The Cowboys Report
The Dallas Cowboys get in some work to prepare for the season; Rams up next
Aug 13, 2019, 6:45 am
Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images
The Dallas Cowboys began their 2019 NFL Football season Saturday night on the road when they took on the San Francisco 49ers in their first preseason game of the year.The Cowboys went into halftime leading 9-7 but eventually lost by the final score of 17-9.
Almost all teams use the preseason as glorified practices to get players game speed repetitions and evaluate new players or players coming off of injuries.This is why most starters don't play much for any of the teams.
Starting Quarterback Dak Prescott looked good on his only drive of the game by completing all four of his passes as he led the Cowboys on a 9-play 65-yard drive that ended with a Brett Maher 25 yard field goal.He looks to have a great connection with second year receiver Michael Gallup who caught two passes for 19 yards on the drive as well.Another bright spot of the game was seeing Pro Bowl Center Travis Fredrick return to action. He missed all of last season due to Gullian-Barre Syndrome.
Most notably missing from the team was two-time Pro Bowler and last year's leading rusher Ezekiel Elliott. He has yet to report to the team and is holding out until he can secure a new contract even though he still has two years remaining on his original rookie deal.This a bit strange because most players hold out when they only have one year left but Zeke is probably the best running back in the league and wants to be paid as so. The position he plays has a very short shelf life and I don't blame him for wanting to get fully compensated.
The Dallas starting defense looked good in the two series they played.They only allowed two first downs and shut out the 49ers in the first quarter.
3 things to watch for
1.Running backs (T. Pollard or A. Morris): With Zeke away from the team, it will be good to see who can help replace his production.Rookie Tony Pollard from Memphis played with the starters on Saturday.He had 4 carries for 16 yards.Free agent acquisition Alfred Morris did not play this game but since he just signed with the team a few weeks ago he is probably still learning the play book.
2.Red Zone issues: The Cowboys have not been good at scoring touchdowns from inside the opponent's 20 yard line.This game was no different as they went 0-4.They have added a new offensive coordinator (Kellen Moore) and the return of 11 time Pro Bowl tight end Jason Witten should help improve this.Witten did not play on Saturday as well.
3.Kicker Brett Maher: The second year kicker from the Canadian Football League went 3 of 4 on his field goal attempts on Saturday. He missed from 35 yards in the second quarter. He tends to struggle between 30 and 40 yards. If the Cowboys Red Zone problems continue, Maher will have to be more effective.
Coming Up
Saturday, Aug. 17th the Cowboys (0-1) will be on the road again taking on the Los Angeles Rams (0-1) in Honolulu, Hawaii at Aloha Stadium.This one should be a little more interesting as both teams will be looking for their first preseason win and all starters might play a little more than a series or two.
Currently, the line on this game is a pickem with the over/under at 43.5.Yes, I know what you are thinking, "Who bets on preseason games?" but you would be surprised on how many people actually do. I will be staying away from it but if you have to play it, I would lean on the under. Both the Rams and Cowboys combined for only 12 points this past weekend.Most Popular
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The Houston Astros (21-20) host the Kansas City Royals (25-19) on Wednesday night at Daikin Park in the rubber match of a three-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 8:10 p.m. ET.
The series is tied 1-1, with both teams trading wins and showcasing the depth that’s kept them competitive early in the season. This will be the sixth meeting between the clubs this year, with Kansas City holding a slight edge in the season series, 3-2.
Pitching matchup
Houston hands the ball to rookie left-hander Colton Gordon, who is set to make his MLB debut. The 26-year-old will look to keep a red-hot Royals lineup in check while giving the Astros a glimpse of their pitching future.
Kansas City counters with veteran right-hander Michael Lorenzen (3-3, 3.57 ERA), who has quietly anchored the Royals’ rotation. Lorenzen has struck out 40 batters over 45.1 innings and enters the game with a 1.26 WHIP.
Team trends
Houston enters the night just above .500 and has played well at home (14-9), backed by an offense that ranks 10th in the AL with a .379 slugging percentage. The Astros have hit .289 as a team over their last 10 games and have outscored opponents by 11 runs during that stretch.
Kansas City, meanwhile, continues to surprise in the AL Central. The Royals have gone 7-3 over their last 10 games with a solid 2.74 team ERA and an equally impressive .277 team batting average in that span. However, they’re under .500 on the road at 9-12.
Players to watch
For the Astros, Jake Meyers has been a steady presence at the plate, leading the team with a .308 average and contributing across the board. Jeremy Peña has also heated up recently, batting .349 over his last 10 games with a pair of home runs and nine RBIs.
The Royals continue to ride the bat of Bobby Witt Jr., who’s slashing .312 with 17 doubles and five homers. Kyle Isbel has quietly been effective too, hitting .357 over his last 10 games with extra-base pop.
Betting odds
According to BetMGM, the Astros are favored at -139 on the moneyline, with the Royals at +118. The over/under is set at 8 runs.
With both teams playing well and the series on the line, Wednesday night’s matchup offers a compelling mix of youth, momentum, and early-season implications for two surging squads.
Here's a sneak peek at Wednesday night's lineup.
Gordon debut.
⚾️: 7:10pm
🏟️: Closed
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— Houston Astros (@astros) May 14, 2025
Nothing too surprising going on here. Zach Dezenzo is getting the start over Cam Smith in right field. Victor Caratini will be the only left-handed bat (switch hitter) against Lorenzen, as he'll be catching Gordon in his big league debut, with Yainer Diaz in the DH spot. Mauricio Dubon will be playing second base, with Brendan Rodgers getting the night off.
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