Very fast recap of the disaster last week. Keeping this short and sweet. No need to elaborate when your 11 year old daughter could pick better games blind and high on candy.
3 Team 10 point teaser (L)
Pats +1 Fire Brady
Texans +4.5 Fire Everyone.
Auburn +15.5 Never mattered because the Texans suck and Brady is now 1,562-2 at home in the regular season vs the AFC.
Giants +4 @ Dallas Can’t cap ODB not playing and the Cowboys RB situation. My fault. (L)
YTD Record (2-6) (-$205) WE WILL REBUILD.
3 Team 10 point teaser. (Risking $60 to win $50)
Baltimore +2 The Browns can not move the ball against this defense.
Oakland -3.5 The Jets are a joke.
Denver +12.5 Give me a live home dog + double digits.
Risking $55 to win $50
Baltimore/Cleveland Under 39– Games tend to stay under when the AFC North squares off. Cleveland should really struggle to score.
USC/Texas Over 67– Both teams can score points. If Texas can get to 21 I think this goes over.
Texas Tech/Arizona St Over 76– (2 UNITS) Risking $110 to win $100. This game could get into the 100’s. Texas Tech has scored 50 or more points in 11 of their last 13 home games. Last years score was 68-55. This will be our first 2 unit play of the year.
I might add one more on Saturday. Fade at your own will.
Last week I mentioned dogs that cover in the NFL usually win the game more times than not. Meaning the points never come into play. Last week that idea went 4-1- the Jags, Lions, Raiders, and Chiefs all covered and won straight up. The only dog to cover last week and not win was the Browns. The Chargers and Bears pushed- depending on your closing number.
If you have any questions feel free to hit me up on twitter. @jayoff288
Yainer Diaz is looking more comfortable at the plate. Composite Getty Image.
After dropping a frustrating series to the Chicago White Sox, the Houston Astros find themselves in a familiar position—searching for answers, but still within striking distance. Despite their inconsistency, Houston sits just three games behind the AL West-leading Mariners, who are currently 7 games over .500 and riding an 8-2 stretch. For as up-and-down as the Astros have been, the division remains tantalizingly close.
That inconsistency was on full display throughout the White Sox series. Jake Meyers and Zach Dezenzo each played the roles of both hero and heartbreaker. Dezenzo launched a massive home run in Game 3, a moment that energized the dugout and briefly shifted momentum. But his costly defensive error later in the game flipped the script. Meyers was a spark plug in Houston’s lone win, delivering a clutch performance at the plate, only to run the team out of a rally in the finale when he was picked off second—right before Jeremy Peña ripped what would have been an RBI single.
Jose Altuve’s struggles are quietly becoming more worrisome. He’s recorded just one multi-hit game since April 19 and has only one homer since April 8. On Sunday, he swung at the first pitch after Lance McCullers had grinded through a 33-pitch inning—a decision that raised questions about his awareness in a veteran moment. Should manager Joe Espada have reminded Altuve of the situation? Or is this on Altuve, who should have known what to do as one of the team leaders?
Signs of life
There are flickers of life from the bats. Last week, Houston's team OPS was an underwhelming .667 (23rd in MLB), with a slugging percentage of .357 (25th). They've nudged those numbers up to .684 (19th) and .370 (21st), respectively. It’s modest progress, but enough to suggest this offense might be trending in the right direction. Still, their 5-5 record over the last 10 games feels emblematic of who they are right now—a .500 team with both talent and flaws.
Looking ahead
The upcoming schedule could be a turning point. Three of the next five opponents have losing records, and none of them are elite. This stretch offers a prime opportunity for Houston to finally build momentum and close the gap in the division—assuming the Mariners cool off from their current tear, which seems inevitable given their unsustainable 8-2 pace.
McCullers is officially back!
Lance McCullers returned for the first time since 2022 and, despite being limited to 3.2 innings due to command issues (three walks and a hit batter), there were encouraging signs. His velocity was there, and the stuff looked sharp. It’s a start, and perhaps a step toward stabilizing a rotation that still needs length.
Steering the ship
Manager Joe Espada, however, continues to draw scrutiny. His decision-making in the finale raised eyebrows again. Giving Isaac Paredes a day off when Yordan Alvarez was already sitting left the lineup depleted. Rather than using promising young infielder/outfielder Cam Smith, he opted for Mauricio Dubón and Brendan Rodgers—a defensive combo that didn't inspire confidence. It feels at times like Espada isn’t prioritizing winning the final game of a series, a pattern that could haunt the team down the stretch.
The plot thickens
Meanwhile, Christian Walker’s slump is dragging on. He went 0-for-5 twice in the last two series and looks out of sync at the plate. The Astros need more from their power hitters if they hope to make a real run. And with Alvarez now heading to the IL with hand inflammation, runs will be even harder to come by.
All told, this team still feels like one hovering just above or below .500. But in a division that remains wide open, the path forward is clear: play better, hope the Mariners come back to earth, and capitalize on a soft schedule. The race is far from over—but it’s time for Houston to start acting like contenders.
We have so much more to discuss. 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!
*ChatGPT assisted.
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