THE PALLILOG
Here's what the Astros' rotation could look like against A's
Oct 2, 2020, 9:24 am
A longer series presents a different set of challenges. Composite photo by Jack Brame
It's on to Los Angeles for the Astros, for a best of five with their good pals the Oakland Athletics in an American League Division Series starting Monday at Dodger Stadium. The Astros dispatched the Twins in two straight games in large part because of a pitching strategy that will be tougher to use vs. the A's. With a maximum of three starting pitchers needed in a best of three, Dusty Baker was able to use Framber Valdez for five innings of relief in game one, and then Cristian Javier for three innings in game two. The ALCS will be played with no off days, meaning games Monday through Friday should the series go the distance. If it does the plan going in would be to use five different starters. The track record in this era of starters going on three days' rest is not good, and it's not as if the Astros have an ace you'd consider it with other than under exigent circumstances.
In what order would you slot the Astros' starters? If like vs. Minnesota it's Zack Greinke, Jose Urquidy, Lance McCullers 1-2-3, that would mean Valdez and Javier in some order as the plan for games four and five. Plans are changeable.
Thanks to the pitching the Astro offense did enough, but it didn't do much in the two games vs. the Twins. One earned run in game one, three in game two. The attack likely needs to be more productive to get past the A's but the series doesn't figure to be a slugfest. The A's offense is middling and minus injured stud third baseman Matt Chapman (as the Twins were without their stud third baseman Josh Donaldson). Oakland's pitching dominated the Astros over the regular season series which the A's took 7-3. In the 10 games the Astros totaled a paltry 25 runs. Mike Fiers pitched in none of those games. He's the A's number five starter.
The Astros are only in the playoffs because of the expanded format. That would not detract from the achievement of winning the tournament. If the Astros wind up winning the World Series (unlikely but sure not impossible) more than a few around here would find it amusing that the Astros would do so in the Texas Rangers' new ballpark.
It was amusing to hear Carlos Correa say "What they are going to say now?" after the Astros closed out the Twins. If it works as motivation for the Astros to harbor resentment toward the "haters" that's cool, but they can't unring the bell that tolled. The Astros are proven and acknowledged cheaters in 2017 and 2018. Nothing will ever change that. It doesn't matter what other teams did or may have done. None were proven to have done what the Astros did. They tainted themselves.
Fans in the stands for Texans vs. Vikings
What excitement for Texans-Vikings Sunday! 0-3 vs. 0-3. The allowed crowd of about 13,000 seems appropriate. The schedule has done them no favors but describing the Texans' performance to this point as anything better than dismal is sugarcoating and/or propaganda. If grasping for a marketing slogan about the most credible they could go with right now is "At least we're not the Falcons!" On the other hand, the Falcons own their first and second round draft picks next spring.
The Texans' run defense has been a sieve thus far, yielding 5.2 yards per carry. Sunday it has to contend with Dalvin Cook who's coming off a 22 carry 181 yard day vs. the Titans.
Doc Rivers won't be coaching the Rockets
The 76ers Thursday hired Doc Rivers as their new Head Coach. The Clippers may hire Tyronn Lue. Both had been mentioned for the Rockets' opening created when Mike D'Antoni basically told the organization to take a hike. Whichever direction the Rockets go among other candidates, I'm pretty sure Tilman Fertitta will not be heartbroken at his next head coach coming in at a lower salary tier.
Buzzer Beaters:
1. The Miami Heat led game one of the NBA Finals 23-10, then the Lakers obliterated them 77-32 over the next 24 minutes of play. Barring a LeBron/Anthony Davis injury, the series is over.
2. It's just three games out of 16, but DeAndre Hopkins is on pace for 170 receptions. 170. One. Seventy. Michael Thomas set the NFL record last season with 149.
3. Justin Verlander had his Tommy John surgery this week. More positive elbow mentions: Bronze-macaroni Silver-room Gold-grease
Will Houston's offense improve with a new OC calling the shots? Photo by Alex Bierens de Haan/Getty Images.
As quarterback C.J. Stroud returns to lead the Houston Texans for a third season, his offense has a much different look than it did a year ago.
Top receiver Nico Collins and leading rusher Joe Mixon are back. But the Texans have a new offensive coordinator in Nick Caley after Bobby Slowik was fired and longtime left tackle Laremy Tunsil was traded to the Commanders in the offseason.
In other moves on offense, Houston traded for receiver Christian Kirk, signed receiver Justin Watson and drafted Iowa State receivers Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel before signing running back Nick Chubb last month.
Chubb should get a lot of work early in camp with Mixon opening camp on the non-football injury list after missing minicamp with an ankle injury.
“Every year you’re looking to add more and more to your team,” coach DeMeco Ryans said Wednesday as the Texans opened camp. “I’m excited about the receivers that we’ve added. The young guys, Noel, Higgins, also with Kirk, Watson, all the guys we’ve added at those spots will definitely enhance our offense, giving us more options for where the football can go, and that will help our quarterback a lot.”
It’s officially training camp szn ‼️ pic.twitter.com/WBYXQE8myg
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) July 23, 2025
The Texans needed depth at receiver after veterans Stefon Diggs and Robert Woods left in free agency and with Tank Dell out indefinitely recovering from a gruesome knee injury sustained in December.
Even though it’s early, Stroud has already been impressed by his rookie receivers. Higgins, who has been compared to Collins, had 87 receptions for 1,183 yards and nine touchdowns last season for the Cyclones and Noel added 80 catches for 1,194 yards and eight scores.
“They’ve came in with a great mindset,” Stroud said. “They are really mature guys. Guys who love to work, consistently, here at the building or working with me in the offseason. So, I’m really excited to see those guys’ growth and see them take a step forward each and every day. Not going to be perfect for them, but I think they’re going to make a lot of plays.”
I am speed 🏃♂️ pic.twitter.com/Z6tjqebi1z
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) July 23, 2025
While the Texans addressed their need at receiver, their most pressing issue is improving the offensive line after Stroud was sacked 52 times last season, which ranked second in the NFL. Though Tunsil was penalty-prone he was Houston’s most consistent lineman and replacing him won’t be easy.
Second-round pick Aireontae Ersery could be Houston’s left tackle of the future after starting 38 games at the position over three seasons at Minnesota. But veteran Cam Robinson will likely open the season at left tackle while Ersery adjusts to the NFL.
Ryans knows everyone is concerned about the offensive line after Stroud was sacked eight times in a 23-14 loss to the Chiefs in the divisional round of the playoffs last season.
“I know I’m going to get a ton of questions about the offensive line and what it looks like,” Ryans said. “You guys will see what it looks like when we line up across from another team and we get a chance to actually compete in live reps. Me talking to you is probably not going to convince anybody here … we’ll see what it looks like, man. I’m excited about the group because I know they’ll be better.”
Stroud is also looking to take another step after leading the Texans to the postseason in each of his first two seasons. Stroud threw for 3,727 yards with 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 17 games last season after winning AP Offensive Rookie of the Year in his debut when he had 4,108 yards passing with 23 TD passes and just five interceptions in 15 games.
He was asked what the biggest lesson he learned last year was that he believes will help him this season.
“Just trust the process,” he said. “It’s not about what people think, who people think you are, what they think you are or when they think you should do it. It’s about your process and how you’re going to go about it. If God is happy, your teammates are happy and yourself, then you’re good.”
You can watch Stroud discuss his growth as a QB in the video below.
'I've grown a lot' #Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud @CJ7STROUD @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/OOMIWpC8zF
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) July 23, 2025