TONIGHT’S GAME: The Houston Astros (75-72) open a 3-game series tonight vs. the Tampa Bay Rays (87-59) at Tropicana Field.
Rookie RHP Miguel Ullola (0-0, 3.86 ERA) will make his 1st ML start at 6th appearance for the Astros as he takes on Rays RHP Drew Rasmussen (14-5, 2.88 ERA). Ullola is serving as an opener tonight.
9/11 REMEMBERANCE: Today, MLB is recognizing the 25th anniversary of the deadly terrorists attacks that took place on Sept. 11, 2001. Games being played at all ballparks will include
special tributes and pregame ceremonies. All players, managers, coaches and umpires will wear special caps with a “We Shall Never Forget” side patch.
ASTROS-RAYS: The Astros took 2 out of 3 games from the Rays when they met at Daikin Park earlier this season, July 3-5.
Fourth of July Fireworks: The Astros defeated RHP Drew Rasmussen and the Rays, 10-8, on July 4th. HOU tallied 5 runs on 6 hits vs. Rasmussen in his 5.0 IP. Yordan Alvarez led the way with 2 HR and 6 RBI.
Astros-Rays History: The Astros are 45-49 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.
MIGGY’S FIRST TIME: Tonight will be the 1st Major League start for rookie RHP Miguel Ullola. He has made 5 relief appearances for the Astros, with his last coming on Sept. 6 vs. ARI when he hurled a scoreless 8th inning in a 3-2 Astros loss. Although tonight will be his 1st ML start, Ullola has experience as a starter in the minor leagues. 86 of his 152 career minor league appearances are as a starter. At Triple A Sugar Land this season, 10 of his 39 appearances were as a starter. Overall at Sugar Land, he tallied 90 strikeouts in just 66.1 IP while allowing just 45 hits for a .192 opp. avg.
YESTERDAY’S RECAP: The Astros edged the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park yesterday afternoon in a 2-1 pitcher’s duel. Cam Smith was the hero with a solo HR in the top of the 9th off closer Jhoan Duran to snap a 1-1 tie. RHP Cristian Javier was solid, allowing just 1 run on 3 hits in 6.0 IP. RHP Bryan Abreu (5-3) earned the win in relief while LHP Josh Hader earned his 25th save in as many chances with a scoreless 9th inning. With the win, the Astros took 2 of 3 from PHI in the series.
CAM CAN: Cam Smith has homered in his last 3 games, going 5×10 with 4 RBI in that span.
MR. CRISTIAN: Yesterday’s starter RHP Cristian Javier has been outstanding in his last 2 starts, posting a 1.64 ERA (2ER/11IP) while allowing just 4 hits and 2 runs over 11.0 innings of work with 13 K’s. Yesterday was Javier’s 1st app. at Citizens Bank Park since he started the combined no hitter in Game 4 of the 2022 WS. In his 2 starts at CBP, he has now allowed just 3 hits in 12.0 IP with 14 K’s.
ROAD WARRIORS: Tonight is the 4th game (2-1 thus far) of a 6-game road trip for the Astros. Since going 1-9 on the first road trip of the 2026 season, the Astros have gone 37-25 (.597) on the road since April 14, which ranks third in the Majors in that span. More recently, they are 21-13 (.618) on their last 6 road trips (includes current trip).
TOUGH DRAWS: Including tonight, in the last 3 games, the opposing starters that the Astros have faced have a combined win-loss record of 43-15. LHP Cristopher Sanchez (17-5), RHP Zack Wheeler (12-5) and RHP Drew Rasmussen (14-5). The Astros are 1-1 in those games thus far.
MEASURING UP: The Astros are 29-20 (.592) vs. teams currently at .500 or above. They own a winning record vs. several clubs that are in the AL postseason hunt: 5-1 vs. BOS, 5-2 vs. CWS, 4-2 vs. CLE, 2-1 vs. TB, 9-4 vs. TEX.
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 took place on June 9 of this year at PNC Park vs. PIT. Freeman (2,587) and Altuve (2.502) are the 2 active hits leaders in the Majors.
ON THE OFFENSIVE: The Astros lead the AL in SLG (.410), rank 2nd in HR (193), 4th in OPS (.725) and T-4th in runs scored (662).
SLOW AND STEADY RECOVERY: Since starting the season with a 20-31 record after 51 games, the Astros are 55-41 (.573) in their last 96 games (since May 22). That is the 2nd-best record in the AL in that span, behind only the Boston Red Sox.
STARTING STRONG: In the last 10 games, Astros starters have combined for a 2.78 ERA (17ER/55IP). The Astros are 6-4 in that span. Additionally, the Astros are 10-6 in their last 16 games, during which the starters have posted a combined 3.17 ERA (29ER/82.1IP).
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 6-4 thus far while in the the midst of a stretch of playing 4 consecutive teams (CWS, ARI, PHI, TB) with winning records, 2 of which are leading their respective divisions (CWS, TB), one that would qualify for the playoffs as a WC (PHI) and another that is 0.5 game out of a WC spot (ARI).
DOWN ON THE FARM: Single A Fayetteville has advanced to the Championship Round of the Carolina League playoffs after last night’s 8-1 win over Fredericksburg, which clinched their best-of-three series. They will await the winner of the Hickory vs. Kannapolis series.
TODAY IN ASTROS HISTORY: 2001 – Major League Baseball games come to an immediate halt for a full week following the deadly terrorist attacks. The Astros were scheduled to host the SF Giants on this night. The Astros would resume play on Sept. 18 at SF.
1999 – In a 5-3 win over the Cubs in the Dome, RHP Jose Lima earns his 20th win of the season, hurling 7.1 strong innings. Tony Eusebio goes 2×3 with a HR and 2 RBI. Lima becomes the Astros first 20-game winner since RHP Mike Scott went 20-10 in 1989.
1967 – Jimmy Wynn sets a franchise record with his 37th and final HR of the season in an 11-10 win over the Cubs in the Dome. Wynn’s single-season, franchise HR record would stand until Jeff Bagwell hit 39 HR in 1994.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Friday, September 11, 6:10 p.m. CT
Location: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL
TV: Space City Home Network
Radio: KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; KTRH 740 AM; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)
