How these surprising Texans projections could unfold sooner than expected
NUMBER CRUNCHING
16 August 2023
NUMBER CRUNCHING
Across the NFL, teams are putting their depth charts together for the 2023 season, and the Indianapolis Colts announced this week that Anthony Richardson will be their starting QB week one. Bryce Young has also already been labeled QB 1 for the Panthers.
Texans' CJ Stroud is the remaining first round QB in the 2023 draft class, and his designation has yet to be revealed. Is it a foregone conclusion that he'll line up as the starting QB week one against the Ravens? Or could Davis Mills or Case Keenum be in the mix for the starting job?
Plus, what should our expectations be for DeMeco Ryans' defense? One media member believes they could sneak into the Top 10 this year. Could he be right? Are we sleeping on this defense?
Be sure to watch the video above as the guys share their thoughts on the Texans' outlook in 2023.
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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.