Quiet variables that could shape Astros’ series with Cleveland
Jul 7, 2025, 12:52 pm
The red-hot Astros host the Guardians Monday night. Composite Getty Image.
The Houston Astros return home riding high and red-hot, while the Cleveland Guardians limp into Daikin Park desperately searching for answers.
Winners of eight of their last ten, the Astros (55-35) open a three-game set Monday night against a Guardians club that hasn’t won in ten straight. Houston has risen to the top of the AL West thanks to a combination of dominant pitching and a surging offense, and they’ll look to keep that momentum rolling behind rookie lefty Colton Gordon (3-1, 4.37 ERA). Gordon has given Houston quality innings over the past month, and he’ll get the ball against a Guardians offense that has been ice-cold in July.
Cleveland (40-48) enters the night on a three-game road skid and with just 20 wins away from home all season. They’re hitting just .166 over their last ten games and have been outscored by 33 runs during that stretch. If they’re going to end the slide, they’ll need right-hander Tanner Bibee (4-9, 4.10 ERA) to contain an Astros lineup that’s been clicking. The 25-year-old Bibee has been better than his record shows, but Houston’s .304 team average over the last ten games suggests he’ll have his hands full.
All eyes remain on Jose Altuve, who has caught fire with 13 hits and four homers in his last 10 games. On the Cleveland side, Jose Ramirez continues to be the heartbeat of the offense, leading the club in homers, RBIs, and batting average. But he’ll need help, something that’s been sorely lacking during the Guardians’ recent skid.
Houston has been dominant at Daikin Park with a 32-14 home record, and if recent trends hold, they’ll be a tough draw for a Guardians team in freefall. First pitch is set for 8:10 p.m. ET.
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Astros -162, Guardians +136; over/under is 7 1/2 runs
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Yainer Diaz homered, Josh Hader got the last four outs for his major league-leading 25th save, and the Houston Astros spoiled Shohei Ohtani's 31st birthday, beating the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-4 on Saturday.
Ohtani made his fourth mound start of the season, pitching two scoreless innings as he continues to work his way back from elbow surgery. He struck out the side in the second.
Justin Wrobleski (4-3) relieved Ohtani to start the third, and that's when the Dodgers' problems started. Zack Short hit a two-run double as Houston scored four times in the inning. Diaz went deep leading off the fourth, his 11th of the season.
Mookie Betts hit his 11th homer for the Dodgers in the first, and Miguel Rojas' two-run shot in the fourth pulled LA within 5-4.
Jose Altuve led off the seventh with a triple and scored on a sacrifice fly.
Hader entered with two on and two out in the eighth and struck out pinch-hitter Esteury Ruiz. In the ninth, he allowed a leadoff single to Ohtani but retired Betts, Will Smith and Freddie Freeman to end it.
Framber Valdez (10-4) struck out seven and allowed four runs in six innings.
Key moment
The Dodgers sent Michael Conforto to the plate to pinch-hit with two out in the eighth, and the Astros brought in Hader. Manager Dave Roberts replaced Conforto with Ruiz, who fanned on Hader's slider.
Key stat
The Astros have scored 24 runs in the first two games of the series. On Friday night, they handed the Dodgers their worst loss in the history of Dodger Stadium, 18-1.
Up next
Astros RHP Ryan Gusto (5-3, 4.90 ERA) will face the Dodgers' Emmet Sheehan (0-0, 2.25) for Sunday’s series finale.