Astros' Justin Verlander is flying up all-time rankings of Houston athletes
H-TOWN'S BEST
05 October 2022
Justin Verlander had Tommy John surgery in 2020. But at age 39, he may have put together his best career season, leading the American League with 18 wins and a 1.75 ERA, the best mark in the AL since Pedro Martinez in 2000.
He's a lock to win the AL Cy Young Award, which would be his second in Houston. He also helped the Astros win a World Series and go to another. So where does he rank all time among Houston athletes?
Paul's rankings... 1. Hakeem Olajuwon 2. Jose Altuve 3. Justin Verlander 4. Moses Malone 5. J.J. Watt 6. Earl Campbell 7. Nolan Ryan 8. Jeff Bagwell 9. Craig Biggio 10. Andre Johnson
That's right. No James Harden. Fight me.
Check out the video above to watch the full conversation.
Listen live to the Paul Gallant Show every weekday 10 - noon CT on ESPN 97.5 & 92.5 Houston.
Nolan Arenado homered and Brendan Donovan went 4 for 4, helping Sonny Gray and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Houston Astros 8-3 on Monday night.
Arenado also doubled twice and scored two runs in the opener of a three-game series. Donovan extended his hitting streak to 10 games.
Gray (3-0) pitched seven scoreless innings. He allowed three hits, struck out four and walked one.
The Cardinals have won Gray's last eight home starts dating to last season.
Astros left-hander Framber Valdez (1-2) was tagged for seven runs — six earned — in four-plus innings. Five of the 10 hits he allowed were doubles.
Arenado hit a solo drive off Luis Contreras in the eighth. It was his second homer of the season.
The Cardinals broke it open with three runs in the fourth and three more in the fifth.
Pedro Pagés hit a two-run double to make it 3-0 in the fourth. Nolan Gorman's sacrifice fly extended the lead to 7-0 in the fifth.
Donovan scored twice and drove in a run. He is batting an NL-high .391.
Houston's Jeremy Peña hit a three-run homer off Roddery Muñoz with two outs in the ninth.
Key moment
Arenado drove in the first run in the fifth. He fouled off four straight offerings in a 10-pitch at-bat before ripping an RBI double to left.
Key stat
Gray set the tone when he retired Jose Altuve, Isaac Paredes and Yordan Alvarez in order in the first inning. The Astros’ only hit off Gray through five was catcher Yainer Diaz’s infield single in the second.
Up next
Astros right-hander Hunter Brown (1-1, 2.00 ERA) starts on Tuesday night. Right-hander Erick Fedde (1-1, 4.50 ERA) makes his fourth start for the Cardinals.
Most Popular
SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome
Listen Live
