Starting tonight, the Astros have three games at the Trop.
Houston has three games against the Tampa Bay Rays, starting tonight at 5:50 PM CT.
This is the second and final series this season
between the Astros and Tampa Bay. The first was earlier this month, with Houston winning the opener o
n August 2 and losing the following two on August 3 and 4.
The Astros are 37-44 in the 81 regular season contests played with Tampa Bay, a .457 winning percentage that ranks as their 27th best against an opponent. The two teams have also faced each other 12 times in the postseason, with the Astros winning the 2019 ALDS in five and losing the 2020 ALCS in seven. Last year, the two split the season with three wins each.
In Houston’s most recent victory over the Rays, on August 2, Jeremy Peña and Yainer Díaz collected a single and a double each, while Jon Singleton and Alex Bregman also finished with multiple hits. Yusei Kikuchi earned no decision in his Houston debut, striking out 11 in 5 2⁄3 innings while allowing two runs. Bryan Abreu (2-1, 2.65) earned the victory in relief, and Josh Hader threw a scoreless ninth for his 22nd save and a 3-2 Astros win.
I threw the changeup still with Toronto, but today I was still able to throw the changeup for strikes, even when I was behind in count, as well as when I was ahead in counts. The way I used that changeup today paid dividends. — Kikuchi
In Houston’s most recent series, they swept the Boston Red Sox out of Fenway Park, culminating in a 10-2 victory on Sunday. Houston also outhit the Crimson Hose by a 13-to-seven spread. Jeremy Peña (10) had three hits, including a home run, Jose Altuve also collected three hits. Yordan Alvarez (25) and Alex Bregman (17) added singles to their home runs. Hunter Brown (10-7, 3.96) struck out nine in 5 1⁄3 innings.
I mean, he hits for average, line to line, and can hit the ball out of the ballpark anywhere. He’s always fun to watch, and he’s very clutch, too. He comes up with clutch moments and always gets his A-swing off. — Bregman, on Alvarez
In Tampa Bay’s most recent game action, they defeated the Baltimore Orioles by a 2-1 final on Sunday. This is after they had previously dropped the first two. In the finale, Tampa Bay survived a 1-0 Rays lead into the seventh before tying it on a Dylan Carson RBI-single. They moved ahead with the final score the next frame, when Brandon Lowe scampered home on a Curtis Mead sacrifice fly. Manuel Rodríguez (2-2, 2.01) earned the win in relief, and Pete Fairbanks collected his 23rd save.
We won that game because B-Lowe was ready to go off Kimbrel once he got to first, and then got to second, picked the pitch to get to third. When you’re pitched tough and hits are tough to come by, like they are right now, sometimes you’ve got to do those things. — Kevin Cash
Gametimes and Starting Pitchers
Monday, 5:50 PM CT: Framber Valdez (11-5, 3.46) vs. Taj Bradley (6-6, 3.07)
Tuesday, 5:50 PM CT: Yusei Kikuchi (5-9, 4.62) vs. Shane Baz (0-1, 4.30)
Wednesday, 5:50 PM CT: Ronel Blanco (9-6, 3.02) vs. Zack Littell (5-8, 4.11)
Standings
Houston Astros: 62-55, .530, first in the AL West, 1⁄2 game ahead of the Seattle Mariners. sixth in the American League, 11th in MLB. Last 10: WWLLLWWWWW. On pace for 86-76. Fangraphs projects 86-76 and a 64.6 percent chance at making the playoffs.
Tampa Bay Rays: 59-58, .504, fourth in the AL East, 10 games behind the Baltimore Orioles and the New York Yankees. ninth in the American League, 18th in MLB. Last 10: LLWWLLWLLW. Fangraphs projects 81-81 and a 6.4 percent chance at postseason play.
Heroes and Zeroes (five highest and lowest WPA for the recent series against Boston)
Heroes
Yordan Alvarez +39.0
Alex Bregman +28.0
Spencer Arrighetti +24.4
Hunter Brown +24.3
Josh Hader +22.3
Zeroes
Chas McCormick -4.0
Jeremy Peña -5.6
Ronel Blanco -10.8
Yainer Díaz -12.1
Zach Dezenzo -19.6