HOUSTON ASTROS NEWS

Jose Altuve - Nabs steal in win Altuve went 1-for-3 with a walk, a stolen base and two runs scored in Wednesday's 9-1 win over the Marlins.

Impact Altuve has hit safely in 12 of his last 13 games, going 21-for-56 (.375) over that span. He's rounded his production during the hot stretch with two home runs, four steals, nine RBI and 10 runs scored. The second baseman's .822 OPS on the year is his lowest in the last four seasons, but he's still put together an excellent campaign by batting .309 with 13 homers, 14 steals, 41 RBI and 55 runs scored through 89 contests.

JULY 11 • ROTOWIRE

Yainer Diaz - Drives in three Diaz went 3-for-4 with three RBI in Wednesday's 9-1 win over the Marlins.

Impact Diaz opened and closed the scoring Wednesday, delivering an RBI single in the first inning and a two-run single in the sixth. This was his seventh three-hit game over his last 15 contests, a span in which he's batting .406 (26-for-64). The catcher is up to a .286/.312/.415 slash line with seven home runs, 48 RBI, 38 runs scored, 15 doubles, two triples and one stolen base over 81 games this season. Diaz isn't a high-end defensive catcher, but his place in the lineup is secure when he's swinging the bat as well as he has lately.

JULY 11 • ROTOWIRE

Joey Loperfido - Hits second homer Loperfido went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run, a triple and an additional run scored in Wednesday's 9-1 win over the Marlins.

Impact Loperfido has hit safely in his last four games, going 5-for-13 with four extra-base hits and four RBI in that span. This was his first multi-hit effort since June 21. The outfield prospect is up to a .288/.337/.450 slash line with two homers, 13 RBI, 10 runs scored, five doubles, one triple and two stolen bases across 87 plate appearances. Loperfido continues to play in the corner outfield spots, though he's seen slightly less than a strong-side platoon role over the last week. Chas McCormick and Mauricio Dubon continue to be Loperfido's biggest competitors for playing time.

JULY 11 • ROTOWIRE

Framber Valdez - Shines in win Valdez (8-5) allowed one run on six hits and a walk while striking out 10 over seven innings to earn the win over the Marlins on Wednesday.

Impact This is the seventh time this season Valdez has gone at least seven innings, and he's allowed more than one run in just one of those outings. The southpaw has earned quality starts in four of his last five games, allowing 13 runs (10 earned) over 30.2 innings in that span. For the season, he's at a 3.66 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 82:32 K:BB across 98.1 innings through 16 starts. He's been giving up a lot of hits this season, but he's done a decent job at damage control and could have a strong second half if he can keep traffic off the bases.

JULY 11 • ROTOWIRE

Framber Valdez strikes out 10 as Astros clobber Marlins Framber Valdez tossed seven strong innings -- with a season-high 10 strikeouts -- and Yainer Diaz recorded a three-hit game to pace the Hous...

JULY 11 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM

Framber Valdez strikes out 10 as Astros clobber Marlins Framber Valdez tossed seven strong innings -- with a season-high 10 strikeouts -- and Yainer Diaz recorded a three-hit game to pace the Hous...

JULY 11 • THESTATE.COM

Valdez's 10-K gem nets Astros 8th straight home win HOUSTON -- Astros starter Framber Valdez struck out a season-high 10 batters to notch his 10th quality start in his final outing before the...

JULY 11 • MLB.COM

Framber Valdez strikes out 10 in 7 innings, Joey Lopefido homers as Astros beat Marlins 9-1

Framber Valdez struck out a season-high 10 and allowed one run in seven innings, and rookie Joey Loperfido homered and tripled to lead the Houston Astros to a 9-1 victory over the...

JULY 11 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Astros vs. Marlins Prediction, Odds, Picks - July 11

Preview the July 11 matchup between the Houston Astros and Miami Marlins with odds over/under, game spread, betting lines and more.

JULY 11 • DATA SKRIVE

Yordan Alvarez - Battling hip tightness Alvarez was removed from Wednesday's game against the Marlins due to right hip tightness, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Impact Alvarez remained in the game after a trainer checked on him following his RBI single in the second inning, but the decision to pull him was made when his spot in the order came up in the fourth. The severity of his hip injury remains unknown, though it's possible he sits down another game or two after also missing Sunday's contest due to knee soreness.

JULY 11 • ROTOWIRE

Victor Caratini - Still not running full speed Caratini (hip) did drills Tuesday but is still not running at full speed, MLB.com reports.

Impact Caratini has been ramping up his activity for the last week, but he will not be sent on a rehab assignment until he is running at 100 percent. He'll be out through the All-Star break, but his timeline beyond that is unclear.

JULY 10 • ROTOWIRE

Astros host Marlins, continue to seek strong finish to first half Houston Astros manager Joe Espada continued to stump for starter Ronel Blanco as an American League All-Star even after the right-hander was...

JULY 10 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM

Astros try to keep home win streak alive, host the Marlins

The Houston Astros, on a seven-game home winning streak, host the Miami Marlins

JULY 10 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

How to Watch Astros vs. Marlins: TV Channel & Live Stream - July 10

Preview the July 10 matchup between the Houston Astros and Miami Marlins with recent trends, how to watch, livestream info, and more.

JULY 10 • DATA SKRIVE

Chas McCormick - Two thefts in win McCormick went 1-for-3 with one RBI, two stolen bases and two runs scored in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Marlins.

Impact McCormick hasn't been running as much this season -- his pair of steals Tuesday gave him seven thefts on the year. He's logged four of them over the last 13 games, though he's batting just .212 (7-for-33) in that span. The outfielder is at a .207/.267/.313 slash line with three home runs, 19 RBI, 19 runs scored, five doubles and one triple across 52 contests this season. He's started five of the last eight games between left field and right field, including three starts versus right-handed pitchers, though McCormick will still have to compete with Joey Loperfido for playing time until Kyle Tucker (lower leg) is ready to return.

JULY 10 • ROTOWIRE

Alex Bregman - Powers offense in win Bregman went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and an additional RBI in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Marlins.

Impact Bregman was the only Astro with multiple hits Tuesday, delivering an RBI single in the fifth inning and a two-run homer in the seventh. The long ball was his second in four games, perhaps signaling a strong second half to come. He's batting .294 (25-for-85) over his last 20 contests compared to .254 on the year. The third baseman has added a .727 OPS, 11 homers, 44 RBI, 42 runs scored, two stolen bases, 18 doubles and two triples across 381 plate appearances.

JULY 10 • ROTOWIRE

Josh Hader - Converts 16th save Hader walked one and struck out two in a scoreless and hitless inning to earn the save in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Marlins.

Impact Entering Tuesday, Hader had yielded a run in four of his last six appearances. He was able to avoid that fate in this contest, earning his 16th save of the year, nine of which he's collected since the start of June. His recent inconsistency has pushed his ERA up to 4.05 with a 1.05 WHIP and 63:12 K:BB through 40 innings, but he's still taken just one blown save this year.

JULY 10 • ROTOWIRE

Ronel Blanco - Allows two homers in win Blanco (9-3) allowed two runs on four hits and a walk while striking out seven over seven innings to earn the win over the Marlins on Tuesday.

Impact Blanco gave up multiple home runs for the second time in three starts, but he got away with it since both were solo shots. He's allowed more than two runs just once over his last six outings, turning in a quality start in four of them. The 30-year-old continues to enjoy a breakout season with a 2.53 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 95:40 K:BB across 103 innings through 17 starts. Blanco could make one more start before the All-Star break, which is tentatively projected to be at home versus the Rangers on Sunday.

JULY 10 • ROTOWIRE

Alex Bregman's homer helps Astros edge Marlins Alex Bregman clubbed a two-run, seventh-inning homer in support of Ronel Blanco, who recorded a quality start while lifting the Houston Astr...

JULY 10 • KANSASCITY.COM

Alex Bregman's homer helps Astros edge Marlins Alex Bregman clubbed a two-run, seventh-inning homer in support of Ronel Blanco, who recorded a quality start while lifting the Houston Astr...

JULY 10 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM

Blanco deals, Bregman blasts as Astros stay hot at home HOUSTON -- The Astros opened their six-game homestand with a close victory over the Marlins behind starter Ronel Blanco. The right-hander al...

JULY 10 • MLB.COM

Bregman's tiebreaking homer in the seventh leads Astros to 4-3 win over Marlins

Alex Bregman had three RBIs and his tiebreaking two-run home run in the seventh inning lifted the Houston Astros to a 4-3 win over the Miami Marlins Tuesday night

JULY 10 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Astros vs. Marlins Prediction, Odds, Picks - July 10

Preview the July 10 matchup between the Houston Astros and Miami Marlins with odds over/under, game spread, betting lines and more.

JULY 10 • DATA SKRIVE

Jake Bloss - Targeting Thursday return Manager Joe Espada said Tuesday that Bloss (shoulder) will likely start Thursday's game against the Marlins, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Impact Bloss' availability is still dependent on how he recovers from the bullpen session he threw Tuesday, but chances are that he will be able to take the mound for the first time since his MLB debut June 21. The 23-year-old righty built up to just 55 pitches during his lone rehab appearance in Triple-A, so it's likely he works under some sort of pitch count during his first start back from the IL. However, he will still have a favorable matchup against a Marlins offense that ranks last in the majors in OPS (.632).

JULY 9 • ROTOWIRE

Lance McCullers - Shut down from throwing Astros manager Joe Espada said Tuesday that McCullers (forearm) will not throw for a few days, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Impact Espada noted that McCullers' throwing arm was not responding well between bullpen sessions, and the 30-year-old will rest while the team figures out next steps. It's a step back for McCulers, who is working his way back from surgery last June to repair the flexor tendon and remove a bone spur in his right forearm.

JULY 9 • ROTOWIRE