AUGUST 4 • SUNHERALD.COM
HOUSTON ASTROS 88-73 · 1ST IN AL WEST
88-73 · 1ST IN AL WEST
Brandon Lowe, five pitchers lead Rays to 1-0 win over Astros Brandon Lowe produced a run-scoring double in the top of the third inning, and five pitchers combined on a three-hit shutout as the Tampa Ba...
Lance McCullers Jr. won't pitch this season for Astros
Houston Astros right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. won’t pitch this seasonAUGUST 4 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tyler Alexander and 4 other Rays pitchers toss 3-hitter in 1-0 win over Astros
Tyler Alexander combined with four other Rays pitchers on a three-hitter, Brandon Lowe hit an RBI double in the third inning, and Tampa Bay beat the Houston Astros 1-0AUGUST 4 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Lance McCullers - Won't pitch in 2024 Astros manager Joe Espada said Sunday that it's "pretty safe to say" McCullers (forearm) won't be activated from the 60-day injured list this season, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com rep...
Impact McCullers underwent surgery last June to repair his right flexor tendon and remove a bone spur and had been hopeful to return to the Astros around the middle of the season. After progressing to throwing bullpen sessions in May, McCullers had his rehab program shut down in July and received a second opinion from doctors. Though McCullers was diagnosed with no new structural damage to his elbow, the recent setback he had a few weeks ago will be enough to slow him down and take a 2024 return off the table. The 30-year-old hasn't pitched for the Astros since the 2022 World Series, and he had already missed the entire 2019 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. McCullers remains on Houston's books through 2026 after signing a five-year, $85 million extension in March 2021.
AUGUST 4 • ROTOWIRE
Rangers vs. Astros Prediction, Odds, Picks - August 5
Preview the August 5 matchup between the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros with odds over/under, game spread, betting lines and more.AUGUST 4 • DATA SKRIVE
Astros RHP Lance McCullers Jr. likely out for season Houston Astros veteran right-hander Lance McCullers Jr.likely will miss the rest of the season while he recovers from injuries that forced h...
AUGUST 4 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM
Justin Verlander - Completes two-inning sim game Verlander (neck) threw 37 pitches in a two-inning simulated game Sunday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Impact Verlander said that he felt good during the sim game and sported a fastball peaked at 94 miles per hour. The right-hander expects to require two minor-league rehab starts before making his return from the 15-day injured list, so he probably won't be a realistic option for the Houston rotation until the second half of August. Verlander's ongoing absence should extend Spencer Arrighetti's leash as the Astros' No. 5 starter.
AUGUST 4 • ROTOWIRE
Jake Meyers - Not in Sunday's lineup Meyers is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Tarys, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Impact Meyers started the previous 23 games and will take a seat after he posted a .590 OPS during that stretch. Chas McCormick will shift to center field while Pedro Leon starts in right.
AUGUST 4 • ROTOWIRE
Mauricio Dubón - Regaining playing time Dubon will start in left field and bat seventh in Sunday's game against the Rays.
Impact Dubon will start for the fourth time in five contests and for the third game in a row. The 30-year-old is slashing just .125/.125/.333 since the All-Star break, so despite the recent uptick in playing time, he's far from secure as an everyday player.
AUGUST 4 • ROTOWIRE
Victor Caratini - On bench for second straight game Caratini is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rays.
Impact Caratini's playing time had been trending up while the Astros had shown more of a willingness to play Yordan Alvarez in left field of late, but the former now finds himself on the bench for the second day in a row. Assuming Alvarez gets the bulk of his starts at DH moving forward, Yainer Diaz will continue to serve as the Astros' top backstop, which closes off Caratini's path to steady starts.
AUGUST 4 • ROTOWIRE
Rays play the Astros after Lowe's 4-hit game
The Tampa Bay Rays play the Houston Astros after Josh Lowe had four hits on Saturday in a 6-1 win over the AstrosAUGUST 4 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Blanco stays solid while navigating career-high workload HOUSTON -- After providing a much-needed reinforcement to the Astros’ starting rotation in the first half, Ronel Blanco is still searching f...
AUGUST 4 • MLB.COM
Jon Singleton - Provides lone run in loss Singleton went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Saturday's 6-1 loss to the Rays.
Impact Singleton has hit safely in seven of his last nine games, going 8-for-31 (.258) with two homers and five RBI in that span. Since the start of July, he's batting .231, which is right in line with his .234 average for the season. He's added a .676 OPS, nine homers, 28 RBI, 38 runs scored, seven doubles and no stolen bases over 86 contests, and he doesn't appear to be in any immediate danger of relinquishing his starting role at first base.
AUGUST 4 • ROTOWIRE
Ronel Blanco - Decent in Saturday's loss Blanco (9-6) allowed two runs on six hits and two walks while striking out seven over five innings, taking the loss versus the Rays on Saturday.
Impact A two-run home run by Josh Lowe in the fifth inning was enough to saddle Blanco with the loss. While he's allowed exactly two runs in four of his last six starts, he has an unfortunate 1-3 record in that span. The 30-year-old continues to put together an impressive campaign with a 2.98 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 121:48 K:BB through 124 innings over 21 starts. His next outing is projected to be at Boston.
AUGUST 4 • ROTOWIRE
Josh Lowe (2 HRs, 4 RBIs) powers Rays past Astros Josh Lowe clubbed a pair of home runs while Zack Littell pitched effectively into the sixth inning as the visiting Tampa Bay Rays evened the...
AUGUST 4 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM
Josh Lowe (2 HRs, 4 RBIs) powers Rays past Astros Josh Lowe clubbed a pair of home runs while Zack Littell pitched effectively into the sixth inning as the visiting Tampa Bay Rays evened the...
AUGUST 4 • THENEWSTRIBUNE.COM
Josh Lowe homers twice in the Rays' 6-1 victory over the Astros
Josh Lowe homered twice to help the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Houston Astros 6-1 on Saturday nightAUGUST 4 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
How to Watch Astros vs. Rays: TV Channel & Live Stream - August 4
Preview the August 4 matchup between the Houston Astros and Tampa Bay Rays with recent trends, how to watch, livestream info, and more.AUGUST 4 • DATA SKRIVE
Astros vs. Rays Prediction, Odds, Picks - August 4
Preview the August 4 matchup between the Houston Astros and Tampa Bay Rays with odds over/under, game spread, betting lines and more.AUGUST 4 • DATA SKRIVE
Chas McCormick - Sitting again Saturday McCormick is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against Tampa Bay, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Impact McCormick will sit for the second straight game Saturday with Pedro Leon set to make his major-league debut in right field against Rays right-hander Zack Littell. Since the All-Star break, McCormick has gone 6-for-20 with one home run and two RBI.
AUGUST 3 • ROTOWIRE
Rafael Montero - Outrighted to Triple-A Montero cleared waivers and was outrighted by the Astros to Triple-A Sugar Land on Saturday.
Impact Montero was DFA'd by Houston on Wednesday, but he didn't garner interest from another team and has elected to stay within the organization rather than enter free agency. Montero has appeared in 41 games for the Astros this season, registering 10 holds with a 4.70 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 23:19 K:BB across 38.1 innings.
AUGUST 3 • ROTOWIRE
Daily Dinger: Best MLB Home Run Picks Today (Bet on Josh Lowe to Record Homer vs. Astros) Breaking down two players you should consider betting on to hit a home run for Saturday’s MLB action including Josh Lowe vs. the Houston Ast...
AUGUST 3 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM
Daily Dinger: Best MLB Home Run Picks Today (Bet on Josh Lowe to Record Homer vs. Astros) Breaking down two players you should consider betting on to hit a home run for Saturday’s MLB action including Josh Lowe vs. the Houston Ast...
AUGUST 3 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM
Daily Dinger: Best MLB Home Run Picks Today (Bet on Josh Lowe to Record Homer vs. Astros) Breaking down two players you should consider betting on to hit a home run for Saturday’s MLB action including Josh Lowe vs. the Houston Ast...
AUGUST 3 • SACBEE.COM
Jake Meyers - Tallies eighth stolen base Meyers went 0-for-3 with an RBI and a stolen base Friday against the Rays.
Impact Meyers didn't have a strong showing at the plate and is now hitting only .170 with four RBI and three runs scored across 13 games since the All-Star break. However, he did manage his eighth stolen base of the season and first since June 26. Despite his struggles at the dish, Meyers has started 22 consecutive games in center field.
AUGUST 3 • ROTOWIRE
