TODAY’S GAME: The Houston Astros
(75-74) and Tampa Bay Rays (89-59) play the finale of this 3-game set this afternoon at Tropicana Field.RHP Hayden Wesneski (5-1, 3.35 ERA) will start for the Astros as he takes on Rays RHP Freddy Peralta (8-11, 4.82 ERA).
BIG WES: RHP Hayden Wesneski has pitched well in recent weeks, posting a 3-0 record in his last 4 starts with a 1.57 ERA (4ER/23IP). In that span, he has allowed just 10 hits in 23.0 innings of work. The Astros are 4-0 in those 4 starts and 7-1 in his 8
starts overall in 2026. Wesneski made his 2026 debut on July 29 after recovering from Tommy John surgery.
Vs. the Rays: Today will be his 1st career start and 3rd app. overall vs. the Rays. His last app. vs. them was in relief on June 11, 2024 at TB while with the Cubs (1.2 IP, 0 R). He has a 1.69 ERA (1ER/5.1IP) in his 2 career app. vs. TB. Wesneski was acquired by HOU from the Cubs along with Isaac Paredes and Cam Smith in exchange for Kyle Tucker on Dec. 13, 2024.
ASTROS-RAYS: The Astros are 2-3 vs. TB thus far this season. HOU took 2 out of 3 games from the Rays when they met at Daikin Park earlier this season, July 3-5.
At Tropicana: Prior to the current series, the Astros had enjoyed success at Tropicana Field, posting an 8-1 record here from 2022-24. In those 3 seasons, Astros pitchers posted a combined ERA of 1.56 (14ER/81IP) at the Trop. Including the current series, Astros pitchers have a 1.85 ERA (20ER/97.1IP) in their last 11 games at the Trop.
Astros-Rays History: The Astros are 45-51 all-time vs. TB in the regular season.
Postseason: The two clubs have met twice in the postseason, with the Astros defeating TB in the 2019 ALDS, 3-2, and the Rays topping the Astros in the 2020 ALCS, 4-3.
CAM CAN: Cam Smith is 6×18 (.333) on the current road trip with 3 HR and 4 RBI. He homered in all 3 games at PHI on the 1st stop of the trip. Smith, who has posted an .887 OPS in Sept., is T-1st in the AL in triples (6) and T-2nd in OF assists (8) among RF’s.
ROAD WARRIORS: Today is the finale of a 6-game road trip for the Astros (2-3 thus far). Since going 1-9 on the first road trip of the 2026 season, the Astros have gone 37-27 (.578) on the road since April 14, which ranks 3rd in the Majors in that span. More recently, they are 21-15 (.583) on their last 6 road trips combined (includes current trip).
MEASURING UP: The Astros are 28-20 (.583) vs. teams currently at .500 or above. They own a .500 or better record vs. several clubs that are in the AL postseason hunt: 5-1 vs. BOS, 5-2 vs. CWS, 4-2 vs. CLE, 9-4 vs. TEX, 3-3 vs. NYY, 3-3 vs. TOR.
NOTHING FINER THAN YAINER: C Yainer Diaz is hitting .412 (14×34) in the month of September with a .987 OPS.
Multi-Tasking: Diaz has tallied multiple hits in each of his last 6 starts, going 13×23 (.565) in that span. Additionally, he is 9×18 (.500) on the current road trip.
20 HR CLUB: Isaac Paredes’ solo HR in the 1st inning last night was his 20th of the season. It is the 4th time he has reached 20 HR in a season. Additionally, the Astros now have 4 players with 20 or more HR (Yordan Alvarez-38, Christian Walker-25, Smith-20, Paredes-20). 2023 was the last time that HOU had more than 4 players with 20 more HR in a season when they had 5 players reach that plateau. Additionally, HOU’s 194 HR as a club are their most since they hit 222 in 2023.
THE HIT MAN: Jose Altuve collected his 2,500th career hit on Wed. night at PHI, becoming the 103rd player in ML history to reach this milestone. Freddie Freeman was the last player to reach 2,500 hits, which happened on June 9 of this year at PNC Park vs. PIT. Freeman (2,587) and Altuve (2,504) are the the 2 active hits leaders in the Majors.
ON THE OFFENSIVE: The Astros lead the AL in Total Bases (2,044) and are 2nd in HR (194) and SLG (.408).
SLOW AND STEADY RECOVERY: Since starting the season with a 20-31 record after 51 games, the Astros are 55-43 (.561) in their last 98 games (since May 22). That is the 3rd-best record in the AL in that span, behind only the Red Sox.
STARTING STRONG: In the last 12 games, Astros starters have combined for a 2.90 ERA (20ER/62IP). The Astros are 6-6 in that span. Additionally, the Astros are 10-8 in their last 18 games, during which the starters have posted a combined 3.22 ERA (32ER/89.1IP).
TRIPLE THREAT: Yordan Alvarez, who is a solid candidate for the AL MVP Award, currently ranks 1st or 2nd in the AL in all three Triple Crown categories. He enters today leading the AL in batting avg. (.310), while ranking 2nd in HR (38) and RBI (96). Alvarez also leads the Majors in OPS (1.017), SLG (.590) and OBP (.427).
Rare Feat: Since Carl Yastrzemski won the AL Triple Crown in 1967, there has been just one Triple Crown winner in the Majors, Miguel Cabrera in 2012 (AL).
CHALLENGING STRETCH: The Astros are 6-6 thus far while in a stretch of playing 13 consecutive games vs. opponents with winning records (CWS, ARI, PHI, TB). 2 of those opponents are leading their respective divisions (CWS, TB), one currently holds a WC spot (PHI) and another is 1.5 games out of a WC spot (ARI).
DOWN ON THE FARM: Tonight, the Fayetteville Woodpeckers begin a best-of-three series vs. the Charleston RiverDogs for the Carolina League Championship. Fayetteville swept Fredericksburg in their 1st-round playoff matchup to advance to the championship series.
UP NEXT: Following today’s game, the Astros will return home for a 6-game homestand, during which they will host KC (3G, Tues.-Thurs.) and ATL (3G, Fri.-Sun.).
TODAY IN ASTROS HISTORY: 2015 – In Anaheim, the Astros erupt for 5 runs with 2 outs in the top of the 9th for a dramatic, 5-3 come-from-behind win over the Angels. A 3-run HR by Jed Lowrie in that 9th inning was the key blow.
1999 – In a 13-2 win over the Phillies, LHP Mike Hampton earns his 20th win of the season. That gives the Astros two 20-game winners in the same season as Jose Lima also reached 20 wins a few days earlier.
1965 – In the Dome, Willie Mays hits his 500th career HR in the Giants 5-1 win over the Astros. At the time, Mays became the 5th player in MLB history to reach 500 HR.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Sunday, September 13, 12:40 p.m. CT
Location: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL
TV: Space City Home Network
Radio: KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)
