CODY STOOTS

Texans player of the game: DeAndre Hopkins

Texans player of the game: DeAndre Hopkins
DeAndre Hopkins almost singlehandedly beat the Cowboys. Tim Warner/Getty Images

DeAndre Hopkins set the Texans up for plenty of success today but none bigger than his overtime dash to get the Texans into field goal range for the game-winning kick in the 19-16 win over the Cowboys. 

Hopkins beat his man catching the ball and spinning out of a tackle for a 49-yard gain on the biggest offensive play of the night. A few plays later the Texans kicked a field goal for a win. 

"I think it was man to man," he said. "Deshaun (Watson) put the ball on the money."

Hopkins joked his spin moves on the big play didn't make him dizzy but said he was trying to set the Texans up for a win knowing the team needed just a field goal. 

"I fumbled, but I knew I had to make a play," Hopkins said. "I wasn't trying to go down easy."

He contributed without making a play as well. In the fourth quarter with the game tied Hopkins flew into the end zone drawing a pass interference as he came up short on the catch. The penalty set the Texans up for a field goal to take the lead later in the drive. 

A rare Hopkins mistake led to a Dallas score. On the third play out of halftime, Hopkins caught a pass and was tangled up with the Cowboys defense, which ripped the ball from his hands. It would lead to the lone Dallas touchdown on the ensuing Cowboys drive. 

"I was just trying to make a play," he said. Hopkins said he felt like his progress was stopped so he tried to reach for more before the Dallas players dislodged the ball. 

Defense was also on the box score for Hopkins as well. He batted down the Cowboys final pass attempt in regulation helping to send the game to overtime. Hopkins stood in the end zone waiting for the Dak Prescott pass knocking it out and down to the ground amongst a big pile of players. 

All together Hopkins rattled off another impressive line. He caught nine passes for 151 yards. He made up for his mistake in the third quarter by drawing a big pass interference call and a huge overtime play to set the Texans up for the winning kick. 

He's almost unguardable at this point. Hopkins really isn't slowed in any way these days, getting open with even the stingiest defenses on him. He's arguably the most consistent wideout in football, succeeding even on a day when the offense sputters and has a tough time getting into a flow. 

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Kyle Tucker returns to Houston this weekend. Composite Getty Image.

Two first-place teams, identical records, and a weekend set with serious measuring-stick energy.

The Houston Astros and Chicago Cubs open a three-game series Friday night at Daikin Park, in what could quietly be one of the more telling matchups of the summer. Both teams enter at 48-33, each atop their respective divisions — but trending in slightly different directions.

The Astros have been red-hot, going 7-3 over their last 10 while outscoring opponents by 11 runs. They've done it behind one of the best pitching staffs in baseball, with a collective 3.41 ERA that ranks second in the American League. Houston has also been dominant at home, where they’ve compiled a 30-13 record — a stat that looms large heading into this weekend.

On the other side, the Cubs have held their ground in the NL Central but have shown some recent shakiness. They're 5-5 over their last 10 games and have given up 5.66 runs per game over that stretch. Still, the offense remains dangerous, ranking fifth in on-base percentage across the majors. Kyle Tucker leads the way with a .287 average, 16 homers, and 49 RBIs, while Michael Busch has been hot of late, collecting 12 hits in his last 37 at-bats.

Friday’s pitching matchup features Houston’s Brandon Walter (0-1, 3.80 ERA, 1.10 WHIP) and Chicago’s Cade Horton (3-1, 3.73 ERA, 1.29 WHIP), a promising young arm making one of his biggest starts of the season on the road. Horton will have his hands full with Isaac Paredes, who’s slugged 16 homers on the year, and Mauricio Dubón, who’s found a groove with four home runs over his last 10 games.

It’s the first meeting of the season between these two clubs — and if the trends continue, it may not be the last time they cross paths when it really counts.

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Astros -112, Cubs -107; over/under is 8 1/2 runs

Here's a preview of Joe Espada's Game 1 lineup.

The first thing that stands out is rookie Cam Smith is hitting cleanup, followed by Jake Meyers. Victor Caratini is the DH and is hitting sixth. Christian Walker is all the way down at seventh, followed by Yainer Diaz, and Taylor Trammell who is playing left field.

How the mighty have fallen.

Pretty wild to see Walker and Diaz hitting this low in the lineup. However, it's justified, based on performance. Walker is hitting a pathetic .214 and Diaz is slightly better sporting a .238 batting average.

Screenshot via: MLB.com



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