Kush Patel showed up at Minute Maid Park wearing the No. 43 jersey of Houston Astros ace Lance McCullers Jr. and hankering for some baseball.
This time, instead of watching his favorite team, Patel was there to see the Tennessee Volunteers play the Texas Longhorns in a battle of college baseball heavyweights.
HOUSTON (AP) — Framber Valdez was confident he could rein in his emotions — that starting Game 1 of the World Series wouldn’t big too big for him.
Three pitches in, he was already behind.
Jorge Soler sent that third pitch from Valdez into the seats in left field, and he and the Astros couldn’t recover in a 6-2 loss to the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night.
HOUSTON (AP) — Lance McCullers knew there was a “less than 1%” chance that he would be able to pitch in the World Series for the Houston Astros because of a forearm strain. The right-hander waited as long as possible, and didn't beat those odds.
HOUSTON (AP) — The Latest on the World Series (all times local):
2:50 p.m.
Lance McCullers won’t pitch in the World Series for the Houston Astros because of a forearm strain.
HOUSTON (AP) — Framber Valdez will start for the Houston Astros in Game 1 of the World Series against the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night.
Manager Dusty Baker announced Sunday that Valdez would get the nod, but said the team has not decided on a starter for Wednesday's Game 2.
BOSTON (AP) — Houston's pitching staff will need to adjust quickly after allowing 25 runs and 32 hits to Boston in the first three games of the AL Championship Series, a barrage that made the loss of injured Lance McCullers Jr.
HOUSTON (AP) — Houston starter Luis García left Game 2 of the AL Championship Series in the second inning against the Boston Red Sox with right knee discomfort.
The rookie walked Kevin Plawecki leading off the second inning and was then visited on the mound by a trainer and pitching coach Brent Strom.
HOUSTON (AP) — Sidelined for the AL Championship Series, Houston Astros ace Lance McCullers Jr. is heartbroken. He is trying to stay upbeat by helping the rest of his team in its matchup with the Boston Red Sox.
HOUSTON (AP) — Astros ace Lance McCullers Jr. has been left off Houston's roster for the AL Championship Series against Boston because of a strained muscle in arm, a huge blow to a team looking to advance to the World Series for the second time in three seasons.
ST. PETERSBURG (AP) — Randy Arozarena became the first player to hit a home run and steal home in a postseason game, and rookie Shane McClanahan pitched the Tampa Bay Rays to a 5-0 victory over the Boston Red Sox in their AL Division Series opener Thursday night.
HOUSTON (AP) — Lance McCullers Jr. was terrific. Yordan Alvarez delivered, and Jose Altuve scored on a nifty slide.
The Houston Astros sure love October.
McCullers pitched scoreless ball into the seventh inning, and the Astros beat Lance Lynn and the Chicago White Sox 6-1 in Game 1 of their AL Division Series on Thursday.
HOUSTON (AP) — A three-time World Series winner, Chicago White Sox manager Tony La Russa certainly couldn’t be nervous as his team prepares for the opener of a best-of-five AL Division Series against the Houston Astros on Thursday.
HOUSTON (AP) — Lance Lynn will start for the Chicago White Sox in Game 1 of the AL Division Series against the Houston Astros on Thursday.
Manager Tony La Russa announced the decision Wednesday, adding that Lucas Giolito would start Game 2.
HOUSTON (AP) — Left-hander Framber Valdez will start for the Houston Astros in Game 2 of the AL Division Series against the Chicago White Sox on Friday.
Manager Dusty Baker announced the decision Tuesday but did not reveal his rotation past Game 2.
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — This time, the calls went Shohei Ohtani's way.
Ohtani came home on Jack Mayfield's two-run double Thursday night and the Los Angeles Angels defeated the Houston Astros 3-2 to snap a six-game losing streak.
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Houston left-hander Framber Valdez was scratched from his start against Texas on Thursday night, a day after cutting the index finger on his pitching hand.
Manager Dusty Baker said Valdez sustained the cut after putting his hand on the outfield wall during batting practice at the year-old home of the Rangers.
HOUSTON (AP) — Lance McCullers Jr. threw six strong innings, Kyle Tucker homered and the Houston Astros beat the Los Angeles Angels 3-1 on Sunday.
McCullers (12-4) permitted one run on three hits with seven strikeouts.
HOUSTON (AP) — Astros rookie Jake Meyers homered and drove in four runs as Houston jumped on Yusei Kikuchi early and sailed to an 11-2 win over the Seattle Mariners on Monday night.
“This is the kind of game we’re looking for to create some momentum and build some confidence and start a winning streak,” Houston star Jose Altuve said.
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Reid Detmers hasn't exactly eased into the majors. His first three starts for the Los Angeles Angels have been on hot Sunday afternoons against the Athletics, Dodgers and Astros — three of the best teams in the majors.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Lance McCullers Jr. threw 6 2/3 shutout innings and the Houston Astros withstood the raucous, heckling fans at Dodger Stadium to blank Los Angeles 3-0 Tuesday night.
The crowd of 52,692 — the largest in the majors this season — had waited a long time to let José Altuve, Carlos Correa and the Astros know just how they felt about possibly being cheated out of a 2017 World Series title.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Lance McCullers Jr. and the Houston Astros couldn't quiet the hecklers at Dodger Stadium, but they silenced the Los Angeles hitters.
McCullers threw 6 2/3 impressive innings in a 3-0 victory Tuesday night before the largest crowd in the majors this season — 52,692 fans, many who came to hammer the Houston players.
HOUSTON (AP) — One big swing from Cesar Hernandez kept the Cleveland Indians from a season sweep by the Houston Astros.
Rookie Ernie Clement had a season-high three RBIs and Hernandez hit a tiebreaking home run in the seventh inning to lift the Indians to a 5-4 win over the Astros on Wednesday night for their first win in seven tries against Houston this year.
CHICAGO (AP) — Lance McCullers Jr. and the Houston Astros have played their best against baseball's best teams this year.
Just ask the Chicago White Sox.
McCullers pitched seven crisp innings, and the Astros beat the White Sox 7-1 on Friday night in the opener of a weekend series between AL division leaders.
HOUSTON (AP) — Oakland manager Bob Melvin was a bit concerned when his team didn't add on after jumping out to a 2-0 first-inning lead Thursday. The Athletics had led in the first two games of this series before the Astros rallied for wins.
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Adolis García kept up his home run barrage, connecting twice Saturday and helping power the Texas Rangers past the Houston Astros 8-4.
García, who hit a three-run, walk-off drive in the 10th inning to beat the Astros 7-5 on Friday night, had a solo homer in the fifth.
HOUSTON (AP) — Chas McCormick had a two-run single as part of a four-run eighth, Lance McCullers Jr. threw six scoreless innings and the Houston Astros won their sixth straight, 6-2 over the Texas Rangers on Sunday.
HOUSTON (AP) — From pitching to hitting to playing right field, Shohei Ohtani did a little bit of everything for the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday night.
But a strong performance from Lance McCullers Jr...
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Lance McCullers Jr. headed into Game 6 of the World Series not knowing whether he would be attempting to close out a championship on Tuesday night or starting Game 7 on Wednesday...