Inaugural eSports Event
Houston Outlaws watch party at The Cannon
Jan 11, 2018, 11:30 am
The Houston Outlaws kick off their inaugural season this Thursday night. The Cannon/Facebook
The city of Houston has another professional team to root for, the Houston Outlaws professional e-Sports team. The Houston Outlaws gaming team will begin their season this Thursday, and fans can watch all the action on giant screens inside a large warehouse located at The Cannon right here in Houston. Tonight's game will stream and broadcast live from Los Angeles, and anyone can come out and enjoy all the action at the watch party from 5-10PM. Houston based e-sports company, Mainline, is hosting the watch party for tonight's inaugural season opening match between the Houston Outlaws and the Philadelphia Fusion.
Let me give you some details on the makeup of the league. The Overwatch League consists of two divisions, each with six teams, that compete over a five-month season and reward the winning team with a $1 million prize. The Houston Outlaws, owned by Optic Gaming, have a roster that consists of 10 players that will compete in virtual missions against the Philadelphia Fusion this Thursday.
Fans can attend the event for free, and have several food trucks to choose from if they brought their appetites with them. No Label Brewery will also be in attendance and will offer complimentary beer service to those 21 and over. The entire family is encouraged to come out, but minors need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
If you're a gaming fan or just looking for something to do Thursday night, head over to The Cannon and check out the watch party for the Houston Outlaws inaugural match.
The Houston Astros wrapped up yet another series win this week, this time taking two of three from the struggling Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Despite missing several key players and a bullpen that wasn’t fully available, the Astros continued their recent run of success, pushing their record to 52-35.
Manager Joe Espada appeared to be playing the long game in the rubber match on Thursday. After Houston rallied to tie the game in the seventh inning, Espada stuck with reliever Jordan Weems instead of turning to his high-leverage arms. That decision, while frustrating to some fans hoping for the sweep, underscored the team’s cautious approach to workload management as they navigate a long season.
One bright spot continues to be rookie Cam Smith, who delivered again in the clutch with a two-run triple in the seventh inning on Thursday. Smith has been Houston’s most dependable bat with runners on base and is quickly settling into the cleanup role—a rarity for a first-year player but one he’s earned with his poise and production.
Astros cleanup hitter RBIs this season:
Cam Smith: 10 RBIs in 7 games
All others: 28 RBIs in 80 games
— Matt Kawahara (@matthewkawahara) July 3, 2025
Off the field, the biggest storyline continues to be Yordan Alvarez’s injury. After reports surfaced that the slugger had experienced a setback in his return from a fractured hand, the team clarified that the issue is inflammation, not the fracture itself. Astros general manager Dana Brown said Alvarez received injections to address the irritation and is expected to rest for now. Encouragingly, the Astros say the fracture is no longer a concern, and while there’s still no definitive timeline for his return, the overall tone from the club was optimistic.
The transparency around Alvarez’s situation is part of a larger shift. After being criticized in recent seasons for vague injury updates, the Astros have begun issuing daily availability reports. It’s a move that signals the front office is trying to regain some trust with the media and fans after a stretch of frustrating ambiguity around player health.
Now, the Astros head to Los Angeles for a marquee matchup with the defending champion Dodgers. Friday’s opener will feature Lance McCullers Jr. making just his second start since returning from the injured list. McCullers gave up eight runs in his return against the Cubs and will be under the spotlight as he looks to settle back into form. Control will be the key, as walks have long been McCullers’ Achilles’ heel.
Saturday sets the stage for one of the most anticipated pitching matchups of the season: Framber Valdez versus Shohei Ohtani. With both teams fighting for positioning in their respective divisions, this weekend in LA should serve as a measuring stick—and perhaps a postseason preview.
There's so much more to get to! Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday.
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