ADDING THE HONEY BADGER
Texans make huge splash by signing former Cardinals star Mathieu
Mar 16, 2018, 10:34 pm
Tyrann Mathieu will be a Texan. Christian Petersen/Getty Images
The Texans made their biggest splash yet in free agency Friday night, signing former Cardinals safety Tyrann Mathieu to a one-year deal.
Mathieu, the former LSU star, instantly becomes the most accomplished safety the Texans have ever had. He was an All-Pro in 2015, but injuries made him expendable in Arizona. If he can stay healthy, he provides something the Texans have never had at the position -- a versatile playmaker who can be dynamic.
The former LSU star struggled the last two seasons with injuries. He is not the biggest player in the world, and plays with reckless abandon. The best comparison is probably former Colts safety Bob Sanders.
When healthy, however, he is one of the top safeties in the league. It is a good gamble for the Texans, as it is a one-year deal with little risk. If he is healthy and has a big year, they can pay him. If not? They have lost nothing. The secondary should be much better next season with the addition of the honey badger and Aaron Colvin and the return of Jonathan Joseph.
The Texans still have holes -- left tackle, backup QB and tight end -- but they have fixed a lot of issues over the last few days. And adding Mathieu could be a home run.
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Jeremy Peña and Christian Walker each hit a three-run homer, and the Houston Astros outslugged the Baltimore Orioles 10-7 on Friday night.
A little something to make your day better pic.twitter.com/whwYikHwx2
— Houston Astros (@astros) August 22, 2025
Colton Cowser went deep for Baltimore, but the Orioles couldn’t pull this game out despite twice cutting a four-run deficit to one.
Steven Okert (2-2) got the win in relief for Houston, and the Astros — who are without injured closer Josh Hader and lefty reliever Bennett Sousa — held on. Houston signed veteran reliever Craig Kimbrel and he was with the team, but the AL West-leading Astros didn’t use him. Bryan Abreu struck out four to end the game and get his second save.
Rookie catcher Samuel Basallo, who agreed to an eight-year, $67 million contract before the game, did not start for the Orioles, but entered as a pinch hitter in the seventh and tagged out a runner at the plate the following inning.
Peña’s drive to left capped a four-run third that included two Baltimore errors. Jeremiah Jackson’s two-run double made it 4-3 in the fourth, but after Orioles starter Cade Povich (2-7) was pulled with two outs in the fifth, Yennier Cano came on and immediately gave up Walker’s homer.
The Orioles trailed 7-6 after Cowser’s solo shot in the seventh, but pinch-hitter Victor Caratini’s two-run double in the eighth made it a three-run game, and Peña’s comebacker bounced off reliever Corbin Martin and into shallow right-center field for an RBI double.
Orioles infielder Vimael Machín hit a solo homer in the eighth in his first big league plate appearance since 2022.
Houston starter Lance McCullers Jr. allowed three runs in four innings after coming off the injured list (right finger blister).
Key moment
Jackson nearly made a diving catch on Caratini’s hit with two outs in the eighth, but once the ball got past him in right, two runs scored to make it 9-6.
Adding some insurance! pic.twitter.com/wKoPuHmenr
— Houston Astros (@astros) August 23, 2025
Key stat
The Astros improved to 15-8 in games in which their opponent starts a left-handed pitcher.
Up next
Cristian Javier (1-1) starts for Houston on Saturday night against Dean Kremer (9-9) of the Orioles.