How Houston Texans training camp is providing big clues into plans at QB
DROPPING CLUES
03 August 2023
Houston Texans training camp is in full swing and we're getting our first look at the QB battle taking place.
Most reports have Davis Mills playing better than CJ Stroud at this early stage of camp, which shouldn't come as a surprise. Mills has so much more experience than Stroud. And what about Case Keenum? If the team wants to go with experience, he has more than all the QBs.
Head coach DeMeco Ryans has said the team is done with the rebuild and looking to win games this year. If we take DeMeco at his word and Mills out plays Stroud throughout the preseason, could Mills be the starter Week 1 against the Ravens?
Plus, the defense is way ahead of the offense right now, which is to be expected this time of year. But should we expect the offense to close the gap as the season gets under way, or will the Texans have to count on the defense to carry the team in 2023?
Be sure to watch the video above as the guys break it all down.
Listen to The Bench with John Granato and Lance Zierlein weekday mornings on ESPN 97.5 and 92.5 FM.
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.
Key moment
The home run by Peraza.
Key stat
It’s the fifth time the Astros have been shut out this month.
Up next
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.
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