GAME PREVIEW
What to know as Astros prepare for showdown with Giants
Jun 10, 2024, 2:57 pm
Spencer Arrighetti takes the hill for Houston Monday night. Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images.
Houston Astros (30-36, third in the AL West) vs. San Francisco Giants (32-34, third in the NL West)
San Francisco; Monday, 9:45 p.m. EDT
PITCHING PROBABLES: Astros: Spencer Arrighetti (3-5, 5.79 ERA, 1.67 WHIP, 55 strikeouts); Giants: Kyle Harrison (4-3, 4.18 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 65 strikeouts)
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK: LINE Astros -120, Giants +100; over/under is 8 runs
BOTTOM LINE: The Houston Astros take on the San Francisco Giants after Jose Altuve had four hits against the Angels on Sunday.
San Francisco is 17-14 in home games and 32-34 overall. The Giants have a 9-4 record in games when they hit at least two home runs.
Houston is 13-18 on the road and 30-36 overall. The Astros are 25-10 in games when they have more hits than their opponents.
The matchup Monday is the first meeting of the season between the two teams.
TOP PERFORMERS: Matt Chapman has eight home runs, 25 walks and 28 RBI while hitting .240 for the Giants. Heliot Ramos is 14-for-36 with a double, four home runs and 11 RBI over the past 10 games.
Yordan Alvarez has 13 home runs, 28 walks and 33 RBI while hitting .292 for the Astros. Alex Bregman is 14-for-38 with two doubles, a triple, four home runs and seven RBI over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Giants: 3-7, .232 batting average, 4.96 ERA, outscored by 14 runs
Astros: 6-4, .265 batting average, 3.54 ERA, outscored opponents by 14 runs
INJURIES: Giants: Blake Snell: 15-Day IL (groin), Marco Luciano: 10-Day IL (undisclosed), LaMonte Wade Jr: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Jung Hoo Lee: 60-Day IL (labrum), Tom Murphy: 60-Day IL (head), Nick Ahmed: 10-Day IL (wrist), Alex Cobb: 60-Day IL (hip), Ethan Small: 60-Day IL (oblique), Austin Warren: 60-Day IL (elbow), Tristan Beck: 60-Day IL (arm), Robbie Ray: 60-Day IL (elbow)
Astros: Alex Bregman: day-to-day (wrist), Kyle Tucker: 10-Day IL (shin), Jose Urquidy: 60-Day IL (forearm), Spencer Arrighetti: day-to-day (calf), Cristian Javier: 15-Day IL (forearm), Oliver Ortega: 60-Day IL (elbow), Bennett Sousa: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Penn Murfee: 60-Day IL (elbow), Luis Garcia: 60-Day IL (elbow), Lance McCullers Jr.: 60-Day IL (elbow), Kendall Graveman: 60-Day IL (elbow)
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Astros show signs of life in blowout win over Brewers
May 7, 2025, 3:25 pm
Houston Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez has a strained muscle at the top of his right hand, a diagnosis that instills optimism he won’t have a prolonged stay on the injured list.
The three-time All-Star went on the 10-day injured list Monday, retroactive to Saturday, and returned to Houston for an MRI that revealed the muscle strain.
“We look at it as good news,” Astros manager Joe Espada said before their Wednesday afternoon game with the Milwaukee Brewers.
Espada expressed hope that Alvarez wouldn’t have to stay on the injured list longer than the required 10 days. He also said the hand issue may have played a role in Alvarez’s slow start.
Alvarez, 27, is hitting .210 with a .306 on-base percentage, three homers and 18 RBIs in 29 games this season. He batted .308 with a .392 on-base percentage, 35 homers and 86 RBIs in 147 games last year while ranking ninth in the AL Most Valuable Player balloting.
He has posted an OPS of at least .959 and has finished 13th or higher in the MVP voting each of the last three seasons.
“Once he heals, once he gets back, I think we’ll see a more aggressive at bat and be not as cautious,” Espada said. “I think it had something to do with it, yes.”
His potential return could go a long way toward boosting an Astros lineup that hasn’t been as productive as usual this season. The Astros entered Wednesday’s action ranked 21st in the majors in runs (136) and 23rd in OPS (.676). Houston has ranked 11th or better in both those categories each of the last four seasons.