Blue Jays clinch playoff berth with Orioles' loss to Red Sox
The Blue Jays clinched a postseason berth without taking the fieldSEPTEMBER 29, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
HOUSTON ASTROS 88-73 · 1ST IN AL WEST
88-73 · 1ST IN AL WEST
Yainer Diaz - Optioned to Triple-A Diaz was optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land on Thursday.
Impact Diaz was subsequently placed on the Astros' taxi squad, so he will still hang around the team in case he's needed in the near future. The young backstop has one hit and a walk over just nine plate appearances this season. He will be replaced on the major-league roster by Jake Meyers, who was called up Thursday as a corresponding move.
SEPTEMBER 29, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Jake Meyers - Recalled from minors Meyers was recalled from Triple-A Sugar Land on Thursday.
Impact Meyers spent an extended period of time in Houston earlier this summer, recording a .557 OPS over 149 plate appearances. Since being shipped to Triple-A toward the end of August, he's slashed .337/.450/.543 over 111 plate appearances. He will likely serve as a depth piece in the Astros' outfield as they close out the season. In a corresponding move, Yainer Diaz was optioned to Triple-A and placed on the major-league taxi squad.
SEPTEMBER 29, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Chas McCormick - Homers, grabs three hits McCormick went 3-for-3 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's loss to the Diamondbacks.
Impact McCormick was a thorn in Zac Gallen's side all night, first reaching on an infield single in the third inning before launching a two-run home run off the right-hander in the fifth. The left fielder also reached on a bunt single in his final at-bat and has now hit safely in six straight games. He's hitting .391 over that stretch with a homer, two RBI, three runs scored and a stolen base.
SEPTEMBER 29, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Will Smith - Tagged with loss Smith (0-2) took the loss on Wednesday night against the Diamondbacks. He allowed three runs (two earned) on two hits while striking out one over two-thirds of an inning.
Impact Smith came out in the 10th inning with the score tied 2-2 and gave up a bunt single to Geraldo Perdomo on the very first pitch he threw, which drove the leadoff runner, Carson Kelly to third base. Daulton Varsho grounded into a fielder's choice to second base in the next at-bat to score Kelly and the former would later come around to score himself, along with Jake McCarthy, on a Christian Walker single just after Smith was removed from the game. The left-hander is 0-2 in 11 September appearances, allowing four earned runs over that stretch with 10 strikeouts and two walks.
SEPTEMBER 29, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Justin Verlander - Allows run, fans eight Verlander did not factor into the decision Wednesday, allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits with one walk over seven innings against the Diamondbacks. He struck out eight.
Impact It was a bit of a Rocky start for Verlander, who gave up three hits in a row to begin the first inning, including a leadoff double to Daulton Varsho. The latter would come around to score on a passed ball, though Verlander would only end up being charged with one of the two runs that came across in the inning. The right-hander then retired 18 of the next 23 batters he faced, though he did hit a batter to lead off the seventh. Verlander has not allowed a home run since July 23 and holds a 1.68 ERA in nine starts over that span, with 58 strikeouts to only seven walks.
SEPTEMBER 29, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Gallen vs. Verlander lives up to hype as D-backs emerge in 10th HOUSTON -- Zac Gallen wasn't going to try and hide it or downplay it: Pitching against Astros ace Justin Verlander was a big deal for him. T...
SEPTEMBER 29, 2022 • MLB.COM
Verlander adds to Cy Young resume with another stellar outing HOUSTON -- Justin Verlander isn’t sure when he’ll have time to look back upon his terrific 2022 season, one that could wind up with him winn...
SEPTEMBER 29, 2022 • MLB.COM
Astros lose 5-2 to Diamondbacks as Walker gets key hit
The Houston Astros lost out on an opportunity to clinch the top seed in the AL when Christian Walker capped Arizona’s three-run 10th inning with a two-run single, sending the Diamo...SEPTEMBER 29, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Judge, Ohtani and then who? Predicting all the AL MVP vote-getters
Sure, it's all about Judge vs. Ohtani, but who else is going to appear on AL MVP ballots? Jordan Shusterman lays out the 25 players he's cho...SEPTEMBER 29, 2022
Altuve honored by Clemente nomination: 'It means a lot to me' HOUSTON -- There’s hardly a day goes by that Astros second baseman Jose Altuve won’t stop to sign autographs on the road or at Minute Maid P...
SEPTEMBER 29, 2022 • MLB.COM
Mauricio Dubón - Gets third start in four games Dubon will start in center field and bat eighth in Wednesday's game against the Diamondbacks.
Impact Dubon will be making his third start in four games after going 1-for-6 with a run scored and an RBI over his previous two contests. He may be working his way into a timeshare with Trey Mancini and Aledmys Diaz for one spot in Houston's everyday lineup.
SEPTEMBER 28, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Yuli Gurriel - Retreats to bench Gurriel isn't starting Wednesday against Arizona.
Impact Gurriel went 3-for-17 with a double, four RBI, a run, a walk and three strikeouts over the last four games and will get a breather Wednesday. Trey Mancini is taking over at first base and batting sixth.
SEPTEMBER 28, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Jose Altuve - Day off Wednesday Altuve isn't starting Wednesday against the Diamondbacks.
Impact Altuve has had multi-hit performances in two of the last four games, and he's gone 6-for-15 with three home runs, two doubles, eight runs, four RBI, four walks and a strikeout over that stretch. He'll get a breather while Aledmys Diaz starts at the keystone and bats second.
SEPTEMBER 28, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Yordan Alvarez - Not in Wednesday's lineup Alvarez (ankle) isn't starting Wednesday against the Diamondbacks.
Impact Alvarez exited Tuesday's win over Arizona with a left ankle injury, but he underwent X-rays that came back negative. Manager Dusty Baker said after the game that he hopes Alvarez will "be ready in a couple of days," so it's possible that he's back in action for Friday's series opener against the Rays following the Astros' scheduled day off Thursday. Chas McCormick will shift to left field while Mauricio Dubon starts in center Wednesday.
SEPTEMBER 28, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Yankees' road to World Series set to go through Houston ... again The New York Yankees clinched the American League East division title on Tuesday. The Houston Astros can clinch the No. 1 seed in the AL on...
SEPTEMBER 28, 2022 • NJ.COM
AL batting champion Gurriel lifts Astros over A's 7-6 AL batting champion Yuli Gurriel hit a winning RBI single in the ninth inning, and the AL West champion Houston Astros headed to the postsea...
SEPTEMBER 28, 2022 • SANDIEGOUNIONTRIBUNE.COM
Astros face the Diamondbacks with 1-0 series lead
The Houston Astros lead 1-0 in a two-game series with the Arizona DiamondbacksSEPTEMBER 28, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Bumgarner OK with not pitching rest of 2022 HOUSTON -- The final road trip of the season for the D-backs didn't start off the way they wanted as they fell, 10-2, to the Astros at Minut...
SEPTEMBER 28, 2022 • MLB.COM
Yordan Alvarez - X-rays return negative Manager Dusty Baker said X-rays on Alvarez's left ankle came back negative after the slugger exited Tuesday's win over the win over the Diamondbacks, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com rep...
Impact He appears to have avoided a serious injury after rolling his ankle while running the bases Tuesday, and Baker hopes Alvarez will "be ready in a couple of days." The 25-year-old shouldn't be expected to be in the lineup for Wednesday's series finale versus Arizona, and he'll then have Thursday's scheduled off day to rest up ahead Friday's series opener against Tampa Bay.
SEPTEMBER 28, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Alex Bregman - Crushes 22nd home run Bregman went 2-for-5 with a solo home run in Tuesday's victory over the Diamondbacks.
Impact The Astros smacked three home runs in the sixth inning, including back-to back shots from David Hensley and Alex Bregman. The long ball was Bregman's first since Sept. 11 and 22nd of the season. He also added a base hit on the day, improving his season-long slash line to .263/.370/.462 through 148 games.
SEPTEMBER 28, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
David Hensley - Smacks first career home run Hensley went 2-for-3 with a home run, three RBI and two runs scored in Tuesday's win over Arizona.
Impact Hensley replaced Yordan Alvarez as the designated hitter Tuesday after Alvarez left the game with an ankle injury, and he made the most of it. The rookie took a 1-2 fastball the opposite way to right field in the sixth inning for his first career home run. He also just missed a second round tripper as Arizona right fielder Jake McCarthy made a leaping catch to rob him of what was likely another homer in the eighth inning. If Alvarez is forced to miss additional time, Hensley could see more at-bats and provide sneaky value in a strong Houston lineup.
SEPTEMBER 28, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Jeremy Peña - Swats 20th home run Pena went 2-for-5 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored in Tuesday's win over the Diamondbacks.
Impact Pena became the sixth Astros rookie ever to hit 20 home runs in a season as he mashed a two-run shot to extend Houston's lead to eight in the eighth inning. With two runs on the day, Pena has now scored in nine of his last 11 games and has 70 runs scored on the season, good for fourth among AL rookies; his 57 RBI are fifth and his 20 home runs tied for second.
SEPTEMBER 28, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Kyle Tucker - On base five times Tucker went 2-for-2 with a run scored and a steal in Tuesday's victory over the Diamondbacks.
Impact Tucker was an on-base machine Tuesday as he reached base in all five of his plate appearances. The 25-year-old also recorded a stolen base in the fourth inning to increase his season-long total to 24. He has now reached base in 14 of his last 15 games, a period in which he is batting .310 with five home runs and two stolen bases.
SEPTEMBER 28, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Jose Altuve - Power on display Tuesday Altuve went 3-for-4 with two home runs, a double, two RBI and four runs scored in Tuesday's 10-2 victory over the Diamondbacks.
Impact Altuve had a huge day at the plate Tuesday. He led off the game for Houston with a long ball and knocked a second home run in the sixth inning to record his first multi home run game since July 30 2021 and increase his season-long total to 28. He also recorded his 35th double of the season, his highest mark since hitting 39 in 2017.
SEPTEMBER 28, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
