HOUSTON ASTROS NEWS

Justin Verlander - Throwing off mound Sunday Verlander (neck) will throw a bullpen session Sunday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Impact Sunday will mark the first time Verlander has thrown off a mound since a neck injury forced him to the IL on June 18. He's only expected to reach 10-to-15 pitches during his session, but it's still a sign that the veteran right-hander is trending in the right direction. He remains without a firm timetable for his return, though he will likely need some time to build back up to a starter's workload.

JULY 13 • ROTOWIRE

Mauricio Dubón - Sitting down Saturday Dubon isn't in the Astros' lineup for Saturday's game against Texas, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Impact Dubon went 0-for-3 with a walk and scored two runs during a win in Friday's series opener, and he'll step aside Saturday as Chas McCormick starts in left field while batting ninth.

JULY 13 • ROTOWIRE

Aledmys Díaz - Latches on with Houston Diaz signed a minor-league contract with the Astros on Saturday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Impact Diaz was let go by the A's last week after posting a .236 OPS in 30 major-league plate appearances, but he'll now receive another opportunity with the Astros. He'll report to the team's complex in Florida in order to work on his mechanics before likely moving to Triple-A Sugar Land to fill in as organizational depth.

JULY 13 • ROTOWIRE

Alex Bregman - Stays hot Friday Bregman went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 6-3 win over the Rangers.

Impact He belted the first pitch he saw from Andrew Heaney in the fifth inning deep to left field, giving the Astros a 3-0 lead they wouldn't relinquish. Bregman has gone yard three times in the last seven games, batting .370 (10-for-27) over that stretch with 10 RBI, and since the beginning of June he's slashing .315/.376/.490 over 157 plate appearances as he puts a tepid start to 2024 in his rearview mirror.

JULY 13 • ROTOWIRE

Josh Hader - Notches 18th save Hader struck out two in a perfect ninth inning Friday to record his 18th save of the season in a 6-3 win over the Rangers.

Impact The veteran closer blew his first save chance of the year back on Apr. 2, and he hasn't squandered one since. Hader has had trouble keeping the ball in the yard in 2024, serving up eight homers in 42 innings to fuel a 3.86 ERA, but he's otherwise been as dominant as ever, with his 40.4 percent strikeout rate being his highest mark since 2021.

JULY 13 • ROTOWIRE

Hunter Brown - Nabs seventh win Brown (7-6) picked up the win in Friday's 6-3 victory over the Rangers, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out five.

Impact The right-hander rebounded from a rough outing in Minnesota on July 6 to deliver his 10th quality start of the year. Brown has lasted at least six innings in 10 straight trips to the mound, posting a 2.36 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 64:17 K:BB through 61 innings over that stretch as he puts his shaky first month of the campaign further behind him.

JULY 13 • ROTOWIRE

Astros reclaim home-field advantage vs. Rangers, look for repeat The Houston Astros have a ways to go to match their franchise-best 18-game win streak at Minute Maid Park, set in 2004.But with their 6-3 vi...

JULY 13 • SACBEE.COM

Astros host the Rangers, try to extend home win streak

The Houston Astros, on a 10-game home winning streak, host the Texas Rangers

JULY 13 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

How to Watch Astros vs. Rangers: TV Channel & Live Stream - July 13

Preview the July 13 matchup between the Houston Astros and Texas Rangers with recent trends, how to watch, livestream info, and more.

JULY 13 • DATA SKRIVE

Saturday's TV/Radio listings (July 13) The Rangers try to bounce back vs. the Astros and the Mavericks’ Summer League tips off.

JULY 13 • DALLASNEWS.COM

Altuve keeps climbing Astros' record books with historic HR HOUSTON -- Jose Altuve smacked a three-run home run in the sixth inning, tying him with Jimmy Wynn for the fourth-most homers in club histor...

JULY 13 • MLB.COM

Home runs propel surging Astros past Rangers Jake Meyers and Alex Bregman slugged solo home runs and Jose Altuve clubbed a three-run shot as the Houston Astros extended their home winni...

JULY 13 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Jose Altuve hits 3-run homer and Astros beat Rangers 6-3

Jose Altuve hit a three-run homer, Hunter Brown struck out five over six innings and the Houston Astros won their 10th straight home game, 6-3 victory over the Texas Rangers

JULY 13 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Astros vs. Rangers Prediction, Odds, Picks - July 13

Preview the July 13 matchup between the Houston Astros and Texas Rangers with odds over/under, game spread, betting lines and more.

JULY 13 • DATA SKRIVE

Luis Garcia - Doesn't throw bullpen Saturday Astros manager Joe Espada said Friday that Garcia (elbow) threw from flat ground instead of off the mound following his rehab start Thursday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Impact Garcia was roughed up in his rehab start Thursday with Double-A Corpus Christi, allowing four earned runs on three hits and one walk while striking out two over 1.1 innings. Espada noted that Garcia's arm "wasn't feeling as good as we wanted it to feel," and it's worth noting that the 27-year-old has been scratched from throwing a bullpen for two straight days.

JULY 12 • ROTOWIRE

Joey Loperfido - Idle against LHP Loperfido is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Rangers.

Impact The lefty-hitting Loperfido will take a seat Friday as the Rangers start southpaw Andrew Heaney. Mauricio Dubon, Jake Meyers and Chas McCormick fill the outfield from left to right.

JULY 12 • ROTOWIRE

Yordan Alvarez - Back in action Friday Alvarez (hip) is batting third as the designated hitter Friday against the Rangers, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Impact The 27-year-old slugger sat out Thursday after he departed Wednesday's contest due to right hip tightness, but he's ready to rejoin the lineup for Friday's series opener versus Texas. Alvarez has gone 2-for-13 with three walks and five strikeouts over his past five games, though that slump was preceded by a six-game stretch in which he went 11-for-22 with four doubles and three homers.

JULY 12 • ROTOWIRE

Justin Steele dominates, Astros' first base search | 07/12/2024 MLB Central discusses Justin Steele's strong start vs. the Orioles, Jack Flaherty's trade value and the Astros' search for a first baseman

JULY 12 • MLB.COM

Velocity training has pushed pitchers to their limits. Baseball is grappling with the injury risks SEATTLE (AP) — Justin Verlander was a gangly teenager. His parents jokingly called him a “brontosaurus.”

JULY 12 • DAYTONDAILYNEWS.COM

Texas Rangers vs. Houston Astros: Preview, How To Watch, Listen, Stream The Texas Rangers have one final series to improve their standing in the American League West as they travel to Houston to face the Astros....

JULY 12 • SI.COM

Josh Hader - Fans two for 17th save Hader struck out two over a perfect ninth inning to pick up the save over the Marlins on Thursday.

Impact Hader entered the contest with a three-run lead in the ninth and retired all three batters he faced, with two of them going down on strikes. It marked the veteran lefty's 17th save of the campaign in 18 attempts and he's now posted two strikeouts in back-to-back appearances. Hader also hasn't allowed any hits or runs over his last two outings after previously giving up a run in four of his last six.

JULY 12 • ROTOWIRE

Jake Bloss - Goes four innings in return Bloss did not factor into the decision in a win over the Marlins on Thursday, allowing two runs on four hits and one walk over four innings while striking out four.

Impact Bloss got off to a bit of a rough start, surrendering a solo homer to Bryan De La Cruz in the second at-bat of the game before then throwing two wild pitches in the second inning, which helped lead to another run coming across for Miami. However, the right-hander appeared to settle in after that, hurling two scoreless innings before being relieved by Shawn Dubin to open the fifth. Bloss threw 82 pitches in his first start since returning from the injured list (shoulder) and induced nine whiffs while throwing 13 first-pitch strikes (out of 18). He'll look to build off that performance in his next start following the All-Star break.

JULY 12 • ROTOWIRE

Astros host the Rangers, look to extend home win streak

The Houston Astros, on a nine-game home winning streak, host the Texas Rangers

JULY 12 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Astros ride home win streak into matchup with Rangers With a 6-3 victory over the Miami Marlins on Thursday, the Houston Astros completed a three-game sweep and stretched their home winning stre...

JULY 12 • THESTATE.COM

Astros ride home win streak into matchup with Rangers With a 6-3 victory over the Miami Marlins on Thursday, the Houston Astros completed a three-game sweep and stretched their home winning stre...

JULY 12 • THENEWSTRIBUNE.COM