HOUSTON ASTROS NEWS

Yuli Gurriel - Three hits in return Gurriel went 3-for-5 with a double and an RBI on Friday against the Athletics.

Impact Gurriel returned from a two-game absence caused by an undisclosed injury and recorded an RBI single in the seventh inning to drive in his 25th run of the campaign. Gurriel has been on a hot stretch at the plate, maintaining a .319 average with two home runs, seven RBI and seven runs scored across his last 14 games. Even so, Gurriel is still hitting just .233/.286/.396 line across 297 plate appearances on the season.

JULY 9, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Martín Maldonado - Crushes eighth home run Maldonado went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in an 8-3 win over the Athletics on Friday.

Impact Maldonado's three-run home run gives him eight long balls on the year to go along with 21 RBI. The 35-year-old catcher has put together a couple of good games in a row. In his previous game played against the Royals, he went 3-for-3 with a double and a walk. The veteran player has never hit more than 14 home runs in a previous season and is a career .208 hitter.

JULY 9, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Alex Bregman - Hits 11th home run Bregman went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run, a double and an additional run scored in an 8-3 victory over the Athletics on Friday.

Impact Bregman helped power his team victory by cashing in Yordan Alvarez on his 11th home run of the season. The two-run blast gives Bregman 44 RBI and 46 runs on the season to go along with a .242/.362/.423 slash line. Bregman should continue to post quality counting stat numbers as the veteran cleanup hitter knows how to handle the bat and is nestled in-between Alvarez and Kyle Tucker in the productive Astros lineup.

JULY 9, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

José Urquidy - Goes eight for the win Urquidy (8-3) gave up three earned runs on four hits and a walk while striking out two over eight innings to earn the win in an 8-3 victory over the Athletics on Friday.

Impact Urquidy got plenty of run support and was effective over eight innings to pick up his eighth win of the season. The 27-year-old right-hander took advantage of the weak Athletics lineup by pitching to contact all night long. He induced seven ground balls and 15 fly balls, only one of which left the yard. Urquidy has now strung together five quality starts in a row and has lowered is ERA to 4.08 from a season-high 5.04 on June 9. He is expected to make his next start at home in a rematch against the Athletics on Friday.

JULY 9, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Urquidy's maximum efficiency dominates A's OAKLAND -- Today's most dominant pitchers rely heavily on strikeouts to shut down their opponents. José Urquidy needed only two to quiet t...

JULY 9, 2022 • MLB.COM

Astros try to extend road win streak in matchup with the Athletics

The Houston Astros visit the Oakland Athletics looking to continue a three-game road winning streak

JULY 9, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

With an 8-3 loss to the Houston Astros, the Oakland Athletics fall 29 games under .500 OAKLAND, Calif. – After a promising start, Oakland A’s pitcher Paul Blackburn got roughed up Friday night in an 8-3 loss to the Houston Astr...

JULY 9, 2022 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

With an 8-3 loss to the Houston Astros, the Oakland Athletics fall 29 games under .500 OAKLAND, Calif. – After a promising start, Oakland A’s pitcher Paul Blackburn got roughed up Friday night in an 8-3 loss to the Houston Astr...

JULY 9, 2022 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM

Urquidy, backed by Bregman, Maldonado, leads Astros over A's

José Urquidy allowed four hits over a career-high eight innings to win his third straight decision, helping the Houston Astros keep rolling with an 8-3 win over the Oakland Athleti...

JULY 9, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

MLB All-Star starters announced: Ohtani, Trout among picks

The MLB All-Star starters were announced Friday, with both the Angels and Dodgers well represented.

JULY 9, 2022

Jose to LA! Altuve to start at second in ASG For the eighth time in his career, Jose Altuve is headed to the Midsummer Classic. And this year, there's no doubt in his mind that he will...

JULY 9, 2022 • MLB.COM

Chas McCormick - Out of lineup Friday McCormick isn't starting Friday against the Athletics.

Impact McCormick started in the last two games and went 0-for-5 with a run, three walks and three strikeouts. Aledmys Diaz is taking over in left field and batting second Friday.

JULY 8, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Jeremy Peña - Remains out of lineup Pena (undisclosed) isn't starting Friday's game against the Athletics.

Impact Pena was scratched from Thursday's lineup due to the league's health and safety protocols, and he'll remain out of the starting nine for a second consecutive game. The 24-year-old traveled with the team to Oakland, so he should be considered day-to-day for now. Mauricio Dubon is starting at shortstop and batting eighth.

JULY 8, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Yuli Gurriel - Back in lineup Gurriel (undisclosed) is starting Friday against the Athletics.

Impact Gurriel wasn't in the lineup for the last two games due to an unspecified injury, but he appeared off the bench Thursday and went 0-for-1 with a strikeout. He's starting at first base and batting sixth Friday.

JULY 8, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Martín Maldonado - Reaches four times in win Maldonado went 3-for-3 with a double, a run scored and one walk in Thursday's 5-2 win over the Royals.

Impact Maldonado walked in his first plate appearance, double in his second and singled in each of his last two at-bats en route to his first three-hit game of the season. Across 61 appearances, the veteran catcher is slashing .160/.237/.310 with seven homers and 18 RBI.

JULY 8, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Yordan Alvarez - Smashes 26th homer Alvarez went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk in Thursday's 5-2 victory over Kansas City.

Impact Alvarez gave the Astros a 3-2 lead in the fifth inning with a solo blast off Royals starter Kris Bubic. During his current five-game hitting streak, the lefty has slashed .316/.435/.895 with three homers and two doubles.

JULY 8, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Jose Altuve - Extends hitting streak to six games Altuve went 1-for-2 with a solo homer, two additional RBI and two walks in Thursday's 5-2 victory over the Royals.

Impact Altuve slugged his 17th home run in the fifth inning to tie the game 2-2 and added walks in the third and seventh. He also extended the Astros' lead to 4-2 with a sacrifice fly in the eighth. During his current six-game hitting streak, Altuve is slashing .435/.517/.783 with two homers and six RBI.

JULY 8, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Ryan Pressly - Secures 18th save Pressly picked up the save Thursday against the Royals. He allowed allowed zero baserunners while striking out one over one inning.

Impact Pressly came on in the ninth with a three-run lead and retired Nicky Lopez, Ryan O'Hearn and Whit Merrifield in order to secure his 18th save. The veteran closer sports a 3.38 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP with a 24:8 K:BB across 24.0 innings this season.

JULY 8, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Justin Verlander - Picks up 11th win Verlander (11-3) earned the win Thursday, allowing one earned run on seven hits and two walks over six innings against the Royals. He struck out eight.

Impact Verlander's eight strikeouts were his most since June 7, and he completed at least six innings while giving up one or fewer earned runs for a third straight start. During his current three-game win streak, he's allowed just 13 hits across 21 innings and has struck out 17 while walking four. Verlander's next start is tentatively scheduled for Thursday's start in Los Angeles.

JULY 8, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Astros visit the Athletics to open 3-game series

The Oakland Athletics begin a three-game series at home against the Houston Astros on Friday

JULY 8, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

MLB odds: Is now a good time to bet on the Boston Red Sox?

FOX Sports betting expert Sam Panayotovich talks Boston Red Sox and why now might be a good time to bet them to win the AL pennant.

JULY 8, 2022

Altuve, Alvarez help All-Star case with game-changing homers HOUSTON -- In the series finale vs. the Royals, Yordan Álvarez and Jose Altuve used their bats to send a notice to MLB fans: Vote for them t...

JULY 7, 2022 • MLB.COM

Verlander wins 11th as Astros beat Royals 5-2, take 3 of 4 HOUSTON (AP) — Justin Verlander got his MLB-leading 11th win, Yordan Alvarez hit his 26th homer and the Houston Astros beat the Kansas City...

JULY 7, 2022 • WINNIPEGFREEPRESS.COM

Why the Houston Astros are baseball's team to beat

Ben Verlander explains why the Astros — not the Yankees — are the team to beat in baseball.

JULY 7, 2022

Jeremy Peña - Traveling with team Pena (COVID-19 protocols) will travel with the team to Oakland, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Impact Pena was scratched from Thursday's lineup against the Royals due to health and safety protocols, but it seems likely that he'll be able to avoid a trip to the COVID-19 IL since he'll remain with the Astros during their road trip. The 24-year-old should be considered day-to-day ahead of Friday's series opener against the Athletics.

JULY 7, 2022 • ROTOWIRE