Houston Rockets torch passed: Here's who is carrying it now
NEW BLOOD
28 November 2023
Rockets' Alperen Sengun recently was a guest on Paul George's podcast and spoke about a conversation he had with James Harden.
He said Harden told him he was proud of him. This led George to saying he thinks this means the torch has been passed from Harden to Sengun.
Which made us wonder, is this now Sengun's team? Or is that a little premature and the true leader of the team is head coach Ime Udoka or Fred VanVleet?
Plus, Jalen Green has responded positively from being benched. Is this proof that Ime Udoka has the team taking more accountability and heading in the right direction?
Be sure to watch the video above as we break it all down!
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Astros fall flat as Tigers cap dominant series win
Aug 20, 2025, 3:08 pm
Dillon Dingler tripled in a six-run first inning and the Detroit Tigers finished a sweep of the Houston Astros with a 7-2 win on Wednesday.
Dingler added a double and scored twice as the Tigers won for the seventh time in eight games. The Astros have lost four straight.
Charlie Morton (9-10) allowed two runs on three hits and three walks in six innings.
Framber Valdez (11-7) gave up seven runs, matching a season high, in five innings. He is 0-3 in his last five starts.
The Tigers scored five runs before Valdez recorded an out. Jahmai Jones and Gleyber Torres started the first with walks, Andy Ibáñez hit an RBI single and Spencer Torkelson made it 2-0 with a double.
Valdez’s first wild pitch allowed Ibáñez to score, and after Riley Greene walked, Valdez threw another wild pitch to let Torkelson score the fourth run.
Dingler then tripled off the wall in center. Taylor Trammell hit the fence while trying to make the play and ended up leaving the game on a cart.
Manager Joe Espada spoke with MLB.com's Brian McTaggart after the game and said Trammell is being evaluated for a concussion, but will head to Baltimore with the club.
Taylor Trammell was being evaluated for a concussion, but will travel with the club to Baltimore. Espada said he's getting looked at for his back and his neck was stiff.
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) August 20, 2025
Valdez finally got an out when Wenceel Pérez grounded out, but Javier Báez hit an RBI single to make it 6-0.
Báez made it a seven-run game in the third with another RBI single. The Astros ended their 31-inning scoreless streak on Mauricio Dubón’s two-run homer in the fourth.
Mauricio Dubón!!!!! pic.twitter.com/xNjo8RNUxt
— Space City Home Network (@SpaceCityHN) August 20, 2025
Key moment
Houston nearly ended their scoreless streak in the third inning. Jeremy Peña led off with a double and took third on Carlos Correa’s fly ball to right. Morton, though, got Jose Altuve and Christian Walker to pop out to short.
Key stat
The game was Detroit’s 13th in 13 days.
Up next
Houston visits Baltimore for a four-game series. RHP Jason Alexander (3-1, 4.74) is scheduled to start Thursday’s opener against RHP Brandon Young (1-6, 5.68).
Detroit begins a series Friday at Kansas City. RHP Casey Mize (12-4, 3.63) is scheduled to start for the Tigers.
