
Gronk should smash this week. Gronknation.com
QB
- Patrick Mahomes vs. CIN
- Matt Ryan vs. NYG
- Tom Brady @ CHI
- Cam Newton @ PHI
- Jared Goff @ SF
- Andy Dalton @ KC
- James Winston vs. CLE
- Philip Rivers vs. TEN
- Kirk Cousins @ NYJ
- Drew Brees @ BAL
- Baker Mayfield @ TB
- Andrew Luck vs. BUF
- Carson Wentz vs. CAR
- Matt Stafford @ MIA
- Eli Manning @ ATL
RB (Standard)
- Todd Gurley @ SF
- Saquon Barkley @ ATL
- Joe Mixon @ KC
- Melvin Gordon vs. TEN
- Kareem Hunt vs. CIN
- Ezekiel Elliott @ WAS
- Sony Michel @ CHI
- David Johnson vs. DEN
- Phillip Lindsay @ ARI
- Alvin Kamara @ BAL
- Christian McCaffrey @ PHI
- Carlos Hyde @ TB
- James White @ CHI
- Tevin Coleman vs. NYG
- Adrian Peterson vs. DAL
- Mark Ingram @ BAL
- Tarik Cohen vs. NE
- Alex Collins vs. NO
- Matt Breida vs. LAR
- Kerryon Johnson @ MIA
- LeSean McCoy @ IND
- Marlon Mack vs. BUF
- Jordan Howard vs. NE
- Kenyan Drake vs. DET
- TJ Yeldon vs. HOU
- Isaiah Crowell vs. MIN
- Corey Clement vs. CAR
- Latavius Murray @ NYJ
- Ito Smith vs. NYF
- Royce Freeman @ ARI
WR (Standard)
- 1. Tyreek Hill vs. CIN
- AJ Green @ KC
- Julio Jones vs. NYG
- Odell Beckham, Jr. @ ATL
- Adam Thielen @ NYJ
- Stefan Diggs @ NYJ
- Robert Woods @ SF
- DeAndre Hopkins @ JAX
- Keenan Allen vs. TEN
- Jarvis Landry @ TB
- Mike Evans vs. CLE
- Tyler Boyd @ KC
- Michael Thomas @ BAL
- Brandin Cooks @ SF
- Golden Tate @ MIA
- Kenny Golladay @ MIA
- Allen Robinson vs. NE
- Alshon Jeffery vs. CAR
- John Brown vs. NO
- Sterling Shepard @ ATL
- Josh Gordon @ CHI
- Emmanuel Sanders @ ARI
- Corey Davis @ LAC
- Julian Edelman @ CHI
- Michael Crabtree vs. NO
- Devin Funchess @ ARI
- DeSean Jackson vs. CLE
- Marvin Jones @ MIA
- Demaryius Thomas @ ARI
- Calvin Ridley vs. NYG
- Marquise Goodwin vs. LAR
- Chris Godwin vs. CLE
- Nelson Agholor vs. CAR
- Sammy Watkins vs. CIN
- Keenan Cole vs. HOU
- Taylor Gabriel vs. NE
- Will Fuller @ JAX
- Dede Westbrook vs. HOU
- Mohamed Sanu vs. NYG
- Antonio Callaway @ TB
TE (Standard)
- Travis Kelce vs. CIN
- Rob Gronkowski @ CHI
- Zach Ertz vs. CAR
- David Njoku @ TB
- Eric Ebron vs. BUF
- Trey Burton vs. NE
- Jordan Reed vs. DAL
- George Kittle vs. LAR
- Austin Hooper vs. NYG
- Greg Olsen @ PHI
- OJ Howard vs. CLE
- Kyle Rudolph @ NYJ
- Cameron Brate vs. CLE
- CJ Uzomah @ KC
- Evan Engram @ ATL
D/ST
- Rams @ SF
- Chargers vs. TEN
- Jaguars vs. HOU
- Colts vs. BUF
- Texans @ JAX
- Vikings @ NYJ
- Cardinals vs. DEN
- Ravens vs. NO
- Broncos @ ARI
- Eagles vs. CAR
- Patriots @ CHI
- Redskins vs. DAL
- Bills @ IND
- Bears vs. NE
- Cowboys @ WAS
Most Popular
SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome
The Houston Astros didn’t just sweep the defending champs this weekend, they changed the tone of their season.
Dominant pitching. Star power. Road swagger. The three-game dismantling of the Los Angeles Dodgers at Chavez Ravine wasn’t about revenge or validation. It was about showing, once and for all, that this version of the Astros, short-handed and all, belongs squarely in the conversation with baseball’s elite.
A statement series
The Astros pitching staff was lights out against one of the most dangerous lineups in baseball, holding the Dodgers to just six runs across three games, including two contests where LA managed just a single run. Lance McCullers Jr., much-maligned after getting shelled by the Cubs last week, bounced back in a big way. He worked around four walks, giving up just one run on a solo homer, a much-needed course correction as the Astros evaluate their playoff rotation options.
On the offensive side, the stars delivered in a big way. Jose Altuve torched Dodgers pitching with three home runs, seven RBIs, two walks, and just one strikeout. Christian Walker matched him with six hits of his own, including a pair of long balls and six RBIs.
A shift in expectations?
This wasn’t just a series win. This was a proof of concept.
Houston came into the series already heating up, now they’re officially on fire. Over the last 30 days, the Astros rank third in runs and fifth in RBIs. For the season, they’re top 10 in nearly every key offensive category: eighth in OPS, first in batting average, ninth in slugging. Defensively, the numbers are just as strong. They lead MLB in strikeouts and opponents’ batting average, and rank second in WHIP.
Put it all together, and you’ve got a team with top-five upside in both pitching and offense. The pieces are clicking. The vibes are real. And the Astros suddenly look like a legitimate World Series contender again.
Is help on the way?
Reliever Hector Neris rejoined the team this week, offering a veteran boost to a bullpen that’s been leaned on heavily. Neris brings postseason pedigree and a reputation as a clubhouse leader. The Astros hope a return to familiar surroundings, and the guidance of one of the best pitching development staffs in the league, can get him back on track.
Tayler Scott returns on a minor league deal, and while the move may not turn heads, it adds another layer of depth to a bullpen that’s already one of the league’s best.
Background noise in LA
No Astros-Dodgers series goes by without a little extra noise and this one was no different. During the broadcast, former Cy Young winner and Dodgers analyst Orel Hershiser raised eyebrows by implying that Houston’s offensive surge might not have been entirely on the level.
Predictable? Absolutely. Meaningful? Not even close.
If anything, it’s a weird kind of compliment. No one questions legitimacy when you’re losing. But after a lopsided 18-1 beat down people start reaching for answers, or excuses.
Inside the Astros clubhouse, though, that chatter doesn’t register.
They know exactly what this sweep meant. And so does the rest of the league.
There's so much more to get to! Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday.
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