Photo by Tom Szczerbowski / Stringer/Getty Images
After they allowed a league-high 65 sacks in 2018, the Houston Texans have been on a mission to upgrade their offensive line to protect their quarterback, Deshaun Watson. Starting with the acquisition of LT Laremy Tunsil and drafting Tytus Howard, the Texans' line took a step in the right direction as Houston gave up a total of 45 sacks during the 2019 season.
With 20 fewer sacks when compared to the previous season, there is still some work that needs to be done to ease Watson's chances from hitting the ground in 2020, and after missing out on their year-long pursuit Trent Williams, the Texans have shifted their focus to former New Orleans Saints guard, Larry Warford, according to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle. If the Texans can find a way to land Warford, the addition of the Pro-Bowl guard has the potential to become Bill O'Brien's best acquisition of the summer. The Chicago bears are also interested in Warford's services according to a recent report.
Source: The #Saints have cut guard Larry Warford, who will be one of the top FAs available.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 8, 2020
In 2013, Warford began his career as a third-round pick for the Detroit Lions before signing a four-year, $34 million deal with the Saints in 2017. In New Orleans, the 6-foot-3, 317-pound prodigy out of Kentucky, started all 44 regular-season games at right guard and became a three-time Pro Bowler. Despite playing a big part in their success over the past three seasons, the Saints released the guard on Friday to free up $7 million in salary-cap space. He specializes in pass protection and has allowed only seven sacks during this three-year tenure in New Orleans, per PFF.
Larry Warford's Overall Grade = 73.1
— PFF (@PFF) May 8, 2020
He ranked 11th among all Guards in 2019 pic.twitter.com/k4Q1J0Cwaq
Should the Texans lure Warford down I-10 West to sign in Houston, the potential signing may mark the end of the current starter, Zach Fulton, who is set to become a free agent following the 2021 NFL season.
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Xavier Edwards went 4 for 5 with a double, Graham Pauley and Heriberto Hernández each hit a solo homer and the Miami Marlins beat Houston 6-4 on Wednesday to snap a seven-game losing streak against the Astros.
Janson Junk (6-2) allowed three runs on five hits with two walks and two strikeouts in five innings. The Marlins are 8-2 in Junk’s 10 starts since joining the rotation June 20.
Lake Bachar pitched a scoreless ninth for his second save.
Liam Hicks, Otto Lopez and Hernández each hit an RBI single off Astros starter Spencer Arrighetti (1-2) in the first to make it 3-2, and the Marlins led the rest of the way.
Edwards doubled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Agustín Ramírez in the second. Hernandez’s homer in the third made it 5-2.
Christian Walker hit a two-run homer in the first inning for Houston. Mauricio Dubón doubled and scored when Carlos Correa followed with another double in the fifth. Victor Caratini added an RBI double in the sixth.
Pauley hit a solo shot to make it 6-3 in the fifth.
Key moment
Pinch-hitter Jeremy Peña singled to load the bases with one out in the Houston eighth, but Calvin Faucher got Cam Smith to ground into a forceout at home and Dubón to pop out to end the threat and preserve Miami’s 6-4 lead.
Key stat
Since June 13, the Marlins (56-57) are 31-16 and have gone 11-3-1 in series play.
Up next
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (9-5, 2.47 ERA) starts Friday night at Yankee Stadium against rookie Cam Schlittler (1-2, 4.58).
Marlins RHP Eury Pérez (4-3, 2.70 ERA) is scheduled to pitch Thursday against Atlanta. The Braves hadn’t announced a starter yet.