The Astros need a right-handed leverage reliever they trust, as Friday’s loss to the Orioles demonstrated - www.nytimes.com/athletic/745...

The Astros lost 3-2. They are 47-52. Peter Lambert was great. Yordan Alvarez and Jeremy Peña each reached base four times. The team is in need of a right-handed leverage reliever it trusts.

Christian Walker just took 96.2 mph off the top of his right hand. He is not happy and appears to be in pain. Walker is staying in the game for now.

Peter Lambert against the Orioles: 6 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 10 K, 104 pitches, 68 strikes, 46 swings, 14 whiffs. The 10 strikeouts are a career-high for Lambert, who has a 3.03 ERA and is making 29 other teams look dumb for not signing him after the Astros cut him in spring

The Astros against Dean Kremer: Peña 6, Alvarez DH, Paredes 5, Walker 3, Altuve 4, Wade 7, Smith 9, Spence 8, Vázquez 2 Lambert RHP

The Astros called up Lucas Spence and placed Brice Matthews on the IL with a left knee sprain

Astros probables against the Orioles: Fri: Peter Lambert Sat: Spencer Arrighetti Sun: Hunter Brown

The Astros are scheduled to open the 2027 season against the Texas Rangers at Daikin Park on March 25.

From yesterday, a solo Crush City Territory episode reacting to the Lance McCullers Jr. trade and his impact in Houston: Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c... Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/4zKO... YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=44WJ...

Here is a Q&A with Lance McCullers Jr, who said he “didn’t want to ever wear another team’s uniform," but went into detail about why he will, including conversations with Astros owner Jim Crane. Open for all to read -www.nytimes.com/athletic/744...

"I didn't want it to be a situation where me kind of being selfish was going to hold the organization back. I love the organization. I have a lot of respect for Mr. Crane. And out of that love and respect, I told him on the phone that I would waive it," McCullers said.

Lance McCullers Jr. said Astros owner Jim Crane reached out to him on Monday gauging whether he would waive his no-trade clause and things unfolded from there. More to come on @theathletic.com

The trade is official: Lance McCullers Jr. and Colton Gordon to the Milwaukee Brewers for cash considerations and Jadyn Fielder - www.nytimes.com/athletic/744...

Jadyn Fielder, the son of Prince Fielder, is coming back to the Astros in the Lance McCullers Jr. deal, sources tell @theathletic.com. Jadyn Fielder is a 21-year-old, left-handed hitter with an .813 OPS in A-ball. He signed with the Brewers in 2024 as an UDFA.

Colton Gordon is going to the Milwaukee Brewers as part of the Lance McCullers Jr. trade, source tells @theathletic.com, as @jonheyman.bsky.social had first

To trim payroll and provide clarity to their muddled pitching staff, the Astros are trading Lance McCullers Jr, a figurehead of their golden era, to the Milwaukee Brewers - www.nytimes.com/athletic/744...

Lance McCullers Jr. has waived his no-trade clause and been informed he's been traded to the Milwaukee Brewers, source tells @theathletic.com

The Astros are finalizing a deal to send Lance McCullers Jr. to the Milwaukee Brewers, source tells @theathletic.com. Not done yet, but close. First: MLB dot com

Astros second-half storylines: Trade deadline targets, Tatsuya Imai, Jose Altuve and the Triple Crown - www.nytimes.com/athletic/744...

New Crush City Territory episode - Grading the first half - Josh's best Justin Verlander memories - The Home Run Derby YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0GY... Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/2Zs3... Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c...

Astros trade deadline mailbag: Which major leaguers are expendable? - www.nytimes.com/athletic/744...

Mike Burrows had his minor-league option nullified and is on the IL with right elbow neuritis - www.nytimes.com/athletic/744...

The Astros have nullified the optional assignment for Mike Burrows and put him on the injured list with right elbow neuritis. His placement is effective July 7.

Starting our live Astros trade deadline Q&A right now over at @theathletic.com . Come hang - www.nytimes.com/athletic/744...

The Astros are promoting top prospect Xavier Neyens to High-A Asheville, source tells @theathletic.com

New Crush City Territory episode - First half in review - Best moments - Dana Brown's deadline dilemma - Some draft musings. - Cam Smith in CF YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QkP... Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c... Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/00dA...

New Crush City Territory episode - The rotation questions - Yordan Alvarez's slingshots - Justin Verlander's retirement - Did you know the draft is tomorrow? YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5aJ... Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c... Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/7Hzt...

Yordan Alvarez approached Astros officials when trade speculation simmered in May. According to Alvarez, they "told me they weren’t going to trade me no matter what happened.” Is it his desire to play his entire career in Houston? “Yeah, of course.” - www.nytimes.com/athletic/740...

On Yordan Alvarez, the avid outdoorsman who shuns the spotlight and is a "lost art" within a sport slowly starting to show more personality - www.nytimes.com/athletic/740...

The Astros lost 8-2. They are 46-49. Spencer Arrighetti got 12 outs and walked six batters. Foster Griffin, signed for $5.5 million this winter after pitching well in Japan, continued his great season. Houston lost the series and will head to Arlington to end the first half.

Spencer Arrighetti against the Nats: 4+ IP, 7 H, 8 ER, 6 BB, 2 K, 94 pitches, 48 strikes, 33 swings, 2 whiffs, 89.2 mph average exit velocity. Three of Arrighetti's six walks came around to score. He has an 8.74 ERA in his past seven starts. Arrighetti's season ERA is 4.50

The Tigers drafted, developed and debuted Justin Verlander. He will play his final season in their uniform and, perhaps, wear their cap into Cooperstown. But Verlander’s most dominant — and perhaps legacy-defining — years occurred with the Houston Astros - www.nytimes.com/athletic/743...

Detroit native Hunter Brown on Justin Verlander's retirement: "My favorite player growing up. One of my favorite teammates I’ve had. I’m a little bummed, obviously. I wish he could pitch until he was 75 years old."

The Astros against Foster Griffin: Altuve 4, Alvarez DH, Paredes 5, Walker 3, Smith 9, Diaz 2, Matthews 8, Dezenzo 7, Allen 6 Arrighetti RHP

Hunter Brown will start on Friday in Arlington and Peter Lambert will go on Saturday. The Astros, as expected, are TBA on Sunday, which would've been Mike Burrows' turn in the rotation

Wrote a lot about Justin Verlander. This is my favorite — about his days at Old Dominion, where he rolled up to campus in a black Mustang with the vanity plate "BRNGNIT 94" “But, I was bringing it, so I was like ‘f— it," Verlander said. Free to read - www.nytimes.com/athletic/556...

The Astros won 6-3. They are 46-48. The bullpen threw 5.1 innings of one-run ball in relief of Tatsuya Imai. Jose Altuve homered. Nick Allen and Christian Vázquez had run-scoring hits. Josh Hader stranded the bases loaded to end the game.

Tatsuya Imai against the Nats: 3.2 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, 84 pitches, 52 strikes, 43 swings, 10 whiffs, 86.3 mph average exit velocity. A blister/cut on Imai's pitching hand gave him some problems. Imai has failed to finish four innings in 5 of his 13 starts. His ERA is 6.06

More on the Astros' decision to demote Mike Burrows, another of Dana Brown's offseason additions off to a poor start - www.nytimes.com/athletic/742...

Tatsuya Imai was visited by an athletic trainer during a 24-pitch first inning. It appears there is a cut or blister on one of his pitching fingers. Imai received some attention on the appendage and remained in the game.

Dana Brown reiterated today that the Astros' focus at the trade deadline is a left-handed hitting outfielder. They would also be open to a right-handed reliever.

The Astros optioned Mike Burrows - www.nytimes.com/athletic/742...

The Astros have optioned Mike Burrows to Triple-A Sugar Land. Alimber Santa has been called up to take his spot on the active roster.

New Crush City Territory episode - Mike Burrows may be on borrowed time - What they could do in his place - Jake Meyers' option - Another MVP moment for Alvarez YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UdO... Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c... Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/5XvG...

Can the Astros afford to remain patient with Mike Burrows? - www.nytimes.com/athletic/742...

The Astros lost 12-11. They are 45-48. Mike Burrows got beat up, furthering questions about his viability in the rotation. Jose Altuve and Brice Matthews homered.

Mike Burrows against the Nationals: 4.2 IP, 9 H, 10 R, 7 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 83 pitches, 56 strikes, 39 swings, 2 whiffs, 91.9 mph average exit velocity. It is Burrows' worst start of a brutal first half. It is fair to wonder if he will get another one. His ERA is 5.99.

Tatsuya Imai, who is starting tomorrow at Nationals Park, is throwing off the stadium mound before Astros BP. It's not a bullpen session and his catcher — interpreter Shio Enomoto — is standing up, but still noteworthy for someone who has struggled to adjust to different mounds

The Astros against Miles Mikolas: Altuve 4, Alvarez DH, Paredes 5, Walker 3, Wade 7, Smith 9, Diaz 2, Shewmake 6, Matthews 8 Burrows RHP

Jeremy Peña is on track to play in a couple minor-league rehab games this week at Triple-A Sugar Land, Joe Espada said. Provided that goes well, Peña could rejoin the team prior to the final series of the first half against the Rangers next weekend.