TONIGHT’S GAME: The Houston Astros (43-46) will welcome in the top team in the AL, the Tampa Bay Rays (51-33), for a three-game holiday weekend series at Daikin Park beginning tonight.
RHP Spencer Arrighetti (7-4, 4.00 ERA) will get the Friday night start for the Astros opposite the veteran RHP Nick Martinez (7-2, 2.66 ERA) and the Rays.
SPENCER’S GIFTS: RHP Spencer Arrighetti is 7-4 in his 13 starts, leading the club in wins and ranking 10th in the AL in opponent batting average (min. 70IP). He has
allowed just 56 hits in his 72.0 innings, averaging 7.00 hits per 9.0, which ranks eighth in the AL.
Arrighetti had a rough June (9.00 ERA), but was the AL Pitcher of the Month for May, posting a 4-1 record with a 0.93 ERA.
RECENT ‘STROS: The Astros have won six of nine, seven of 11, and are 10-5 in their last 15 games. The Astros 16-11 record in June tied as the best in the AL, along with their rival Rangers.
SERIES-LY SPEAKING: Prior to the Astros losing two of three to the Twins earlier this week, the club had won five consecutive series dating back to June 12. The last time the Astros won five straight series was from June 20-July 6 of last season.
WINNING THE CLOSE CALLS: The Astros are 9-5 in one-run games and 19-10 in two-run games. Each of the Astros last seven wins and 12 of their last 13 victories have come by two-or-fewer runs.
NEYENS ADDED TO FUTURES GAME: IF Xavier Neyens has been added to the 2026 All-Star Futures Game, which will be played on July 12 in Philadelphia. Neyens, the Astros first-round selection last year, joins the club’s top prospect OF Kevin Alvarez on the American League squad.
MY BOY BLU: RHP AJ Blubaugh worked another 2.2 scoreless innings on Wednesday vs. MIN, giving him 56.1 innings pitched on the season, which leads all Major League relievers. Blubaugh has been on a strong run since April 11, going 3-0 with a 2.06 ERA (11ER/48IP) in his last 29 appearances.
ASTROS ROSTER MOVES: The Astros have reinstated RHP Cristian Javier from the 60-day IL and have transferred LHP Bennett Sousa to the 60-day IL to make room for Javier on the 40-man roster. Postgame on Wednesday, the Astros optioned RHP Miguel Ullola to Triple A.
ALL-STAR UPDATE: Full All-Star rosters (starters and reserves) will be announced tomorrow night beginning at 6:30 p.m. CT on FOX. DH Yordan Alvarez was a finalists on the 2026 KONAMI eBaseball MLB All-Star Ballot and is a strong candidate to be the AL starter at the DH position. Alvarez has been an All-Star three times in his career.
MVP-CALIBER: DH Yordan Alvarez has had a torrid first half to his season, currently leading all of baseball in OPS (1.053), OBP (.433), SLG (.620) and total bases (194). Additionally, he ranks first in the AL in extra-base hits (42), tied for first in homers (26), tied for first in hits (100), second in batting average (.319), second in RBI (60), tied for second in runs (59) and fourth in walks (59).
TAP FOR SUCCESS: Astros hitters have won an MLB-best 63 ABS challenges and lead the Majors in challenge success rate (60%). 3B Isaac Paredes (9-for-9) has the most successful challenges in the Majors without losing one. 2B Jose Altuve has been successful on 15-of-21 challenges (71%), ranking second in the Majors in challenges won.
OUT ON ASSIGNMENT: The Astros have several players on minor league rehab assignments:
• RHP Ronel Blanco (rt. elbow surgery) started on Wednesday for Double A Corpus Christi at NW Arkansas, tossing 4.1 innings, allowing three runs on five hits with four strikeouts. He tossed 60 pitches (45 strikes) in what was his third minor league rehab start.
• RHP Lance McCullers Jr. (rt. shoulder inflammation) started on Wednesday for Triple A Sugar Land at OKC, tossing 4.0 innings of one-run ball, fanning three. He tossed 60 pitches (41 strikes) in what was his second minor league rehab start.
• RHP Hayden Wesneski (rt. elbow surgery) began a minor league rehab assignment on Tuesday for the FCL Astros, tossing 3.0 innings (0ER) on 25 pitches.
• IF Braden Shewmake (rt. adductor strain) had his rehab assignment transferred to Triple A on Wednesday and has started two games for the Space Cowboys, one at shortstop and one at second base.
• OF LaMonte Wade Jr. (rt. hamstring strain) began a rehab assignment at Triple A on Tuesday and has started two games so far for the Space Cowboys, one at first base and one in left field.
TODAY IN ASTROS HISTORY: 2020 – In a year unlike any other, the Astros begin Summer Camp workouts at Daikin Park and the University of Houston. It was the first workout day for all clubs as MLB returned following nearly a three month shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was the club’s first day back on the field since Spring Training was halted on March 13.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Friday, July 3, 7:15 p.m. CT
Location: Daikin Park, Houston, TX
TV: Apple TV
Radio: KTRH 740 AM; KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)
