A capsule look at the White Sox-Astros playoff series
A capsule look at the best-of-five American League Division Series between the Chicago White Sox and Houston AstrosOCTOBER 5, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Valdez to start for Astros in Game 2 of ALDS vs. White Sox
Left-hander Framber Valdez will start for the Houston Astros in Game 2 of the AL Division Series against the Chicago White SoxOCTOBER 5, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Named Game 1 starter McCullers will start Game 1 of the ALDS against the White Sox on Thursday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Impact McCullers was edged out for the ERA lead among the Astros' regular rotation members this season, as Framber Valdez beat him by a very narrow margin of 3.14 to 3.16. McCullers will get the ball in Game 1, with Valdez starting Game 2.
OCTOBER 5, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
With MVPs out, new stars set to shine in MLB postseason
With Shohei Ohtani, Bryce Harper and the rest of baseball's MVP front-runners left out of the postseason, there's a chance for some budding stars to cement their place among the ga...OCTOBER 4, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
AL batting champion Gurriel lifts Astros over A's 7-6
AL batting champion Yuli Gurriel hit a winning RBI single in the ninth inning, and the AL West champion Houston Astros headed to the postseason with a 7-6 win over the Oakland Athl...OCTOBER 3, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Odorizzi expected to start as Houston hosts Oakland
The Athletics will start Paul Blackburn on Saturday and the Astros are expected to counter with Jake OdorizziOCTOBER 2, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Earns win over Rays McCullers (13-5) allowed two runs on three hits and a walk over six innings to pick up the win Thursday against Tampa Bay. He had four strikeouts.
Impact McCullers blanked the Rays through the first five innings until Brandon Lowe got to him for a two-run homer with one out in the sixth. McCullers retired the final two batters in the frame to secure his fifth quality start in as many September outings. The 27-year-old made 28 regular-season starts and established career-bests in ERA (3.16), innings pitched (162.1) and strikeouts (185).
OCTOBER 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Correa, Astros clinch AL West, open playoffs vs White Sox
Carlos Correa hit his career-high 25th homer with a three-run shot and the Houston Astros clinched the AL West with a 3-2 win over the Tampa Bay RaysOCTOBER 1, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
LEADING OFF: Braves & Astros can clinch, MadBum in SanFran
Atlanta can clinch its fourth consecutive NL East title Thursday night with a win at home over Philadelphia, which would complete a three-game sweep of their high-stakes seriesSEPTEMBER 30, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
McHugh expected to start for the Rays against Astros
The Rays will start Collin McHugh on Thursday while the Astros are expected to counter with Lance McCullers JrSEPTEMBER 30, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Takes loss despite quality start McCullers (12-5) was tagged with the loss Thursday against the Angels after allowing three runs on two hits and four walks across six innings, striking out five.
Impact McCullers posted his fourth straight quality start, but he lacked run support and was the victim of a poor offensive showing from the Astros, which resulted in his fifth loss of the campaign. It's worth noting his command was a bit shaky in this one, but that has been a trend of late. Over his last six starts, McCullers owns a 3.03 ERA but has also posted a 37:19 K:BB across 35.2 innings.
SEPTEMBER 24, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
McCullers Jr. expected to start for the Astros against Angels
The Angels are expected to send Alex Cobb to the mound Thursday and the Astros plan to give Lance McCullers Jr. the startSEPTEMBER 23, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Astros move closer, beat Angels in 12; Ohtani out at plate
Jose Altuve hit a two-run double in the 12th inning and the Houston Astros, after throwing out Shohei Ohtani at the plate to preserve a tie, broke away to defeat the Los Angeles An...SEPTEMBER 23, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Barria scheduled to start for Los Angeles against Houston
The Astros will start Framber Valdez on Monday while the Angels are expected to counter with Jaime BarriaSEPTEMBER 20, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Another quality start McCullers didn't factor into the decision Saturday against the Diamondbacks after allowing three runs (two earned) on seven hits and two walks while fanning eight across six inning...
Impact McCullers has given up two or fewer runs in each of his last four appearances, and he has also fanned at least seven over his last three outings. The veteran has been remarkably consistent since the All-Star break and has six quality starts across 12 outings in that span while also posting a 3.31 ERA, a 1.27 WHIP and a 87:30 K:BB through 70.2 innings.
SEPTEMBER 19, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Calhoun, Varsho key 3-run 10th, Arizona beats Houston, 6-4
Kole Calhoun knocked in the go-ahead run with an RBI single and Daulton Varsho homered as the Arizona Diamondbacks scored three runs in the 10th inning for a 6-4 win over the Houst...SEPTEMBER 19, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
McCullers Jr. expected to start as Astros host the Diamondbacks
The Astros will roll out Lance McCullers Jr. to the mound Saturday and the Diamondbacks plan to give Humberto Castellanos the startSEPTEMBER 18, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Diamondbacks lose 100th of season, fall 4-3 to Astros
Chas McCormick was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to drive in the winning run in the 10th inning as the Houston Astros sent the Arizona Diamondbacks to their 100th loss with...SEPTEMBER 18, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Astros lefty Valdez scratched from start with cut on finger
Houston left-hander Framber Valdez has been scratched from his start against Texas after cutting the index finger on his pitching handSEPTEMBER 16, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Posts quality start, fans seven McCullers (12-4) earned the win Sunday against the Angels after tossing six innings of one-run ball, allowing three hits and two walks while fanning seven. He also hit a batter.
Impact McCullers has now given up two or fewer runs in each of his last three appearances and has also struck out at least seven in each of his last two outings, so he seems to be leaving behind a rough stretch right after the All-Star break. He owns a 3.34 ERA across 11 appearances since July 16 onward, but the fact that he has given up four runs in three of those contests suggests he's been a bit more inconsistent than what his ERA would seem to indicate at first glance.
SEPTEMBER 13, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Tucker's big blast backs stout McCullers HOUSTON -- Kyle Tucker blasted a two-run homer in the fifth inning to break a tie and Lance McCullers Jr. held the Angels to one run and thr...
SEPTEMBER 12, 2021 • MLB.COM
McCullers solid again, Tucker homers, Astros beat Angels 3-1
Lance McCullers Jr. threw six strong innings, Kyle Tucker homered and the Houston Astros beat the Los Angeles Angels 3-1SEPTEMBER 12, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
McCullers Jr. expected to start as Houston hosts Los Angeles
The Angels will start Jaime Barria on Sunday while the Astros are expected to counter with Lance McCullers JrSEPTEMBER 12, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Rengifo homers with 3 RBIs to lead Angels over Astros 4-2
Luis Rengifo homered with three RBIs to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 4-2 win over the Houston Astros Saturday nightSEPTEMBER 12, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Valdez expected to start as Astros host the Angels
The Angels will start Shohei Ohtani on Friday while the Astros are expected to counter with Framber ValdezSEPTEMBER 10, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
