nine times in 77 at-bats. For the year, he's slashing .260/.316/.448 with 21 homers, 61 RBI, 67 runs, three steals and a 37:69 BB:K in 532 plate appearances.
AUGUST 26 • ROTOWIRE
Houston Astros at Philadelphia Phillies odds, picks and predictions The Houston Astros (70-60) and Philadelphia Phillies (76-54) begin a 3-game series Monday. First pitch from Citizens Bank Park is set for 6:...
AUGUST 26 • AZCENTRAL.COM
Stubbs leads Phillies against the Astros following 4-hit game
The Philadelphia Phillies play the Houston Astros after Garrett Stubbs had four hits against the Royals on SundayAUGUST 26 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Back-to-back homers from Alex Bregman, Yainer Diaz push Astros past Orioles Houston remained 4 1/2 games ahead of Seattle atop the AL West, and Baltimore fell 1 1/2 games behind the first-place New York Yankees in th...
AUGUST 26 • PENNLIVE.COM
Mauricio Dubón - Avoids major injury Dubon (undisclosed) was forced to exit Sunday's 6-3 win over the Orioles in eighth inning, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Impact Dubon made a rather impressive running catch in left field, crashing into the wall for the final out of the bottom of the seventh inning. The 30-year-old was subsequently removed from the game, but manager Joe Espada said following the contest that Dubon escaped without suffering a serious injury. The Astros will begin a three-game series on the road against the Phillies on Monday and Dubon can be considered day-to-day for the time being.
AUGUST 26 • ROTOWIRE
Houston Astros at Baltimore Orioles Game Story, Scores/Highlights - 08/25/2024 This browser does not support the video element.
AUGUST 26 • MLB.COM
B2B homers, wild catch help Astros take finale vs. O's BALTIMORE -- Alex Bregman and Yainer Diaz clubbed home runs to left field on consecutive pitches with two outs in the seventh inning to send...
AUGUST 26 • MLB.COM
Back-to-back homers from Alex Bregman, Yainer Diaz push Astros past Orioles 6-3
Alex Bregman and Yainer Diaz hit solo homers on consecutive pitches in the seventh inning, lifting the Houston Astros to a 6-3 victory over the Baltimore Orioles and a split of the...AUGUST 26 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Houston's Mauricio Dubón leaves game after slamming into the wall while making sensational catch
Houston Astros outfielder Mauricio Dubón was shaken up after he made a spectacular running catch during the seventh inning against the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday nightAUGUST 26 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
How to Watch Phillies vs. Astros: TV Channel & Live Stream - August 26
Preview the August 26 matchup between the Philadelphia Phillies and Houston Astros with recent trends, how to watch, livestream info, and mo...AUGUST 26 • DATA SKRIVE
