HOUSTON ASTROS NEWS

Josh Hader - Bounces back for save Hader allowed a hit and struck out one over a scoreless inning to earn the save in Wednesday's 5-4 win over the Pirates.

Impact Hader melted down in a non-save situation in Monday's game versus the Pirates, but he was able to protect a one-run lead without trouble Wednesday. He'll end a tumultuous July with six runs allowed over 10.1 innings, including four home runs allowed, but he converted all nine of his save chances for the month. For the season, Hader has a 4.02 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 73:15 K:BB while converting 21 of 22 save chances through 47 innings.

AUGUST 1 • ROTOWIRE

Framber Valdez - Strikes out 10 in win Valdez (10-5) allowed four runs on six hits and struck out 10 without walking a batter to earn the win Wednesday over the Pirates.

Impact All of the damage came in the second inning, as Joey Bart tagged Valdez for a two-run home run and the Pirates put up another two runs before he could escape the frame. The southpaw bounced back well, allowing just one single over his last four innings, and the Astros' offense picked him up. Valdez finished July with a 2.90 ERA and 40:9 K:BB over 31 innings, winning four of his five starts for the month. Overall, he has a 3.56 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 108:38 K:BB through 116.1 innings over 19 starts. He's projected to make his next start on the road versus the Rangers.

AUGUST 1 • ROTOWIRE

Mauricio Dubon's pinch-hit HR caps Astros' rally, sinks Pirates Mauricio Dubon clubbed his first career pinch-hit home run and the Houston Astros won their seventh consecutive game with starter Framber Va...

AUGUST 1 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Valdez strikes out 10, Dubón hits a 2-run homer, and Astros come back for 5-4 win over Pirates

Mauricio Dubón hit a two-run homer, Framber Valdez struck out 10 in six innings and the Houston Astros came from behind to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-4

AUGUST 1 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Dubón's clutch pinch-hit HR lifts Astros to win in finale HOUSTON -- Mauricio Dubón crushed the first pitch he saw from reliever Colin Holderman in the sixth inning Wednesday night and clubbed a two...

AUGUST 1 • MLB.COM

Yusei Kikuchi - Team debut coming Friday Kikuchi is scheduled to make his first start with the Astros on Friday versus the Rays in Houston, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Impact The Astros didn't need to open up a spot in their rotation for Kikuchi, as fifth starter Jake Bloss was sent back to Toronto along with outfielder Joey Loperfido and infielder Will Wagner in Monday's trade that landed the veteran southpaw in Houston. Kikuchi had cruised to a 2.64 ERA and 1.12 WHIP while delivering quality starts in six of his first 10 outings with Toronto this season, but aside from a career-best 13-strikeout effort July 9 in San Francisco, he had often been knocked around by opposing lineups over the past two months before being traded. He posted a strong 69:17 K:BB in 57.2 innings in his final 12 starts with Toronto but he also gave up 13 home runs during that stretch, which led to an inflated 6.87 ERA and 1.56 WHIP.

AUGUST 1 • ROTOWIRE

Kikuchi ready to win and make history as Astros' 1st Japanese pitcher HOUSTON -- Three days after trading for Yusei Kikuchi, the Astros formally introduced what manager Joe Espada called the “one piece we were...

AUGUST 1 • MLB.COM

Seth Martinez - Optioned to Triple-A The Astros optioned Martinez to Triple-A Sugar Land on Wednesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Impact Martinez is one of the roster casualties as the Astros officially add trade acquisitions Yusei Kikuchi and Caleb Ferguson. He holds a 2.92 ERA but just a 34:18 K:BB over 49.1 innings with the Astros this season.

JULY 31 • ROTOWIRE

Why Orioles won the trade deadline and should be World Series favorites, per John Smoltz

John Smoltz weighs in on several title contenders in the wake of the trade deadline, and Garrett Crochet taking a stand.

JULY 31

Rafael Montero - DFA'd by Houston The Astros designated Montero for assignment Wednesday.

Impact Montero is in the second year of a three-year, $34.5 million contract, and the Astros appear willing to absorb what remains on that deal. The veteran reliever made 41 appearances for Houston this season, posting a 4.70 ERA and 23:19 K:BB over 38.1 innings. Montero will pass through waivers unclaimed before eventually being released.

JULY 31 • ROTOWIRE

Chas McCormick - Playing time trending up McCormick will start in right field and bat ninth in Wednesday's game against the Pirates, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Impact McCormick seems to have re-emerged as the Astros' preferred option in right field in the absence of Kyle Tucker (shin); he'll draw his fifth start at the position in seven games. Trey Cabbage and Joey Loperfido have picked up the other two starts, and the latter has since been traded to the Blue Jays and replaced on the roster by another outfielder in Pedro Leon. While the Astros could eventually look to Leon, Cabbage or Mauricio Dubon to pick up more reps in the corner outfield, McCormick has gone 5-for-14 with a solo home run over his last four starts to rebuild a little job security for the time being.

JULY 31 • ROTOWIRE

Victor Caratini - Playing time picking up Caratini will start at designated hitter and bat eighth in Wednesday's game against the Pirates, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Impact The Astros have shown more of a willingness to use Yordan Alvarez in left field of late, and it's helped open up more playing time for Caratini. He's now started in three of the last four games, with the previous two starts coming at catcher while fellow backstop Yainer Diaz served as Houston's DH. In addition to providing quality defense behind the plate, Caratini has held his own with the bat this season, hitting .276 with five home runs and 19 RBI over 128 plate appearances.

JULY 31 • ROTOWIRE

Angels Notes: Win Over Rockies, Mike Trout Suffers Setback, What Did Angels Get for Luis Garcia? The Angels' bats exploded for 14 hits and 10 runs, surviving a shaky start by Griffin Canning to record a 10-7 win over the Colorado Rockies...

JULY 31 • SI.COM

New-look Pirates vie for series sweep of Astros After executing several trades over the past couple of days to fortify their roster and confirm a commitment to pursue a postseason berth, t...

JULY 31 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Astros play the Pirates after Diaz's 4-hit game

The Houston Astros take on the Pittsburgh Pirates after Yainer Diaz had four hits against the Pirates on Tuesday

JULY 31 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

How to Watch Astros vs. Pirates: TV Channel & Live Stream - July 31

Preview the July 31 matchup between the Houston Astros and Pittsburgh Pirates with recent trends, how to watch, livestream info, and more.

JULY 31 • DATA SKRIVE

2024 MLB's biggest winners, losers from the trade deadline

Some operated with October in mind, while others shopped on the margins. Some planned for the future, while others remained stuck in an unin...

JULY 31

Diaz's 4-hit night a bright spot in loss HOUSTON -- There are not many positives that the Astros can take from Tuesday night’s game against the Pirates at Minute Maid Park. Not only...

JULY 31 • MLB.COM

Yainer Diaz - Reaches 10-homer mark Diaz went 4-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 6-2 loss to the Pirates.

Impact Diaz's fourth-inning homer was the Astros' lone extra-base hit in the contest. He's hit safely in six straight games and has an extra-base hit in five of them, going 12-for-24 with six RBI in that span. For the season, he's up to a .295/.318/.441 slash line with 10 homers, 58 RBI, 45 runs scored, 18 doubles, three triples and one stolen base over 393 plate appearances.

JULY 31 • ROTOWIRE

Yainer Diaz - Reaches 10-homer mark Diaz went 4-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 6-2 loss to the Pirates.

Impact Diaz's fourth-inning homer was the Astros' lone extra-base hit in the contest. He's hit safely in six straight games and has an extra-base hit in five of them, going 12-for-24 with six RBI in that span. For the season, he's up to a .295/.318/.441 slash line with 10 homers, 58 RBI, 45 runs scored, 18 doubles, three triples and one stolen base over 393 plate appearances.

JULY 31 • ROTOWIRE

Hunter Brown - Slips up versus Pirates Brown (9-7) allowed five runs (four earned) on nine hits and two walks while striking out eight over 5.2 innings to take the loss Tuesday versus the Pirates.

Impact Brown had gone at least six innings in 12 straight appearances, earning a quality start in 11 of them. Michael Taylor's two-run home run in the sixth inning assured Brown would have one run too many and one out too few for another quality start, and this outing also snapped his three-start winning streak. The right-hander is now at a 4.11 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 126:44 K:BB through 116 innings over 22 appearances (21 starts) this season. He's projected to make his next start on the road versus the Rangers.

JULY 31 • ROTOWIRE

Hunter Brown - Slips up versus Pirates Brown (9-7) allowed five runs (four earned) on nine hits and two walks while striking out eight over 5.2 innings to take the loss Tuesday versus the Pirates.

Impact Brown had gone at least six innings in 12 straight appearances, earning a quality start in 11 of them. Michael Taylor's two-run home run in the sixth inning assured Brown would have one run too many and one out too few for another quality start, and this outing also snapped his three-start winning streak. The right-hander is now at a 4.11 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 126:44 K:BB through 116 innings over 22 appearances (21 starts) this season. He's projected to make his next start on the road versus the Rangers.

JULY 31 • ROTOWIRE

Michael A. Taylor's latest homer lifts Pirates over Astros again Michael A.Taylor homered for the second consecutive game and left-hander Bailey Falter excelled in his return from the injured list as the v...

JULY 31 • SUNHERALD.COM

Taylor HRs in 2nd straight game, Falter is strong in return to rotation as Pirates stop Astros 6-2

Michael Taylor homered for the second straight game, Bailey Falter returned to the rotation and threw one-run ball into the sixth inning as the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Houston...

JULY 31 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Lance McCullers - Still not throwing General manager Dana Brown said Tuesday that McCullers (forearm) has not yet resumed throwing, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Impact A setback in McCullers' recovery has prevented him from throwing since July 9, and although he is not dealing with any structural damage, his progress remains slow. Brown noted that the right-hander may still be able to pitch for the Astros in September, but he won't have a clear timetable until he is cleared to resume throwing.

JULY 31 • ROTOWIRE