TONIGHT’S GAME: The first-place Houston Astros (60-58) continue their six-game road trip with the third game of three-game series against the San Diego Padres
(61-57) at Petco Park.RHP Cristian Javier (1-2, 6.59 ERA) will be on the mound for the Astros for sixth start of the season tonight, opposite RHP Randy Vásquez (7-6, 4.19 ERA) and the Padres.
THE TURNAROUND: After a slow start to the season, the Astros are 40-27 since May 22, which is the second-best record in the AL in that span. On that date,
the Astros were 20-31, 11 games under, which is their low water mark for the season.
THAT’S OFFENSIVE: The Astros lead the AL in SLG (.417), and OPS (.739), while ranking second in home runs (160), OBP (.322) and hits (981). In the Majors, the Astros rank third in homers, trailing only the Nationals (170) and Yankees (166).
EL REPTIL: Tonight’s Astros starter RHP Cristian Javier is making his sixth start of the season and his third since returning from the IL in early July. He has split time between being a starter and reliever since his return, making four relief appearances and two starts. Since returning from the IL, he’s recorded a 3.50 ERA (7ER/18IP) with 19 strikeouts, a .257 opponent batting average and a 1.33 WHIP. In his last start on Monday against the Blue Jays at Daikin Park, he allowed three runs on seven hits and no walks with two strikeouts in six innings, marking his first quality start of the season (last, Sept. 17, 2025 vs. TEX).
ROAD WARRIORS: The Astros continue a sixgame West Coast road-trip with the third game of a three-game series against the San Diego Padres. Following their series with Padres, the Astros will travel to San Francisco for a three-game series against the Giants. The Astros went 5-1 on their last road trip. Houston is also 23-14 (.621) on their last five road trips and are 29-20 (.591) on the road since going 1-9 on their first road trip of the season. Houston is 30-29 overall on the road in 2026
THE LINEUP: The Astros have used 116 different lineups in their 118 games, repeating a lineup just twice on the season, which includes using the same lineup on Monday and Tuesday. DH Yordan Alvarez has the most starts at any spot in the lineup among Astros, hitting second 105 times.
VS. THE PADRES: The Astros and Padres have faced off vs. each other 617 times with the Astros leading the series 322-295. The Astros last faced the Padres in a three-game series at Daikin Park from April 18-20, 2025 (Astros went 2-1). The last time the Astros were at Petco Park was from Sept. 16-18, 2024 at SD (Padres went 2-1).
MVP-CALIBER: Yordan Alvarez leads the AL in all three Triple Crown categories, ranking first in batting average (.325), HR (35), and RBI (86). Additionally, he leads MLB in OPS (1.069), OBP (.439), SLG (.630), and TB (266). In the AL, he ranks first in hits (137), extra-base hits (59), and runs (79), and second in walks (82).
MR. RELIABLE: LHP Steven Okert has recorded a 2.20 ERA (14ER/57.1IP) with 59 strikeouts, 12 walks, a 0.87 WHIP and a .189 opponent batting average in 57 appearances, including one start this season. Among AL relievers, he ranks first in WHIP (0.81), second in appearances (56), second in H/9 (5.56), second in opponent batting average (.179), fifth in opponent OPS (.546) and seventh in ERA (2.06).
STREAKING: 1B Christian Walker has hit safely in season-high 11 consecutive games at a .333 (14×42) clip with eight runs, four doubles, two home runs, six RBI and a 1.011 OPS during the streak. It is his second-longest hitting streak of his career, behind a 13-game hitting streak from June 16-29, 2023, as a member of the Diamondbacks.
MULTI-HOMER MADNESS: RF Cam Smith went 3×4 with two solo home runs on Fri. night at SD, marking his fourth career multi-homer game (last, June 29 vs. MIN). It was also his second career multi-homer game against the Padres (also, April 18, 2025).
ON THE DEFENSIVE: 1B Christian Walker has not commited an error in his 112 games at first base this season, which is the longest errorless streak in the Majors this season.
BRYAN’S BACK: RHP Bryan Abreu has a 1.02 ERA (2ER/17.2IP) in his last 17 apps. with just seven hits allowed and 22 strikeouts in that span. Additionally, since May 1, he has a 1.93 ERA (7ER/32.2IP) in 34 apps., and is 6-for-6 in save opp. in that span. Prior to May 1, Abreu had a 12.54 ERA in his first 11 apps. of the season.
CHIPPING IN: A couple Astros are on mini hot streaks, including OF Taylor Trammell, who’s hit four homers with eight RBI and a 1.038 OPS in his last 11 games. RF Cam Smith is batting .394 (13×33) with two home runs, six RBI and a 1.126 OPS in his last nine games.
TODAY IN ASTROS HISTORY: 1976 – In a 13-4 win over the Cardinals at Busch Stadium, All-Star CF Cesar Cedeno hits for the cycle for the second time in his career. Cedeno secures the cycle with an 8th-inning single and ends up 4×5 with 5 RBI.
1965 – Future Hall of Fame RHP Robin Roberts hurls an 8-0 shutout over the Phillies in the Dome in what is his Astros debut. Roberts had started the season with the Orioles, but was released and then signed by Houston. He would post a 5-2 record with a 1.89 ERA in 10 starts for the Astros as part of his journey to Cooperstown.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Sunday, August 9, 7:20 p.m. CT
Location: Petco Park, San Diego, CA
TV: NBC/Peacock
Radio: KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)
