How Texans rookies are igniting the Houston fan base in a big way
RIDING THE WAVE
28 June 2023
Houston Texans rookies CJ Stroud and Will Anderson are both igniting the Texans fan base already.
How are they doing it? Jake Asman caught up with some Texans fans that shared with him why they are so excited about the start of the season. Two of the biggest reasons these fans were pumped about the team were CJ Stroud and Will Anderson.
While the Texans caught some heat for what they traded to move up and draft Will Anderson, it looks like it was a great and necessary move to win the fans back after the infamous Jack Easterby era. At least according to these fans.
The team now has two cornerstones of the franchise, with one on offense and the other on defense.
Plus, the addition of DeMeco Ryans seems to be a great hire to get Houston fans ready to follow the team each and every Sunday.
Which hasn't been the case over the last couple of years. And fans will definitely be looking to see the guys in action at training camp.
Time to go camping 🏕️
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) June 28, 2023
Be sure to check out the video above as ESPN’s Houston's Jake Asman, Brad Kellner, and Cody Stoots lay out the full discussion on The Wheelhouse.
Listen to The Wheelhouse on ESPN Houston 97.5 or 92.5 FM every weekday from 3-7 PM CST!
Astros’ pitching holds firm in nail-biter versus Phillies
Jun 24, 2025, 9:59 pm
Cooper Hummel hit a solo home run in the eighth inning and Framber Valdez and two relievers combined for a four-hitter in the Houston Astros' 1-0 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday night.
There was one out in the eighth when Hummel connected off Ranger Suárez (6-2) on his opposite field shot to the bullpen in right-center field.
COOPER HUMMEL BREAKS THROUGH! #BuiltForThis pic.twitter.com/Kpbikzhujn
— Houston Astros (@astros) June 25, 2025
Valdez (9-4) scattered four hits across seven scoreless innings.
Framber was dialed tonight.#VoteStros ⭐️ @budweiserusa pic.twitter.com/69utvHPZZ2
— Houston Astros (@astros) June 25, 2025
Bryan Abreu struck out one in the eighth and Josh Hader struck out two in the ninth for his 20th save.
The Phillies had a chance to get on the board in the sixth. J.T. Realmuto reached on a throwing error by third baseman Isaac Paredes with one out in the inning and stole second base. Valdez walked Otto Kemp but Edmundo Sosa grounded into a double play to end the inning.
The Astros were hitless until Yainer Diaz singled on a grounder to right field to start Houston’s sixth and Hummel followed with a single to right field. Mauricio Dubón grounded into a double play that left Diaz at third before Suárez walked Jeremy Peña. But Suárez struck out Paredes to escape the jam.
Suárez yielded four hits and a run with seven strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings.
Key moment
The home run by Hummel was his second since he was selected from Triple-A Sugar Land on June 14.
Julia Morales caught up with Hummel after the big win!
After the win, @JuliaMorales was seen Hangin' with Mr. Cooper. pic.twitter.com/XlezkpdUnn
— Space City Home Network (@SpaceCityHN) June 25, 2025
Key stat
Suárez is the first Philadelphia starter to earn nine straight quality starts in his first 10 starts of the season since Aaron Harang did so in 2015, according to stats provided by the Phillies from the Elias Sport Bureau.
Up next
Philadelphia RHP Zack Wheeler (7-2, 2.81 ERA) opposes LHP Colton Gordon (2-1, 4.54) when the series continues Wednesday night.
