Here’s how Houston Astros stack up after Rangers aggressive trades
COUNTER ATTACK
31 July 2023
The MLB trade deadline is almost upon us, and we've already seen a flurry of moves with the Texas Rangers going all in to make a run this season. The Rangers now have a rotation with Max Scherzer and Jordan Montgomery, while the Astros have only made one trade, adding relief pitcher Kendall Graveman.
The Astros are rumored to have interest in acquiring Justin Verlander from the Mets, but Houston GM Dana Brown recently stated that adding another starting pitcher is not a priority.
Is Dana Brown just keeping his cards close to the vest? Is he trying to temper Verlander expectations, especially if owner Jim Crane is out on a JV reunion, simply because of his high price contract?
And if the Astros hold tight, do they have enough firepower to win the division over the Rangers?
Be sure to check out the video above as we shine light on these pressing questions.
If you enjoy the videos, subscribe on YouTube for our latest content.
And listen to ESPN 97.5 and 92.5 FM for Houston's best sports talk.
Mauricio Dubón scored the winning run on a wild pitch in the 10th inning, Jeremy Peña and Isaac Paredes opened the game with home runs, and the Houston Astros beat the Los Angeles Angels 3-2 on Friday night.
Peña led off the 10th with a single that advanced automatic runner Dubón to third. Dubón scored when Hunter Strickland, who hadn’t allowed a run in 14 2/3 innings of his first 13 appearances with the Angels, threw a pitch behind the back of Paredes.
Houston closer Josh Hader (5-1) retired the side in order in the ninth and Bennett Sousa retired three straight batters in the 10th for his second save.
Angels starter Yusei Kikuchi gave up home runs to Pena and Paredes for a 2-0 Astros lead in the held the Astros to four hits, striking out nine and walking none, for the rest of his seven-inning start.
Jo Adell trimmed Houston’s lead to 2-1 in the fourth with a 426-foot homer off Astros starter Hunter Brown. Angels rookie Christian Moore, a first-round pick out of Tennessee in 2024, tied it 2-2 with his first major league homer to open the seventh.
Tempers flared in the third when Brown hit Angels shortstop Zach Neto in the elbow with a 95-mph sinker. Both benches and bullpens emptied, but no punches were thrown, and order was quickly restored.
Key Moment
Astros center fielder Jake Meyers raced to the gap in left-center to make a spectacular, full-extension diving catch of Adell’s drive with a runner on first base and one out in the bottom of the eighth to preserve a 2-2 tie.
Key Stat
The home runs by Peña and Paredes marked the first time in three years the Astros have opened a game with two homers. Jose Altuve and Peña last accomplished the feat on July 24, 2022 at Seattle.
Up Next
Astros LHP Brandon Walter (0-0, 1.53 ERA) opposes Angels RHP José Soriano (4-5, 3.54) on Saturday night.
Most Popular
SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome
Listen Live
