CJ Stroud hasn't had much luck when targeting Tank Dell. Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images.
We’re just two games into the Texans' 2024 season, and patterns are already emerging in how the top three receivers are being targeted.
It appears Nico Collins (18 targets, 14 receptions) is picking up where he left off in 2023 as the top option for CJ Stroud. Stefon Diggs comes in second with 10 catches in two games.
Which means Tank Dell is the clear third option at this point in the season, with only 4 catches. To be fair, Dell only has one less target than Diggs, but the Stroud-Dell connection hasn't lived up to expectations so far.
However, we have to keep in mind, ESPN Houston's Lance Zierlein heard from a source that Dell could be the odd man out in the offense this year.
So far, that appears to be the case.
Be sure to watch the video above as ESPN Houston's John Granato and Lance Zierlein share their thought's on Dell's role in the offense, and much more!
Dylan Cease pitched brilliantly into the ninth inning and Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Donovan Solano hit consecutive homers in the eighth for the San Diego Padres, who beat the AL West-leading Houston Astros 4-0 on Wednesday.
Machado homered twice for the Padres, who won two of three against the Astros and stayed two games ahead of Arizona for the first NL wild card. The Astros came in with a five-game division lead over Seattle.
Cease (14-11), who threw his first career no-hitter on July 25 at Washington, took a one-hitter into the ninth before Mauricio Dubón beat out an infield single to shortstop. Cease struck out Jake Meyers but then shortstop Xander Bogaerts booted Jose Altuve's grounder for an error that allowed Dubón to take third, and that was it for the right-hander after 103 pitches.
Cease retired the first 15 Astros batters before allowing a single to right field by Jason Heyward to open the sixth. Cease then retired the side.
Cease struck out five and walked none. Tanner Scott got two outs for his 21st save.
Machado, who has 29 homers, lined a shot to left-center off Framber Valdez opening the sixth.
Tatis, who struck out in his first three at-bats, hit reliever Kaleb Ort's first pitch into the first row in left-center leading off the eighth. It was his 19th. Machado followed with a shot deep into the seats in left and Solano hit a liner to left, his seventh. That was it for Ort, who threw just nine pitches.
Valdez (14-7) went seven innings, allowing one run and five hits while striking out six and walking two.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Padres: 1B/DH Luis Arraez got the day off to rest his sore left knee, which he jammed into home plate while being thrown out on Monday night. Arraez started at DH on Tuesday night.
UP NEXT
Astros: LHP Yusei Kikuchi (9-9, 4.29 ERA) is scheduled to start Thursday night in the opener of a four-game home series against the Los Angeles Angels, who will go with LHP José Suarez (1-2, 6.80).
Padres: Hadn't announced their starter for Friday night's home series opener against the Chicago White Sox.
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