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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/astros-news-gold-glover-surgery-playing-through-injury');   ga('set', 'title', 'Astros Gold Glover having surgery after playing through injury');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/10-09-24-dubon-featured.jpeg"></figure><h1>Astros Gold Glover having surgery after playing through injury</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-10-09T09:37:44-07:00">October 9th, 9:37am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-10-09T09:37:44-07:00">October 9th, 9:37am</time><address><a>David Korn</a>David Korn is an MLB associate editor at ClutchPoints. He is also a producer at MLB Network Radio and covers college basketball for A10Talk. David graduated from George Washington in 2023, where he was the radio play-by-play broadcaster for their Men's and Women's Basketball teams.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Houston Astros had a disappointing end to the season, crashing out of the postseason early after getting <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/astros-news-joe-espada-reaction-2-game-sweep-tigers">swept in the Wild Card round by the Detroit Tigers</a>. However, it has now been revealed that one of their key players was dealing with a significant injury throughout the end of the regular season and their brief postseason appearance.</p><p>Super utilityman Mauricio Dubon played the final month of the season with a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb and <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5825739/2024/10/09/astros-mauricio-dubon-thumb-surgery/" rel="noopener">will require</a> surgery to repair the damaged ligament, per Chandler Rome of The Athletic. Dubon injured his thumb on Sept. 6 against the Arizona Diamondbacks while sliding into first base. While X-rays initially came back clean, the ligament tear was discovered after further imaging was done.</p><p>The typical recovery time for this type of injury is usually between six to eight weeks according to Rome. That means Dubon should have more-than enough time to get back to 100% before the start of Spring Training.</p><p>Despite playing through what seems to be a painful and significant injury, Dubon’s production never dipper. In the 18 games he played hurt, Dubon slashed .291/.322/.346 while continuing to play Gold Glove-caliber defense across the diamond for the Astros. Without Dubon, the Astros may not have been able to fend off the Seattle Mariners in the race for the AL West division title.</p><h2>What Mauricio Dubon means to the Houston Astros</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/10-09-24-dubon-image.jpeg"><figcaption>© Thomas Shea-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Even though he may not be a household name, Dubon is one of the Astros’ most important players. While he is a capable hitter, batting .269 this season, Dubon’s best attribute is his versatility.</p><p>A utility Gold Glove winner in 2023, Dubon started games at every position except pitcher and catcher this season. While he spent the majority of his time in the outfield, he is still an elite defender at second base, and can hold his own at shortstop, third base and first base. Dubon’s versatility was especially valuable to the Astros this season when they dealt with so many injuries, most notably when star right fielder Kyle Tucker missed over three months with a fractured shin. Dubon was able to step in and help keep the Astros afloat.</p><p>Heading into next season, expect Dubon to continue to play a utility role for the Astros instead of spending the majority of his time at one position. However, if they are <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/astros-news-joe-espada-front-office-alex-bregman-free-agency">unable to re-sign Alex Bregman</a>, a more permanent move to third base could make sense.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Astros Gold Glover having surgery after playing through injury

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/three-offseason-trades-astros-must-make-early-playoff-exit');   ga('set', 'title', 'Three offseason trades Astros must make after early playoff exit');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/X-offseason-trades-Astros-must-make-after-early-playoff-exit.jpg"></figure><h1>Three offseason trades Astros must make after early playoff exit</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-10-07T02:24:59-07:00">October 7th, 2:24am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-10-07T02:24:59-07:00">October 7th, 2:24am</time><address><a>Brayden Haena</a>Brayden Haena is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. A die-hard San Francisco Giants fan and a football fanatic, Brayden further channels his baseball enthusiasm through his podcast, where he delves into the latest in sports with engaging commentary. He also serves as the Defensive Coordinator for Heritage High School. His commitment to sports journalism is evident in his diverse experiences with ContraCosta.news and his dedication to delivering compelling and insightful content.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Following a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/tigers-news-aj-hinch-upset-astros-alds-guardians">bitter playoff exit in the Wild Card series</a>, the Houston Astros face significant roster challenges this offseason. With the probable departures of star and fan favorite Alex Bregman and future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander, the Astros must proactively address these gaps to maintain their competitive edge.</p><p>They also need to address a gaping hole on their roster, and that would be at first base. Here are three trades that would not only fill critical positions but could also inject fresh talent into the Astros’ lineup.</p><p>With the worst farm system in baseball, the Astros should seek talent outside the organization via trade. 99% of the time, trades within your division will not happen, so naturally, players from the A’s, Rangers, Angels, and Mariners won’t be on this list. However, plenty of sneaky good trade options exist for the ‘Stros.</p><h2><b>Targeting Yandy Díaz from the Rays</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Yandy-Diaz.jpg"><figcaption>David Richard-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>With <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/astros-news-jose-altuve-dishes-alex-bregman-uncertain-future-playoff-exit">the expected departure of Alex Bregman</a> leaving a considerable hole at third base, Tampa Bay Rays’ Yandy Díaz emerges as an ideal replacement. Especially given his strong performance in 2024. Díaz posted a <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/diazya01.shtml" rel="noopener">.281 batting average</a> and a .341 on-base percentage, underpinned by his excellent plate discipline. His power metrics were also robust, with a slugging percentage that complemented his ability to consistently get on base. In 2023, Díaz had a career year, slashing .330/.410/.522 respectively. He earned an all-star nod, a silver slugger and finished 6th in MVP voting in the American League.</p><p>To acquire Díaz, the Astros could offer Rhett Kouba, a promising right-handed pitcher who is nearing MLB readiness in Triple-A, and Chase Jaworsky, a flexible infielder from Single-A who shows potential with both glove and bat. This trade would provide the Rays with upcoming talent suitable for their developmental model, while the Astros would secure a high-OBP player capable of filling Bregman’s shoes.</p><h2><b>Christian Encarnacion-Strand</b></h2><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/astros-news-houston-30-million-jose-abreu-roster-move">release of José Abreu</a> left a gap at first base that the Astros have struggled to fill. Christian Encarnacion-Strand from the Cincinnati Reds would be an excellent target to address this need. In 2024, Encarnacion-Strand had a down year, with numbers that don’t jump off the page. His slashline of <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=encarn000chr" rel="noopener">.190/.220/.293</a> can definitely Astros fans away, however, the potential he can bring to the ball club is something fans should be excited for.</p><p>In just 211 minor league games (from 2022-2023), Encarnacion-Strand has slashed .322/.386/.604 while slugging 56 home runs. The unbelievable raw power that Encarnacion-Strand brings is unmatched, and if developed correctly, the Astros can add yet another powerful bat to the lineup behind Kyle Tucker and Yordan Alvarez.</p><p>The trade could involve sending Zach Cole, a promising outfielder in Double-A, along with Nick Hernandez, a reliable bullpen arm, and Forrest Whitley, a former top prospect needing a new environment to rediscover his form. This package offers the Reds potential immediate and future value, while the Astros would acquire a powerful and productive first baseman.</p><h2>Freddy Peralta</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Freddy-Peralta.jpg"><figcaption>Benny Sieu-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Justin Verlander’s potential retirement poses a significant challenge to the Astros’ starting rotation. Freddy Peralta of the Milwaukee Brewers presents an attractive solution. Despite a challenging 2024, Peralta maintained a strong strikeout rate with 200 Ks over 173.2 innings and held a respectable <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/peralfr01.shtml" rel="noopener">3.68 ERA</a>. His propensity for strikeouts and ability to handle innings would be invaluable for the Astros.</p><p>Back in 2023, Peralta really broke out for the Brewers, and was an all-star that year. He brings electric stuff and has been as reliable and consistent as they get the last three seasons. With an Astros rotation that has struggled with injury and depth issues the last few seasons, adding a veteran like Peralta would be a huge step in the right direction, especially if the club still has a “win now” attitude.</p><p>A compelling trade package for Peralta could include Pedro Leon, an outfield prospect with notable power and speed, and Trey Dombroski, a left-handed pitcher showing potential in Double-A. Including cash considerations could also sweeten the deal, making it financially appealing for the Brewers while securing a key piece for the Astros’ future rotation aspirations.</p><p>These trades are designed not just to fill the gaps but to strategically enhance the Astros’ roster in areas of critical need. Acquiring  Díaz would stabilize the infield both defensively and offensively. Peralta would bolster the pitching staff, bringing a high-ceiling arm into the rotation. Meanwhile, Encarnacion-Strand would provide the necessary power at first base that the Astros have been missing.</p><p>As the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/moves-astros-must-make-playoff-exit">Astros navigate this pivotal offseason</a>, these moves would signify a strong intent to remain at the forefront of contention in the American League. Each player targeted in these trades brings a unique set of skills that would mesh well with the Astros’ current roster composition, providing a blend of youth and veteran presence. As the team looks to rebound from their playoff disappointment, these strategic acquisitions would be key in shaping a competitive team for the 2025 season and beyond.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Three offseason trades Astros must make after early playoff exit

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/moves-astros-must-make-playoff-exit');   ga('set', 'title', '3 moves Astros must make after playoff exit');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/3-moves-Astros-must-make-after-playoff-exit.jpg"></figure><h1>3 moves Astros must make after playoff exit</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-10-06T18:34:35-07:00">October 6th, 6:34pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-10-06T18:34:35-07:00">October 6th, 6:34pm</time><address><a>Christopher Hennessy</a>Christopher Hennessy graduated with a journalism degree from Fordham University in 2022. He has also worked at Spectrum News One in Albany, New York and with The Hockey Writers as a New York Islanders writer. Chris is originally from Connecticut and is a lifelong New York Yankees, Islanders, and Jets fan.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Mini-Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Houston Astros are out of the playoffs before the ALCS for the first time since 2016. They were <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/astros-news-joe-espada-reaction-2-game-sweep-tigers">swept by the Detroit Tigers in the Wild Card Series</a>, ending their incredible streak. Now, the Astros have a massive off-season ahead of them. How should Alex Bregman, Yusei Kikuchi, and Pete Alonso factor into their off-season?</p><p>The roster has been changing even through the success of the past decade. While Jose Altuve and Bregman are still around, Carlos Corre, George Springer, and Gerrit Cole are all out the door. The Astros’ front office has shown that they are not afraid to make a move and they certainly should make some this off-season.</p><h2><b>Alex Bregman must stick around</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Alex-Bregman-with-Houston-Astros.jpg"><figcaption>Ken Blaze-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The Astros made each of those moves looking to improve their team for another championship. They succeeded, winning the World Series in 2022 without Correa, Springer, or Cole. Their goal is the same now, but they need some veteran leadership to get that job done. They should retain third baseman Alex Bregman for exactly that reason.</p><p>It will not be cheap for the Astros to keep their future Hall of Famer. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/giants-news-matt-chapman-agrees-to-massive-6-year-extension-deal">Matt Chapman just signed a six-year, $151 million contract</a>, which could be used as a comparable for Bregman. Houston’s star <a href="https://stathead.com/baseball/versus-finder.cgi?request=1&amp;player_id1=bregma001ale&amp;player_id2=chapma000mat" rel="noopener">has been a</a> much better hitter over his career, sporting a better home run, RBI, OPS, and batting average total. Chapman has been the better defender, winning four Gold Gloves while Bregman does not have any.</p><p>This championship window was built on the greatness of Bregman and Altuve. Without them, the window would officially be closed. They have questions at first base and in the rotation, there is no reason to create another question at third base. With an all-time player having an opportunity to be a career Astro, they should open up the checkbook this winter.</p><h2><b>Yusei Kikuchi should have a role in 2025</b></h2><p>When the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/astros-news-houston-lands-yusei-kikuchi-trade-deadline-deal-blue-jays">Astros traded for Yusei Kikuchi at the trade deadline</a>, they expected him to be a solid depth starter. What he became was a bona fide ace who lost only one regular season game in Space City. While he is an older player, Houston should still keep him around for 2025 and beyond.</p><p>Justin Verlander is a very large question mark moving forward for the Astros. After a short trip to the Mets, Verlander is back in Houston and barely pitched down the stretch this year. They need a veteran arm to stabilize their young rotation and if Verlander’s career is over, it should be Kikuchi.</p><p>The Astros gave up a haul to get Kikuchi, so it would make sense for them to re-sign him for multiple years. While he is not the greatest option on the free agent market, they know he is a great fit for their rotation. He will also be a cheaper option, which is important for their other moves.</p><h2><b>The Astros should make a move for Pete Alonso</b></h2><p>The New York Mets are a few wins away from the National League Championship Series because of an <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mets-news-pete-alonso-clutch-home-run-brewers">iconic Pete Alonso home run</a>. The career Met is an unrestricted free agent this off-season and his agent, Scott Boras, will be shopping for the biggest offer. Meanwhile, the Astros have struggled to find an everyday first baseman. Alonso is one of the best in the league and Houston should join the bidding war.</p><p>The Mets could offer the biggest deal to Alonso, or any free agent, with owner Steve Cohen signing the large checks. If they miss out on Juan Soto, expect them to keep their star first baseman around. The big home run probably made it more difficult for Cohen and David Sterns to move on from him this off-season.</p><p>Alonso is the kind of player who can keep the Astros’ championship window propped open. If they can only afford one of Bregman and Alonso, they should choose Bregman because of the fan connection. But if Bregman leaves, they should throw a pile of money at the first baseman.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

3 moves Astros must make after playoff exit

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/tigers-news-aj-hinch-upset-astros-alds-guardians');   ga('set', 'title', 'Tigers’ AJ Hinch gets brutally honest on upsetting Astros before ALDS');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/0AJ-Hinch-gets-brutally-honest-on-upsetting-Astros-before-ALDS0.jpg"></figure><h1>Tigers’ AJ Hinch gets brutally honest on upsetting Astros before ALDS</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-10-05T09:31:42-07:00">October 5th, 9:31am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-10-05T15:16:48-07:00">October 5th, 3:16pm</time><address><a href="https://www.facebook.com/joey.mistretta/" rel="facebook">Joey Mistretta</a>Joey Mistretta is a Dallas Mavericks beat reporter, Dallas Wings beat reporter and lead MLB editor for ClutchPoints. He is originally from Lake Arrowhead, California. Mistretta graduated from Biola University with a degree in broadcast journalism.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Detroit Tigers manager AJ Hinch led his team to the postseason despite being counted out early in the year. The Tigers were even sellers before the MLB trade deadline, and ace Tarik Skubal was mentioned in trade rumors.</p><p>However, the Tigers found their groove in the second half of the season and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/tigers-news-aj-hinch-perfect-response-beating-astros-playoffs">ended up upsetting the Houston Astros</a> in the American League Wild Card round. Now the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/tigers-bold-predictions-alds-guardians">Tigers are gearing up for the American League Division Series</a> against the Cleveland Guardians.</p><p>“We can continue to play with no pressure,” Hinch <a href="https://x.com/BNightengale/status/1842592371730448428" rel="noopener">said before</a> the ALDS, via Bob Nightengale of USA Today. “Nobody expects us to be here. Nobody expects us to have gotten here, and the way we got here, some would call improbable and very unique for us. We’re just trying to stack good days on good days… I think it shows is we can play with anybody.</p><p>“I said this to our team after we won, that everybody was saying we’re not playoff tested. We’re pretty tested now, and we’re heading into this series with a ton of confidence.”</p><p>Pulling off back-to-back upsets will prove to be a challenge. The Guardians won the American League Central division in 2024, and Cleveland is hoping to win their first World Series since 1948. Nevertheless, the Tigers have momentum right now, and the ALDS projects to be quite competitive.</p><h2><b>Tigers-Guardians ALDS preview</b></h2><p>Game 1 is scheduled for 1:08 PM EST on Saturday in Cleveland. The Guardians, who finished with the second-best record in the American League, will have home-field advantage in the series. Cleveland is the favorite, but Detroit’s confidence cannot be denied at the moment.</p><p>In 2023, neither the Texas Rangers or the Arizona Diamondbacks were expected to reach the World Series. In fact, the Diamondbacks narrowly made the postseason. Yet, both teams beat the odds and ended up playing against one another in the ’23 Fall Classic. The Rangers ultimately won the World Series after shocking the MLB world in the postseason.</p><p>The Tigers are hoping to follow a similar path. Again though, the Guardians feature a talented ballclub with serious World Series aspirations.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Tigers’ AJ Hinch gets brutally honest on upsetting Astros before ALDS

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/astros-news-joe-espada-front-office-alex-bregman-free-agency');   ga('set', 'title', 'Joe Espada nudges Astros’ front office with Alex Bregman free agency take');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Astros-news-Joe-Espada-nudges-front-office-with-Alex-Bregman-free-agency-take.jpg"></figure><h1>Joe Espada nudges Astros’ front office with Alex Bregman free agency take</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-10-03T09:59:36-07:00">October 3rd, 9:59am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-10-03T10:03:58-07:00">October 3rd, 10:03am</time><address><a href="https://www.facebook.com/joey.mistretta/" rel="facebook">Joey Mistretta</a>Joey Mistretta is a Dallas Mavericks beat reporter, Dallas Wings beat reporter and lead MLB editor for ClutchPoints. He is originally from Lake Arrowhead, California. Mistretta graduated from Biola University with a degree in broadcast journalism.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Houston Astros star <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/astros-news-alex-bregman-shares-emotional-message-amid-departure-rumors">Alex Bregman is set to enter free agency</a> following the team’s postseason defeat. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/astros-news-jose-altuve-alex-bregman-re-signing">Jose Altuve has made it clear that he wants the Astros to re-sign the infielder</a>. Astros manager Joe Espada <a href="https://x.com/brianmctaggart/status/1841866091347300731" rel="noopener">echoed a similar sentiment</a> on Thursday.</p><p>“I’ve talked a lot about how much I love the individual, the human,” Espada said, via Brian McTaggart of MLB.com “I think what makes this team really good is the character of the people in clubhouse. He’s one of the best I’ve ever been around. I’ve would love to have Bregman playing third base for us next year.”</p><p>The Astros have won two World Series championships within the past decade. Bregman and Altuve have led the team during that span. Losing Bregman would feel like the end of an era in Houston.</p><p>Astros general manager Dana Brown <a href="https://x.com/brianmctaggart/status/1841865063285534981">addressed</a> Altuve’s previous comments about hoping the team re-signs Bregman.</p><p>“Ultimately, we will have some discussions with (Scott) Boras and also with Bregman,” Brown said, via McTaggart. “We’ve had some small talk… We know what he means to this organization.”</p><h2><b>Will Astros re-sign Alex Bregman?</b></h2><p>Bregman did not have a great 2024 season. The 30-year-old ultimately slashed .260/.315/.453/.768 across 145 games played. Still, he probably played well enough to draw free agency interest from teams. Additionally, Bregman is a two-time World Series champion and two-time All-Star who has finished within the top five of MVP voting on two separate occasions.</p><p>With that being said, Bregman’s production has declined in recent years. He was one of the best players in baseball in 2018 and 2019. In 2022 and 2023, Bregman recorded respectable, albeit far from spectacular numbers. And as mentioned, his 2024 performance did not live up to his lofty expectations.</p><p>Bregman may not receive the contract he is looking for in free agency. Perhaps his resume will lead to teams displaying a willingness to give him a lucrative contract, though. The Astros are seemingly open to a reunion, but there will likely be competition for the third baseman.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Joe Espada nudges Astros’ front office with Alex Bregman free agency take

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/astros-news-joe-espada-reaction-2-game-sweep-tigers');   ga('set', 'title', 'Joe Espada’s ‘tough’ reaction after 2-game sweep vs. Tigers');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Joe-Espadas-tough-reaction-after-2-game-sweep-vs.jpg"></figure><h1>Joe Espada’s ‘tough’ reaction after 2-game sweep vs. Tigers</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-10-02T22:35:18-07:00">October 2nd, 10:35pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-10-02T22:35:18-07:00">October 2nd, 10:35pm</time><address><a>Nathan Yasis</a>Nathan Yasis is an Associate Editor for ClutchPoints, specializing in the NBA.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>On Wednesday, the Houston Astros became the first team eliminated from the postseason, allowing four runs in the eighth inning to turn a 2-1 lead into a 5-2 <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/tigers-news-aj-hinch-perfect-response-beating-astros-playoffs">loss against the Detroit Tigers</a> in Game 2 of their AL Wild Card series. This loss marks the team’s seventh consecutive home playoff defeat and the first time since 2016 that Houston will not compete in the ALCS. It’s safe to say that Joe Espada did not envision his first year as manager ending like this.</p><p>Since their accomplishment was unprecedented for an AL team in Major League Baseball history, it was inevitable that they would be eliminated from the playoffs without reaching that stage of the postseason.</p><h2><b>Joe Espada’s different perspective on the Astros loss</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Joe-Espada-watching-Astros-warmups.jpg"><figcaption>Erik Williams-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>“It’s tough. But I want our guys to be proud of how far we’ve come … So many great things we did that I don’t want us to hang our head down just because of the way the season ended. We should be proud of what we accomplished and how we did it. I think the process is important,” Joe Espada said <a href="https://www.twitter.com/brianmctaggart/status/1841600764608970880" rel="noopener">during his post-game press conference.</a></p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Espada: “It's tough. But I want our guys to be proud of how far we've come. Like it was a very challenging season, and we reached the postseason, something that's our goal every year.”</p><p>— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) <a href="https://twitter.com/brianmctaggart/status/1841600764608970880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>This might not be what Astros fans want to hear right now, but following the game, Espada sought to provide a broader perspective on the season as a whole.</p><p>There is certainly some validity to that; few teams faced as many pitching injuries as Houston did this season. However, for a team that had reached the ALCS seven times in a row, claiming that simply making the postseason is the objective feels somewhat wrong.</p><p>Unfortunately, this elimination occurred amid numerous questions about the Astros’ future. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/astros-news-jose-altuve-dishes-alex-bregman-uncertain-future-playoff-exit">With third baseman Alex Bregman</a> and Justin Verlander slated to become free agents this winter, it’s likely that neither will be part of the roster in 2025.</p><h2><b>The Astros pushing through but still coming up short</b></h2><p>The Astros faced significant challenges throughout the 2024 season, dealing with injuries to Kyle Tucker, Yordan Alvarez, and nearly all of the team’s starting pitchers, yet they still managed to secure another AL West title.</p><p>However, their offense faltered once again in October, and the expensive bullpen collapsed late, ending the Astros’ playoff journey before it truly began.</p><p>While it’s understandable that Espada would take pride in the players he just spent a grueling season with, that sentiment is unlikely to appease a fan base that anticipated far better results and already had concerns about some of Espada’s choices during the Wild Card Round.</p><p>Nonetheless, the Astros were favored to advance past the emerging Tigers, who had just one player on their roster with playoff experience. The outcome is disappointing, and while they achieved their goal of securing their fourth consecutive AL West division title, they didn’t perform at a level high enough to make an impact in the playoffs.</p><p>Espada is in a precarious position following this performance, and he will likely face considerable criticism in the coming days and weeks—criticism that these remarks are unlikely to ease.</p><p>How they address that moving forward will determine whether they can regain their dominance over the American League when the time arrives.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Joe Espada’s ‘tough’ reaction after 2-game sweep vs. Tigers

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/astros-news-jose-altuve-dishes-alex-bregman-uncertain-future-playoff-exit');   ga('set', 'title', 'Astros’ Jose Altuve dishes on Alex Bregman’s uncertain future after playoff exit');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Jose-Altuve-dishes-on-Alex-Bregmans-uncertain-future-after-playoff-exit.jpg"></figure><h1>Astros’ Jose Altuve dishes on Alex Bregman’s uncertain future after playoff exit</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-10-02T19:56:58-07:00">October 2nd, 7:56pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-10-02T20:30:14-07:00">October 2nd, 8:30pm</time><address><a>Joshua Valdez</a>Joshua Valdez started his journalism career as the Sports Editor for the Rutgers University newspaper before becoming an associate editor and Washington Wizards/Mystics reporter for ClutchPoints. He is a diehard Yankees, Jets, Knicks, Rutgers, and Tottenham Hotspur fan. When Joshua is not either watching a game or writing about one, you can find him in an art-house movie theater or working on a screenplay.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>After getting swept in two games by the Detroit Tigers in the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/tigers-news-aj-hinch-perfect-response-beating-astros-playoffs">AL Wild Card, the Houston Astros</a> could experience a major shakeup. Third baseman <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/astros-news-alex-bregman-shares-emotional-message-amid-departure-rumors">Alex Bregman is a pending free agent</a>, and Jose Altuve is nervous about it.</p><p>Altuve <a href="https://x.com/chandler_rome/status/1841607307173790073?s=46&amp;t=YAm5wwmcnC6J27chz4RDIQ" rel="noopener">sounded off about</a> Bregman’s future, via The Athletic’s Chandler Rome.</p><p>“In my mind, there is not a chance this is his last game,” the 34-year-old said. “He gave a lot to this organization so it’s time for us as an organization to pay him back and make him stay here.”</p><p>Altuve also added that he’ll repeat that to Astros owner Jim Crane.</p><p>Bregman weighed in on the <a href="https://x.com/Chron_MattYoung/status/1841602495065268271" rel="noopener">possibility of staying</a> in Houston, via The Houston Chronicle’s Matt Young.</p><p>“I hope so, but I’ll let [agent] Scott (Boras) and the team handle that,” the two-time All-Star said.</p><p>Bregman slashed .260/.315/.453 with 26 homers and 75 RBI this season. The 30-year has been a model of consistency over his nine seasons with the team, and his departure would signify a new era for it.</p><p>What will Bregman do?</p><h2><b>Astros are confident they can retain Alex Bregman</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Alex-Bregman.jpg"><figcaption>Troy Taormina-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Houston general manager Dana Brown is <a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/41577256/altuve-urges-astros-pay-bregman-back-make-stay" rel="noopener">optimistic about the upcoming contract negotiations</a>, via ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez.</p><p>“I think it’ll work out,” Brown said. “When you get down to it, I think he wants to stay here. I think we want him to stay here. And it’s just a matter of coming up with some type of an agreement.”</p><p>However, the Astros will have to pay a price. Boras is a known stickler, so Bregman will probably go to the highest bigger.</p><p>Bregman made $30.5 million in 2024, and with another quality season in the books, he’s in a position to ask for another hefty amount of cash. However, Houston must weigh whether it would rather pinch pennies or maintain its championship nucleus.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Astros’ Jose Altuve dishes on Alex Bregman’s uncertain future after playoff exit

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/astros-news-alex-bregman-shares-emotional-message-amid-departure-rumors');   ga('set', 'title', 'Astros’ Alex Bregman shares emotional message amid departure rumors');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Astros-news-Alex-Bregman-shares-emotional-message-amid-departure-rumors.jpg"></figure><h1>Astros’ Alex Bregman shares emotional message amid departure rumors</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-10-02T17:36:42-07:00">October 2nd, 5:36pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-10-02T18:57:57-07:00">October 2nd, 6:57pm</time><address><a>Christopher Smith</a>Christopher Smith is an associate editor covering a variety of sports with a beat focus on the Chicago Sky for ClutchPoints. The Aurora, Illinois native earned a degree in philosophy from Creighton University, where he also competed as a Division 1 Cross Country runner.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Houston Astros are coming off a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/tigers-news-aj-hinch-perfect-response-beating-astros-playoffs">tough defeat to the Detroit Lions</a> in the American League Wild Card series. Houston lost Game 1 3-1 and hoped to even things up on Wednesday. However, the Tigers continued their stout performance and handed the Astros a 5-2 Game 2 loss, which ended their postseason run. Many eyes are on veteran third baseman Alex Bregman amid departure rumors.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/astros-news-alex-bregman-free-agency-second-base-scott-boras">Bregman will enter unrestricted free agency</a> during the offseason, and he <a href="https://x.com/ABREG_1/status/1841632382262055377" rel="noopener">shared a straightforward, but emotion-invoking message</a> on X (formerly Twitter) just hours after his team’s AL Wild Card defeat:</p><p>“Thank you Houston,” Bregman wrote.</p><p>Alex Bregman has been with the Astros since 2016 and won two championships with the team (2017 and 2022). Fans in Bregman’s comment section displayed gratitude for his contributions to the team throughout his years:</p><p>“Thanks for the great years!” one fan commented</p><p>“No thank you!! We want you to retire in Houston,” another added.</p><p>“Thank you Alex for all you’ve done! Hope you’ll be back next season my guy. Always rooting for you,” another fan wrote.</p><p>One fan even came up with a list of reasons to persuade Bregman to stay with the Astros:</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Thank you for all the amazing times. Please stay. </p><p>* no state income tax<br>* ez living<br>* fun people <br>* our food is spicy like you like <br>* altuve 🥺<br>* we literally love you 😎🙌👊 <a href="https://t.co/VUXipgwtNj">pic.twitter.com/VUXipgwtNj</a></p><p>— Stephanie Stradley (@StephStradley) <a href="https://twitter.com/StephStradley/status/1841651460389417313?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 3, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Meanwhile, other fans begged Bregman not to leave:</p><p>“NO DON’T GO PLEASE MAN,” one fan commented.</p><p>“Don’t do this to us bro you’re coming back,” another added.</p><p>One user summed up fans’ sentiments about Bregman’s free agency with an elaborate message:</p><p>“I would run through a brick wall for you [Alex]. I hope [Scott Boras] and the front office can put together a sweet offer but if not I want you to know that it has been an honor to watch you play all these years man. I will root for you wherever you land,” the fan commented.</p><p>Alex Bregman and Astros’ season might be over but there remains hope for the future. it will be interesting to see what happens during the offseason.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Astros’ Alex Bregman shares emotional message amid departure rumors

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/tigers-news-aj-hinch-perfect-response-beating-astros-playoffs');   ga('set', 'title', 'Tigers manager AJ Hinch’s perfect response to beating Astros in playoffs');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/AJ-Hinchs-perfect-response-to-beating-Astros-in-playoffs.jpg"></figure><h1>Tigers manager AJ Hinch’s perfect response to beating Astros in playoffs</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-10-02T15:16:52-07:00">October 2nd, 3:16pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-10-02T16:17:15-07:00">October 2nd, 4:17pm</time><address><a>Mike Gianakos</a>Mike Gianakos is the former editor-in-chief of High Times magazine, where he also spearheaded the video department and event production. He is a longtime podcaster and even longer suffering NY Jets fan.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Detroit Tigers season will continue as the team has advanced to the Division Series. After the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/tigers-news-improbable-postseason-berth-fans-losing-minds">Tigers made an improbable run to the playoffs</a>, Detroit beat the Houston Astros 2-0 in the Wild Card round. The team will move on to face the American League’s number two seed the Cleveland Guardians in the ALDS. The win was particularly sweet for Tigers manager AJ Hinch, who managed the Astros from 2015-2019 and won the World Series with the team in 2017 before being fired in the wake of Houston’s notorious sign-stealing debacle.</p><p>Following the Tigers 5-2 victory over the Astros on Wednesday, Hinch was asked for his thoughts on beating Houston and advancing in the playoffs. Hinch simply responded, “<a href="https://twitter.com/RyanFieldABC/status/1841593068673237456" rel="noopener">Isn’t baseball great</a>? It’s unbelievable” before walking away, per ABC’s Ryan Field on X.</p><p>After taking the first game 3-1 behind six scoreless innings <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/tigers-news-aj-hinch-tarik-skubal-injury-game-1">from ace Tarik Skubal</a>, the Tigers turned to the bullpen for Game Two. Detroit used seven pitchers to hold the Astros to two runs on five hits, issuing three walks and striking out five Houston batters.</p><p>The Astros plated two runs in the seventh inning to take a 2-1 lead. However, the Tigers broke the game open in the eighth. DH Kerry Carpenter singled to center and scored on a wild pitch after advancing to third base on a Matt Vierling single. After Astros reliever Ryan Pressly walked Colt Keith, Houston brought in Josh Hader. The Astros’ closer walked Spencer Torkelson, which loaded the bases for pinch hitter Andy Ibanez who delivered a three-run double to left.</p><h2><b>Tigers manager AJ Hinch earned a satisfying victory over his former team in the Wild Card round</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/AJ-Hinch.jpg"><figcaption>Kirthmon F. Dozier / USA TODAY NETWORK</figcaption></figure><p>Tigers reliever Sean Guenther worked a clean bottom of the eighth before Will Vest came on in the ninth inning to earn the save. Detroit ended the Astros season with the 5-2 win.</p><p>The Astros had reached the ALCS an incredible seven straight years. Houston captured the American League Pennant four times in that stretch and won two championships – most recently beating the Philadelphia Phillies <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/3-most-valuable-astros-in-2022-world-series-ranked">for the title in 2022</a>.</p><p>The Astros were caught stealing signs during the 2017 season. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/astros-news-gm-jeff-luhnow-manager-aj-hinch-suspended-1-year-part-punishment-2017-cheating-scandal">Hinch received a year-long suspension</a> from Commissioner Rob Manfred for failing to stop the scheme. After serving his suspension, Hinch was hired to manage the Tigers in 2021.</p><p>After finishing with a losing record in his first three seasons with the club, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/tigers-news-aj-hinch-shocking-playoff-berth">Hinch guided the Tigers</a> to an 86-76 record in 2024, securing the final Wild Card berth. Despite selling at the deadline with the trade of starting pitcher <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/grading-dodgers-overall-2024-mlb-trade-deadline">Jack Flaherty to the Los Angeles Dodgers</a>, Detroit got hot over the second half of the season. The Tigers went 39-26 since returning from the All-Star break, good for the third-best record in baseball during that span.</p><p>Detroit will head to Cleveland to take on the Guardians in the Division Series beginning Saturday. It will be the Tigers first ALDS appearance since being swept 3-0 by the Baltimore Orioles in 2014.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Tigers manager AJ Hinch’s perfect response to beating Astros in playoffs

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/astros-news-hunter-brown-facing-hometown-tigers-do-die-game-2');   ga('set', 'title', 'Astros’ Hunter Brown dishes on facing hometown Tigers in do-or-die Game 2');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Astros-news-Hunter-Brown-dishes-on-facing-hometown-Tigers-in-do-or-die-Game-2.jpg"></figure><h1>Astros’ Hunter Brown dishes on facing hometown Tigers in do-or-die Game 2</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-10-02T09:17:39-07:00">October 2nd, 9:17am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-10-02T09:18:41-07:00">October 2nd, 9:18am</time><address><a>Brayden Haena</a>Brayden Haena is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. A die-hard San Francisco Giants fan and a football fanatic, Brayden further channels his baseball enthusiasm through his podcast, where he delves into the latest in sports with engaging commentary. He also serves as the Defensive Coordinator for Heritage High School. His commitment to sports journalism is evident in his diverse experiences with ContraCosta.news and his dedication to delivering compelling and insightful content.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>As the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/tigers-vs-astros-al-wild-card-game-2-prediction-odds-pick">Houston Astros gear up for a critical Game 2</a> of the AL Wild Card series against the Detroit Tigers, all eyes are on Hunter Brown, the hometown hero poised to make a significant impact. Born and raised in Detroit, Brown’s journey from the local Wayne State University to the major leagues has been remarkable, fueled by his city’s resilient spirit. In an article from Chandler Rome of the Athletic, Ryan Kelley, a veteran coach at Wayne State, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5811240/2024/10/01/hunter-brown-astros-tigers-game-2/" rel="noopener">praised Brown’s deep-rooted tenacity</a>.</p><p>“That grit has been around the city of Detroit for a long time, and Hunter Brown embodies that.”</p><p>This characteristic grit was on full display as Brown prepared to face the very team he grew up supporting in a city that has shaped much of his competitive nature. Brown’s connection to Detroit goes beyond nostalgia; it has been a cornerstone of his development and success. His journey took a critical turn earlier this season, marked by a shift in his pitching strategy.</p><h2><b>Astros need a win to keep their 2024 season alive</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Hunter-Brown.jpg"><figcaption>Troy Taormina-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>During a game at Comerica Park in May, Brown reintroduced a sinker to his repertoire, a pitch he hadn’t heavily relied on since college. This adjustment proved transformative, catalyzing a stellar run that saw him post a <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/brownhu01.shtml" rel="noopener">2.51 ERA</a> since early May, making him one of the standout pitchers in the latter half of the season.</p><p>The decision to start Brown in Game 2 was shrouded in speculation, with some wondering if left-hander Yusei Kikuchi might take the mound instead due to the Tigers’ better splits against right-handed pitching. However, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/astros-news-joe-espada-houston-game-2-starter">Astros manager Joe Espada was clear in his strategy. </a></p><p>“Hunter was starting Game 2 a long time ago. I just never told you that,” he revealed. “He’s one of the best starters in the game. He’s been one of the best pitchers in the second half. So that was a no-brainer for me.”</p><p>The stakes are high for Brown, whose performance could significantly influence the series’ outcome. His ability to handle pressure is well-documented, tracing back to his college days when he chose to pitch through a crucial NCAA tournament, despite the potential risks to his draft prospects.</p><p>Kelley reflected on those moments, “He wanted to pitch. He wanted to compete. And he wanted to help his team win.”</p><p>Off the field, Brown remains deeply connected to Detroit. He spends the offseason in the city, taking walks with his dog, Whiskey, sometimes near Comerica Park, where he dreamed of playing as a child.  As he takes the mound in Game 2, he carries not just the hopes of his team but also the pride of his city. His performance will be a testament to the journey from a kid in Detroit to the major leagues—a narrative of overcoming odds and embracing the moment on baseball’s biggest stage.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Astros’ Hunter Brown dishes on facing hometown Tigers in do-or-die Game 2

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/astros-news-framber-valdez-honest-admission-latest-playoff-dud-tigers');   ga('set', 'title', 'Astros ace Framber Valdez’s honest admission on latest playoff dud vs. Tigers');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Framber-Valdezs-honest-admission-on-latest-playoff-dud-vs.-Tigers.jpg"></figure><h1>Astros ace Framber Valdez’s honest admission on latest playoff dud vs. Tigers</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-10-02T06:09:19-07:00">October 2nd, 6:09am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-10-02T06:09:19-07:00">October 2nd, 6:09am</time><address><a>Dan Fappiano</a>Dan Fappiano is a Connecticut based sports journalist and a graduate of both Tunxis Community College and Central Connecticut State University. Dan has spent time covering high school and professional sports in both the print and online medium. He hopes to see his beloved Chicago Bears win a Super Bowl someday.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>As the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/houston-astros-vs-detroit-tigers-bold-predictions-2024-al-wild-card">Houston Astros began their playoff journey</a> in the Wild Card round against the Detroit Tigers, Framber Valdez was the first one on the mound. However, Valdez didn’t give the Astros a performance worthy of ace status.</p><p>The left-hander lasted just 4.1 innings, allowing seven hits and three earned runs as Houston fell 3-1. He struck out three and walked two. After the loss, Valdez<a href="https://x.com/JBristolKHOU/status/1841244504168276083" rel="noopener"> admitted that his performance</a> wasn’t up to his expectations, via Jason Bristol of KHOU 11 News Houston.</p><p>“Sometimes you feel really, really good and you go out there and don’t get a result you were expecting,: Valdez said. “Just waiting on the next game.”</p><p>Valdez commended the Tigers for taking pitches and working deep into counts. He admitted that he fell behind on hitters, leading to walks and overall not his usual status quo of pitching.</p><p>While Valdez struggled, all of Detroit’s damage came in one inning. The Tigers scored three in the second on the back of three singles. However, it was more than enough as the Astros couldn’t muster any more than one run across the plate.</p><p>Framber Valdez was a stud during the regular season, pitching to a 2.91 ERA and a 169/55 K/BB ratio. However, Game 1 against the Tigers didn’t show off why Valdez was chosen to start in the first place.</p><h2><b>Framber Valdez’s postseason struggles</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Framber-Valdez.jpg"><figcaption>Troy Taormina-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>While the Tigers loss is at the forefront of Astros fans mind’s, this isn’t the first time Valdez has struggled in the postseason. The left-hander went 0-3 across his three starts during the 2023 playoffs.</p><p>His appearance in the ALDS was particular bad, allowing five earned runs in 4.1 innings against the Minnesota Twins. But then he followed that up with an 8.22 ERA over his 7.2 innings against the Texas Rangers in the ALCS. Over his 17 total playoff appearances, Valdez holds a 4.34 ERA and a 95/34 K/BB ratio.</p><p>The lefty did shine in Houston’s last World Series title run. Against the Philadelphia Phillies, Valdez held a 1.46 ERA and an 18/5 K/BB ratio. The Astros are hopeful Valdez can return to that form.</p><p>But first, Houston must beat Detroit. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/astros-news-joe-espada-houston-game-2-starter">Hunter Brown has already been named the Game 2 starter</a>. Houston is hoping he can help carry the torch and get the Astros out of their hole while preparing Valdez to bounce back should they advance</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Astros ace Framber Valdez’s honest admission on latest playoff dud vs. Tigers

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/tigers-vs-astros-al-wild-card-game-2-prediction-odds-pick');   ga('set', 'title', 'Tigers vs. Astros AL Wild Card Game 2 prediction, odds, pick');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Tigers-Royals-vs.jpg-1.jpg"></figure><h1>Tigers vs. Astros AL Wild Card Game 2 prediction, odds, pick</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-10-01T16:49:16-07:00">October 1st, 4:49pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-10-01T16:49:16-07:00">October 1st, 4:49pm</time><address><a>Bryan Logan</a>Bryan Logan decided to jump into his passion for Sports Betting in 2022 after spending years in the world of education. With a love for analytics and all sports, he began working on models for daily sports picks. This led him to ClutchPoints in 2023, where he is a part of the betting editorial team.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Betting</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Detorit Tigers look to close out the series as they face the Houston Astros. It’s time to continue our MLB odds <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/betting" rel="noopener">series</a> with a Tigers-Astros Game 2 prediction and pick.</p><h2><b>Tigers-Astros Game 2 Projected Starters </b></h2><p><b>Tyler Holton</b> vs. <b>Hunter Brown</b></p><p><b>Tyler Holton</b> (7-2) with a 2.19 ERA and a 0.78 WHIP</p><p>Last Start: Holton will serve as an opener in this game, giving way, most likely, to a long reliever. In his last start, he went two innings, giving up one walk, and took the no-decision as the Tigers beat the Orioles.</p><p>2024 Road Splits: Holton has made 36 appearances and six starts on the road this year. He has a 3-2 record with five saves, plus he has a 1.54 ERA and a .158 opponent batting average.</p><p><b>Hunter Brown</b> (11-9) with a 3.49 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP</p><p>Last Start: Brown went six innings, giving up three hits and three walks. He would give up one run but take the loss to the Mariners.</p><p>2024 Home Splits: Hunter Brown is 5-5 in 15 home starts this year, with a 3.35 ERA and a .220 opponent batting average.</p><p><b><i>Here are the <a href="https://sportsbook.fanduel.com/navigation/mlb" rel="noopener">MLB Odds</a>, courtesy of FanDuel. </i></b></p><h2><b>AL Wild Card Odds: Tigers-Astros Odds</b></h2><p>Detroit Tigers: +1.5 (-142)</p><p>Moneyline: +146</p><p>Houston Astros: -1.5 (+118)</p><p>Moneyline: -174</p><p>Over: 7.5 (-122)</p><p>Under: 7.5 (+100)</p><h2><b>How to Watch Tigers vs. Astros Game 2</b></h2><p>Time: 2:30 PM ET/ 11:30 AM PT</p><p>TV: ABC</p><p>Stream: fuboTV (<a href="https://www.fubo.tv/stream/mlb/?irad=377812&amp;irmp=492408" rel="noopener sponsored">Free Trial</a>)</p><h2><b>Why The Tigers Will Cover The Spread/Win</b></h2><p>The Tigers enter the playoffs 19th in the majors in runs scored, while sitting 24th in batting average, 29th in on-base percentage, and 22nd in slugging. Riley Green has led the way this year. He hit .262 in the regular season with a .348 on-base percentage. Green has 24 home runs, 74 RBIs, and 82 runs scored. Also entering the playoffs <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/detroit-tigers-bold-predictions-2024-al-wild-card-astros">off a stellar year is Colt Keith</a>. Keith has hit .260 this year with a .309 on-base percentage. He has 13 home runs, 61 RBIs and 54 runs scored. Rounding out the top bats this year is Matt Vierling. Vierling is hitting .257 this year with a .312 on-base percentage. He has 16 home runs, 57 RBIs, and 80 runs scored this year.</p><p>Kerry Carpenter comes into the playoffs producing well. He is hitting just .188 in the week heading into the playoffs, but he has a home run, five RBIs, and a run scored. Meanwhile, Spencer Torkelson is also hitting well coming into the playoffs. He is hitting .250 with a .400 on-base percentage in the last week. He has a home run, four RBIs, and three runs scored in the last week. Finally, Parker Meadows is hitting .364 in the last week with a .417 on-base percentage. He has a home run, an RBI, and four runs scored in the last week. The Tigers are hitting .222 in the last week with three home runs and 22 runs scored in the last six games prior to the playoffs.</p><h2><b>Why The Astros Will Cover The Spread/Win</b></h2><p>The Astros are 11th in the majors in runs scored, while sitting third in batting average, seventh in on-base percentage, and eighth in slugging. Yordan Alvarez has led the way this year. He is hitting .308 on the year with a .392 on-base percentage. Alvarez had 35 home runs, 86 RBIs, six stolen bases, and 88 runs scored this year. Yanier Diaz was also solid this year. He is hitting .299 on the year with a .325 on-base percentage. Diaz has 16 home runs, 84 RBIs, and 70 runs scored this year. Finally, Alex Bregman has been solid. He is hitting .260 on the year with a .315 on-base percentage. Bregman ended the year with 26 home runs, 75 RBIs, and 79 runs scored.</p><p>Alex Bregman comes into the game hitting well. He played just three games in the last week before the playoffs but hit .500 with a home run, two RBIs, and a run scored. Victor Caratini was also solid prior to going into the playoffs. He is hitting .267 in the last week with a home run, two RBIs, and three runs scored. Kyle Tucker is also playing well. He hit .429 in the last week with a home run, two RBIs, and two runs scored. The Astros are hitting .239 in the last week with five home runs and 14 runs scored in the final four games before the playoffs.</p><h2><b>Final Tigers-Astros Prediction &amp; Pick</b></h2><p>Tyler Holton will start the game for the Tigers. He has been great, giving up just two earned runs in his last 17 innings of work. Further, both runs came in the same outting, giving up 16 innings without an earned run outside of that. He will most likely give way to a long reliever; potentially Reese Olson coming out of the bullpen. Meanwhile, Hunter Brown has been solid in his last four starts. He has gone 23 innings giving up eight runs. Still, the Astros are just 1-3 in those four starts. The Tigers have been the hottest team in baseball, but Hunter Brown will have a solid start in this one. Take the Astros to force a game three.</p><p><b>Final Tigers-Astros Prediction &amp; Pick: Astros ML (-174) </b></p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Bryan
King

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2024 SEASON STATS
IP	ERA	K	WHIP	WINS
79	2.39	32	1.14	1

2024 SEASON STATS
IP	ERA	K	WHIP	WINS
79	2.39	32	1.14	1

Bryan King

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King