Both Framber Valdez and César Salazar were pulled into the manager's office after tonight's game. Afterward, Valdez said through an interpreter that he apologized to Salazar, but said the cross-up was not intentional. More to come.
Astros beat writer, The Athletic crome@theathletic.com
6,351 followers 66 following 1,483 posts
view profile on Bluesky
Both Framber Valdez and César Salazar were pulled into the manager's office after tonight's game. Afterward, Valdez said through an interpreter that he apologized to Salazar, but said the cross-up was not intentional. More to come.
The Astros lost 7-1. They are 76-63. Framber Valdez gave up two home runs to left-handed hitters. The Astros managed five singles against Max Fried and two relievers.
Trent Grisham's grand slam is the third left-on-left home run Framber Valdez has given up this season.
In what will probably not be the last ejection tonight, home-plate umpire Ramon De Jesus just ran José Caballero mid-AB. De Jesus has been awful both ways tonight.
it made zero sense.
That home run by Jazz Chisholm Jr. is just the second left-on-left homer that Framber Valdez has given up this season.
Isaac Paredes and Josh Hader are getting their follow-up imaging done today on their respective injuries, Joe Espada said.
It is a scheduled day off for Yordan Alvarez, Joe Espada said. Alvarez is available off the bench.
This is Jose Altuve's first start in left field since July 28 — a span of 31 games.
The Astros against Max Fried: Peña 6, Correa 5, Altuve 7, Walker 3, Diaz DH, Urías 4, Smith 9, Dubón 8, Salazar 2 Valdez LHP
The Astros won 8-3. They are 76-62. Houston had six hits with a runner in scoring position — one more than it had in the first six games of this homestand. Jose Altuve and Ramón Urías homered. Luis Garcia threw six innings of three-run ball in his return.
Luis Garcia in his first start in 854 days: 6 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 6 K, 79 pitches, 52 strikes, 40 swings, 8 whiffs, 85.6 mph average exit velocity. Garcia's fastball velocity dipped through the outing, but his cutter and sweeper were good enough to keep the Angels off balance.
After going nine up, nine down to start the game, the top of the Angels order has exit velocities of 105.4 mph, 109.1 mph and 105.8 mph off of Luis Garcia here in the fourth inning.
The Astros against Yusei Kikuchi: Peña 6, Alvarez 7, Altuve DH, Correa 5, Walker 3, Diaz 2, Urías 4, Smith 9, Dubón 8 Garcia RHP
Astros-Yankees probables Tues: Framber Valdez vs. Max Fried Wed: Jason Alexander vs. Will Warren Thurs: Cristian Javier vs. Carlos Rodón
The Astros activated Taylor Trammell and Luis Garcia from the IL. Infielder Logan Davidson was DFAd to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for Garcia.
The Astros are searching for ‘a collective approach’ after anemic August - www.nytimes.com/athletic/658...
New @Crush_City_Pod with @tylercstafford - An anemic offensive August - Approach? - Lance McCullers Jr.'s relief debut - Cristian Javier and Spencer Arrighetti impressed Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c... Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/3ldf... YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdRp...
The Astros are searching for ‘a collective approach’ after anemic August - www.nytimes.com/athletic/658...
Luis Garcia will start for the Astros tomorrow.
The Astros lost 3-0. They are 75-62. Houston has scored two runs or fewer in 11 of its past 18 games. The lineup had two hits today and did not have a runner reach third base. Hunter Brown was good again.
A very ugly scene here at Daikin Park, where Angels left fielder Taylor Ward ran face first into the out of town scoreboard and appears to be bleeding profusely. Trainers from both teams are tending to him and play is stopped.
Lance McCullers Jr. has the seventh. It is the fourth regular-season relief appearance of his major-league career and first since 2018.
Hunter Brown against the Angels: 6 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 5 K, 94 pitches, 52 strikes, 35 swings, 6 whiffs, 81.9 mph average exit velocity allowed. Brown's ERA after 161.2 innings is 2.34.
Hunter Brown has needed 57 pitches to get his first nine outs this afternoon. Both Bryan Abreu and Bryan King have pitched three out of the past four days. Both Enyel De Los Santos and Craig Kimbrel have pitched the past two days.
Astros GM Dana Brown told the team's pregame radio show that Luis Garcia could start a game "within the next 48 hours." Manager Joe Espada said he'd announce Monday's starter after today's game.
The Astros against José Soriano: Peña 6, Alvarez 7, Altuve DH, Correa 5, Sánchez 9, Walker 3, Diaz 2, Urías 4, Melton 8 Brown RHP
The Astros won 2-0. They are 75-60. Cristian Javier threw six hitless innings. The Angels handed the Astros a seventh-inning run and Houston manufactured another in the eighth. The Mariners gave a game away in Cleveland, so Houston leads the AL West by three games.
These two teams are a combined 1-for-15 with runners in scoring position and have stranded 14 baserunners. The Astros loaded the bases with no outs in the fourth inning and did not score. The Angels had runners at the corners with no outs in the seventh and also did not score.
The Angels began the seventh inning with two hits off Enyel De Los Santos, spoiling the Astros' combined no-hit bid.
Cristian Javier against the Angels: 6 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, 85 pitches, 51 strikes, 36 swings, 9 whiffs, 84.2 mph average exit velocity, .080 xBA on 12 balls in play. Javier departs with a no-hitter intact. His ERA after five starts is 3.38.
I've covered seven no-hitters and done this during every one of them. it does not matter.
Cristian Javier is through six hitless innings on 85 pitches. The Astros had Enyel De Los Santos warming throughout the sixth inning, so I can't imagine Javier is much longer for this game.
Cristian Javier is no-hitting the Angels through five innings at Daikin Park. He's walked three batters and thrown 76 pitches. Javier hasn't thrown more than 85 in any start since coming back from Tommy John surgery.
Mike Trout is now 0-for-13 with nine strikeouts in his career against Cristian Javier
The Astros against Tyler Anderson: Peña 6, Alvarez DH, Altuve 4, Correa 5, Walker 3, Sánchez 7, Diaz 2, Smith 9, Dubón 8 Javier RHP
New Crush City Territory episode - Astros second-rounder Ethan Frey stops by for a conversation - Lance McCullers Jr. heads to the bullpen - Yordan Alvarez's return Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c... Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/6lkv... YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctqO...
The Astros won 4-3. They are 74-60. Christian Walker hit two home runs. Jose Altuve hit another.
Jason Alexander against the Rockies: 5.2 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 8 K, 87 pitches, 56 strikes, 47 swings, 16 whiffs, 92.2 mph average exit velocity. You can stuff your sorries in a sack, mister. Alexander's ERA as an Astro is 2.96.
Astros move Lance McCullers Jr. to bullpen on ‘short-term’ basis - www.nytimes.com/athletic/658...
scheduled day off as part of the buildup plan
Lance McCullers Jr. is available out of the bullpen, Joe Espada said. Espada characterized the decision as a “short-term” move and hopes it can get McCullers going.
The Astros against Kyle Freeland: Peña 6, Correa 5, Altuve DH, Walker 3, Urías 4, Smith 9, Dubón 7, McCormick 8, Salazar 2 Alexander RHP
What is going on with Luis Garcia? - www.nytimes.com/athletic/658...
Omar López said he received a text from Joe Espada about 30 minutes before the game asking him if he could manage the team. Espada wasn’t feeling well during batting practice, López said, but is now resting at home. López said Espada will be at the ballpark tomorrow.
The Astros won 4-0. They are 73-60. Framber Valdez threw seven scoreless. Yordan Alvarez and Cam Smith homered. The Rockies are 38-95.
Yordan Alvarez's first hit since May is a two-run home run off the batter's eye at Daikin Park. 107 mph and 421 feet.
What is going on with Luis Garcia? - www.nytimes.com/athletic/658...
Cam Smith homered for the first time in 173 plate appearances, pulling a middle-middle fastball into the Crawford Boxes.
Framber Valdez against the Rockies: 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K, 99 pitches, 63 strikes, 51 swings, 17 whiffs, 9 groundouts, 88.0 mph average exit velocity. Valdez found the good curveball, which Colorado whiffed against on 10 of its 17 swings. His ERA is 3.18.
Astros manager Joe Espada is not managing tonight's game because he is "feeling ill," according to the team. Bench coach Omar López is managing in Espada's place.
The Astros could not release their lineup until the Victor Caratini roster move was finalized, so we did not know about Jose Altuve's absence and were therefore unable to ask about it. A team spokesman said it is a "normal off day."
The Astros against Chase Dollander: Peña 6, Alvarez DH, Correa 5, Sánchez 7, Walker 3, Smith 9, Dubón 4, Melton 8, Salazar 2 Valdez LHP
Victor Caratini is officially on the seven-day concussion IL.
Victor Caratini is in concussion protocol. César Salazar is catching Framber Valdez tonight. Yainer Diaz’s hand needs an extra day or two. Yordan Alvarez is DHing.
Victor Caratini took a foul ball off his mask yesterday after taking a similar one in Baltimore last weekend. Yainer Diaz got hit in the wrist by an errant pitch in Baltimore, too.
The Astros are calling up César Salazar and will have a corresponding move later.
New Crush City Territory episode - Yordan Alvarez is back - The worst loss of the season - Is it cool that I said all that? Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c... Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/72mL... YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8aj...
The Astros turned a celebration into a clunker - www.nytimes.com/athletic/657...
The Astros lost 6-1. They are 72-60. Yordan Alvarez went 0-for-2 with two walks in his return. Houston managed five singles and a double. The Astros surrendered four unearned runs to the Colorado Rockies, who improved to 38-94.
Hunter Brown against the Rockies: 6.2 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 7 K, 93 pitches, 64 strikes, 48 swings, 15 whiffs, 84.2 mph average exit velocity. A botched double play ball derailed Brown's outing. Mickey Moniak was a pest. Brown's ERA is 2.37. Only Tarik Skubal has a lower one.
The Rockies scored four unearned runs off of Hunter Brown in the third inning. The Astros had given up just 34 unearned runs as a team in the first 131 games of the season.
The Astros optioned Brice Matthews to clear a spot for Yordan Alvarez
AJ Blubaugh was recalled from Triple-A Sugar Land and John Rooney went on the 15–day IL with “left elbow inflammation.”
The Astros against Tanner Gordon: Peña 6, Correa 5, Altuve DH, Alvarez 7, Walker 3, Sánchez 9, Caratini 2, Dubón 4, Melton 8 Brown RHP
After 100 games away, Yordan Alvarez is back - www.nytimes.com/athletic/657...
The Orioles claimed Shawn Dubin off waivers from the Astros. Dubin was drafted by the Astros in 2018, when Orioles GM Mike Elias was Houston's amateur scouting director.
The Astros will open the 2026 season with a seven-game homestand at Daikin Park against the Angels and Red Sox. Opening Day is March 26 against the Angels.
Failure is testing Astros rookie Cam Smith, and ‘he’s handled it better than anybody’ - www.nytimes.com/athletic/657...
good point. Tucker got sent down, too. didn't include this, but Dave Clark said he reminds Smith that Mike Trout got sent down at one point, too. none of this is linear. tough sport.
Not once has Cam Smith spiked a helmet, broken a bat or blown up a water cooler, at least in the view of cameras capturing his every move. If Smith is holding it in, outfield coach Dave Clark said, “I feel like he’d have come to talk to me about it.” - www.nytimes.com/athletic/657...
Failure is testing Astros rookie Cam Smith, and ‘he’s handled it better than anybody’ - www.nytimes.com/athletic/657...
The Astros lost 3-2. They are 72-59. Spencer Arrighetti pitched well. So did Trevor Rogers. Houston goes 3-4 on a road trip through Detroit and Baltimore.
Spencer Arrighetti against the Orioles: 5.2 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 97 pitches, 67 strikes, 47 swings, 24 foul balls, 3 whiffs, 90.6 mph average exit velocity. A much-needed start for both Arrighetti and the pitching staff. His ERA is 6.21 after 29 innings.
On a day the Astros desperately needed a lengthy start, Spencer Arrighetti has retired 13 Orioles in a row and will start the sixth inning at 81 pitches. The Orioles have swung at 42 of them — and whiffed twice. Arrighetti has lived ahead in the count and gotten weak contact
Presuming Yordan Alvarez comes out of today’s Double-A game feeling good, there is a “strong possibility” he rejoins the Astros during their homestand that starts on Tuesday, Joe Espada said.
Astros-Rockies probables Tues: Hunter Brown vs. Tanner Gordon Wed: Framber Valdez vs. Chase Dollander Thurs: Jason Alexander vs. TBA
The Astros called up John Rooney and optioned AJ Blubaugh.
The Astros are ‘picking each other up,’ but can they sustain their starting pitching woes? - www.nytimes.com/athletic/657...
The Astros against Trevor Rogers: Peña 6, Correa 5, Altuve DH, Walker 3, Diaz 2, Urías 4, Dubón 7, Smith 9, McCormick 8 Arrighetti RHP
The Astros are ‘picking each other up,’ but can they sustain their starting pitching woes? - www.nytimes.com/athletic/657...
The Astros won 9-8. They are 72-58. Houston hit four home runs, including a tiebreaking two-run shot from Christian Walker. Cristian Javier got six outs and put more stress on a bullpen that can't absorb it. Baltimore's fundamental ineptitude handed the Astros a couple runs
AJ Blubaugh saved the Astros' ass tonight: 4 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 64 pitches, 40 strikes, 30 swings, 8 whiffs, 90.5 mph average exit velocity.
Cristian Javier against the Orioles: 2 IP, 3 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 3 K, 65 pitches, 39 strikes, 33 swings, 11 whiffs, 81.7 mph average exit velocity. Staked to a five-run lead before he threw a pitch, Javier got six outs. The Astros have a pitching problem.
Carlos Correa, Jesús Sánchez and Victor Caratini have all homered off Dean Kremer in the first inning at Camden Yards. The Astros lead 5-0. Kremer allowed three hits in seven scoreless innings against the Astros last week at Daikin Park.
Yordan Alvarez will DH tomorrow for Double-A Corpus Christi, Joe Espada said.
The Astros against Dean Kremer: Peña 6, Correa 5, Altuve DH, Sánchez 9, Walker 3, Caratini 2, Urías 4, Dubón 7, Melton 8 Javier RHP
Bennett Sousa has been diagnosed with "low grade flexor/pronator strain," according to the Astros, who say he will not throw for a minimum of two weeks and be re-evaluated in September
The Astros called up AJ Blubaugh and designated Shawn Dubin for assignment
Lance McCullers Jr. feels ‘super close.’ How long can the Astros wait? - www.nytimes.com/athletic/657...
The Astros won 10-7. They are 71-58. Christian Walker and Jeremy Peña each hit three-run homers. The Orioles threw the ball around. A seven-man bullpen had to get 15 outs in a game the Astros led 4-0 in the fourth inning.
Lance McCullers Jr. against the Orioles: 4 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 5 BB, 4 K, 87 pitches, 50 strikes, 35 swings, 9 whiffs, 95.4 mph average exit velocity. His ERA is 6.89 after 48.1 innings.
In a microcosm of their injury-marred season, the Astros welcomed Craig Kimbrel on Friday while putting another important piece of their team on the injured list - www.nytimes.com/athletic/657...
Yordan Alvarez will play left field tonight for Double-A Corpus Christi.
Bennett Sousa is en route to Houston to be examined by team doctors, Joe Espada said. Sousa complained of elbow pain after his outing on Tuesday. The Astros hoped it would abate after resting a couple days. It did not.
The Astros against Cade Povich: Peña 6, Correa 5, Altuve DH, Walker 3, Diaz 2, Urías 4, Dubón 7, Smith 9, McCormick 8 McCullers Jr. RHP
Logan VanWey was optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land to clear a spot on the 26-man roster for Lance McCullers Jr. to make tonight's start. Brandon Walter was moved to the 60-day IL to clear a 40-man spot for Craig Kimbrel.
