Community Picks: Oakland Athletics 0% vs Houston Astros 0%

HOUSTON — A subplot to Friday night’s game at Minute Maid Park is one that will likely repeat itself often over the next few years. The A’s and Astros boast two of the better young third basemen in the American League in Matt Chapman and Alex Bregman. Both are under 25, excellent with the glove and sure to face each other plenty as AL West opponents. The difference right now is Bregman is a key piece to a team likely to contend for the World Series. Dallas Keuchel dominated the A’s on the mound Friday, but he got a huge assist from his 23-year-old third baseman. Bregman made several standout defensive plays and drilled an opposite-field homer off Sean Manaea in the Astros’ 3-1 victory. Paying Continue to Article

August 19, 2017 11:53:pm EST

As the Astros keep losing, the pressure to do something to keep their magical season on track is growing, and it appears a big-ticket addition remains on the table. Houston and Detroit are discussing parameters of a deal involving Tigers ace Justin Verlander, FanRag Sports reported Tuesday. Verlander-to-Houston chatter has been rampant in recent weeks, and there are any number of reasons for the Astros to make the move. Continue to Article

August 15, 2017 12:07:pm EST

Mama said there’d be days like this. In the middle of the rebuild, it’s hard to call an embarrassing blowout loss unexpected. These types of things are going to happen while the team of the future develops down in the minor leagues. But anyone who was inside Guaranteed Rate Field on Sunday afternoon or watching from home saw just how low the lows can get while that plan plays out. Derek Holland gave up seven runs and left before an out was recorded in the third inning. The visiting Kansas City Royals poured seven more runs on the White Sox bullpen over the course of another South Side marathon. Errors and mental mistakes were made in the field. And the prized prospect who’s supposed to be the Continue to Article

August 13, 2017 10:32:pm EST

Jose Abreu went the extra mile this week to help out some Latinos on the visiting Houston Astros. Yuli Gurriel, a 33-year-old Cuban rookie who plays for the Astros, talked with La Vida Baseball's Clemson Smith Muniz to discuss getting accustomed to the United States from Cuba. Gurriel said that he has adjusted "okay," and players have been a big reason why. Continue to Article

August 11, 2017 9:12:pm EST

The Houston Astros stood pretty much pat at the trade deadline, adding Francisco Liriano but not much else. This despite the fact that key members of their rotation has spent a lot of time on the disabled list and the fact that other American League contenders made moves to improve themselves. Of course, the Astros had a 16-game lead in their division at the deadline and, even with their current skid, they still possess a 13-game lead. Continue to Article

August 11, 2017 7:44:pm EST