Why Texans first battle of the draft picks means much more than initially thought
TEXANS ON TAP
23 October 2023
TEXANS ON TAP
Coming off a huge win over the Saints, the Texans went into the off week with some important things to improve on. Sacking the quarterback has to be a main focus against Bryce Young and the Panthers, with Houston currently dead last in sacks with 8.
On offense, the Texans will look to improve their rushing attack, and this is the perfect spot to do it. The Panthers are second to last in rushing yards allowed per game (144 yards) and that makes sense considering the Panthers have also surrendered the second most points allowed per game (31ppg).
It will be interesting to see if Devon Singletary continues to get more touches, or if the team commits to Dameon Pierce in a tantalizing matchup.
What does Vegas think?
Houston is favored by 3 points on the road, so they're expected to come away with a victory in a matchup between the top 2 QBs in the 2023 draft.
One thing to keep in mind, the Panthers' poor numbers on defense are a bit skewed, as they were torched by the Dolphins and Lions (allowing 42 points in both games) before they hit the off week. Either way, the team is 0-6 so, a loss to the Panthers would be a big disappointment to Texans fans.
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José Soriano and two relievers combined for a two-hitter and Oswald Peraza hit his first home run since a trade from the Yankees to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 3-0 win over the Houston Astros on Sunday.
Soriano (10-9) allowed one hit and struck out eight in seven innings. Luis García allowed one hit in a scoreless eighth and Kenley Jansen threw a perfect ninth for his 25th save.
There were two outs in the fifth when Peraza connected off Hunter Brown (10-7) into the bullpen in right-center field to put the Angels up 1-0. His homer comes after his two-run single in the ninth inning Saturday helped Los Angeles to a 4-1 victory that snapped a three-game skid.
Yoan Moncada walked to start the eighth and scored on Mike Trout’s double that bounced off the wall in center field to make it 2-0. Taylor Ward walked before Luis Rengifo reached and Trout scored on an error by Lance McCullers Jr. when the pitcher overthrew first base.
Yordan Alvarez singled with no outs in the first and Soriano walked a batter in the second and sixth innings. The Astros didn’t get another hit until Ramón Urías doubled with one out in the eighth inning. Los Angeles outfielder Taylor Ward was injured trying to make a catch on that hit when he crashed face-first into the metal scoreboard in left field.
He was carted off the field holding a towel to the right side of his face. He was taken to a hospital by ambulance where interim manager Ray Montgomery said he would receive stitches to close the cut and be evaluated.
Brown allowed three hits and a run with five strikeouts in six innings. McCullers Jr. allowed three hits and two runs in his first relief appearance since 2018.
The home run by Peraza.
It’s the fifth time the Astros have been shut out this month.
LHP Yusei Kikuchi (6-9, 3.68 ERA) will start for Los Angeles in the series finale Monday against RHP Luis Garcia, who’ll make his return after sitting out since May 2023 recovering from Tommy John surgery.