Brice Matthews' timeline, draft pick compensation and ‘dudes just doing it': Astros takeaways
HOUSTON — Spring training is a time to ponder all possibilities, every permutation of how the ensuing seven months of a baseball season may unfold. Clubs consider everything and eliminate nothing, the byproduct of playing a sport renowned for its randomness.
Still, anyone inside the Houston Astros' infrastructure is kidding if they claim to have predicted this. A team crippled by injuries and held together by castoffs continues to win, ascending to a place it always seems to be.
Advertisement
More than half of Houston's starting rotation is on the injured list, its home run leader has a bad hamstring and its best hitter hasn't appeared in a game since May 2. The Astros are somehow 41-30 and trail the Detroit Tigers by four games for the American League's best record.
'The history of the Astros, dudes just do it,' closer Josh Hader said. 'This organization finds a way to do it.'
Hader holding the Minnesota Twins scoreless in the 10th inning is perhaps the only predictable outcome from Sunday afternoon. A backup catcher in a 3-for-32 funk hit cleanup while two journeymen on minor-league deals batted seventh and ninth. Houston struck four singles as a result.
'We know how to win,' said Mauricio Dubón, who collected the last one, walking off the Twins in the 10th inning. 'We don't stop fighting. We come in the ninth inning and try to make it happen. That's the mentality we have over here.'
All-Star Energy. #VoteDubi x https://t.co/W06pfHQMR1 pic.twitter.com/5oiCa9GrRC
— Houston Astros (@astros) June 15, 2025
Dubón delivered Houston's ninth win this season in its final at-bat. The team already has 20 come-from-behind wins in its first 71 games. It had 35 total last season. The Astros have won 13 one-run games after winning just 18 last year.
Fortune is involved, yes, but premier pitching is propelling it. No staff in the sport has struck out more batters than Houston's, even with three members of the rotation sitting on the injured list.
On Sunday, a left-hander named Brandon Walter, in the second year of a minor-league deal he signed last August, allowed one run across 6 2/3 innings. His ERA is 1.53 after three starts as an Astro.
'You just know they're going to pitch good here, because it's how it is,' Walter said. 'It's contagious.'
Vibes are contagious for a club that's won five straight and 10 of its past 14 with a skeleton crew. Somewhere between spent and scintillated sits its manager, who plopped down for Sunday's postgame news conference and let out an exhale.
'Speechless,' he said.
A slew of injuries in their outfield allowed the Astros to summon prospect Jacob Melton for what was supposed to be an extended runway of playing time. Melton sprained his ankle Friday, spoiling the plan.
When Melton did, another path for a prospect opened. The Astros did not seize it, bypassing infielder Brice Matthews in favor of journeymen veterans Cooper Hummel and Luis Guillorme.
Advertisement
Logic suggested the Astros could've moved Dubón into a primary outfield role during Melton's absence, allowing Matthews close to everyday playing time at second base.
That Matthews entered Sunday slashing .307/.408/.604 across his past 120 plate appearances at Triple-A Sugar Land only furthered some thought that the former first-round pick could be on the precipice of a call-up.
Matthews' lack of consistent contact prevented it, general manager Dana Brown said Sunday. After posting a 67.2 percent contact rate last year, Matthews is making contact just 67.3 percent of the time at Triple A this season. Only three qualified major-league hitters entered Sunday with a lower contact rate.
Strikeouts and swing decisions have long been Matthews' biggest enemies, though this season he has slashed his strikeout rate from 31.4 percent to 28.5 percent. He is chasing outside the strike zone just 20.2 percent of the time, too — 8 percent below major-league average.
'It's a combination of swing decisions and sometimes he chases a little bit,' Brown told the team's pregame radio show Sunday.
'He's swinging the bat well, and he's starting to make more contact, and if it continues to trend in that direction, it could get interesting. Maybe he'll force our hand. It's really good to see that he's swinging the bat well in Triple A.'
Without prompt, Brown also mentioned Matthews' success on the road, which is crucial in analyzing any of the Astros' performers at Triple-A Sugar Land. The Pacific Coast League is regarded as a hitter's paradise, especially in atmospheres like those in Albuquerque, El Paso or Reno.
Matthews entered Sunday's game at Reno slugging .672 with a 1.117 OPS in 146 road plate appearances. In 93 plate appearances at Constellation Field — a ballpark that isn't nearly as hitter-friendly as others in its league — Matthews is slashing .171/.323/.197. He has 35 strikeouts in 76 home at-bats and 33 across his 119 on the road.
Advertisement
Brown has been prone to promoting prospects at a breakneck pace, especially those he's acquired or drafted during his tenure. He selected Matthews with his first draft pick as Houston's general manager and has made it clear he holds the 23-year-old infielder in high regard.
Matthews is viewed as Houston's heir apparent at second base in the wake of Jose Altuve's switch to left field. Only 10 major-league teams entered Sunday extracting a lower OPS from their second basemen than the Astros, who could seek to upgrade the position during next month's trade deadline.
Perhaps by then, Matthews is making enough contact to make that pursuit moot.
Saturday's 3-2 win accentuated two of the Astros' most promising young players. Hunter Brown struck out a career-high 12 batters across seven stellar innings before Cam Smith collected the first walk-off hit of his major-league career.
Brown's ERA is 1.88 after his first 14 starts of the season. According to Baseball-Reference, Smith is worth 1.1 wins above replacement. Only three Astros position players have accumulated more.
That present production could also benefit Houston's future. Both Brown and Smith are eligible for Major League Baseball's prospect promotion incentive, adopted during the most recent collective bargaining agreement in an effort to discourage service time manipulation.
Smith's eligibility had at least some influence on Houston's decision to put him on the Opening Day roster. Brown is eligible after debuting in September 2022, retaining his rookie status and then accruing a full year of service time in 2023.
Though Major League Baseball's official website says 'there is a limit of one PPI pick per organization,' two league sources confirmed this week that language is somewhat unclear. Players themselves can only give their team one PPI pick in their careers, but if both Smith and Brown accomplish the feat this season, Houston will receive two extra picks after the first round of the 2026 draft.
Advertisement
Doing so would inject life into a farm system that needs it, though accomplishing it feels arduous. Brown needs to finish in the top three of American League Cy Young voting — a path that appears far more realistic than Smith's.
Brown owns the American League's lowest ERA, fourth-lowest WHIP and is holding opponents to a .182 batting average. Only Carlos Rodón has been harder to hit among American League starters.
Even if Tarik Skubal remains the favorite to repeat as the American League Cy Young winner, it is easy to envision a world where Brown finishes within the top three of voting — all that's needed to get a draft pick. Brown must maintain his dominance while monitoring the progress of Skubal, Max Fried, Garrett Crochet, Kris Bubic and Jacob deGrom.
For Smith to secure a pick, he must either win American League Rookie of the Year or finish in the top three of MVP voting. If the season ended today, Smith wouldn't factor in. Jacob Wilson, Carlos Narváez, Chase Meidroth, Shane Smith and Will Warren all entered Sunday worth more WAR than Smith among American League rookies. Ground must be made up, but Smith has the runway to accomplish it.
(Photo of Brice Matthews during spring training: Joe Robbins / Icon Sportswire via AP Images)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
12 minutes ago
- Yahoo
"Those three guys are not gonna win anything" - Shannon Sharpe urges the Lakers to trade Austin Reaves and improve their team
"Those three guys are not gonna win anything" - Shannon Sharpe urges the Lakers to trade Austin Reaves and improve their team originally appeared on Basketball Network. Time is ticking for the Los Angeles Lakers if they want to maximize their championship prowess with the tandem of Luka Doncic and LeBron James. With "The King" turning 41 next season, the window to chase a championship with him is narrow at best. Advertisement That is why Shannon Sharpe feels the Purple and Gold need to act strategically, and that includes considering a tough decision — trading their most valuable trade chip, Austin Reaves, to pursue a traditional center that can help elevate the game of both James and Doncic. Reaves is the only asset that the Lakers have After averaging 15.9 points and 5.5 assists during the 2023-24 campaign, AR proved himself to be one of the most reliable no. 3 options in the league. As a result, the franchise rewarded him with a four-year, $53 million contract before the start of this season. And "Hillbilly Kobe" didn't disappoint, averaging 20.2 points in the 2024-25 season, asserting himself as one of the most valuable pieces in their core. During the 2025 trade deadline, the Lakers seemed determined not to entertain any trade offers for Reaves. However, as the legendary NFL tight end said, now is the time to consider. With the 6'5" shooting guard now reaching his borderline All-Star level, more and more teams will be interested in offering him a lucrative contract worthy of his growth and talent. Advertisement On his podcast, Sharpe argued that from a team perspective, the Lakers need to offer their most valuable piece to acquire a battle-tested rim protector and pick-and-lob threat who can dominate the paint alongside the marquee duo. "The Lakers can only pay him so much. You're gonna go somewhere and get a big payday anyway. You ain't trying to stay with the Lakers when you get $200 million, and they can't give you that," Sharpe said. "Yeah, he has improved every single year; he's a hell of a player." "But those three guys are not gonna win anything. Now, I'm not saying you gotta package him, but they need a (traditional) big. He's the only valuable piece that they have," he added. Related: "He's Mr. Discipline, Mr. Straight, Mr. Conservative" - Dennis Rodman admits Gregg Popovich was "the big problem" in San Antonio The Lakers should never trade AR As tempting as it is to see Reaves' name used as trade bait, the truth is that the Lakers should not let go of him so easily. The 26-year-old is not an ordinary rising star but a homegrown fan favorite. Suppose the organization has put its faith in him. In that case, he has rewarded that trust by improving each season, regardless of the coaching changes or shifting roles. Advertisement Whether Bron or Luka was out of the lineup, AR stepped up and delivered, proving that he's more than capable of handling pressure on the big stage. And that is exactly the type of selfless, gritty player who can help build long-term success. He might not have individual accolades to his name. Still, with how Reaves has performed in the 2024-25 season, he was better as a third option than the second option of some teams and, in a handful of cases, more impactful than the production of the team's best player. Thus, the Lakers should definitely have plans for the future now that the Doncic era has begun. Still, trading proven youngsters like Reaves would only be a lose-lose move, as they would be giving up on a selfless, team-oriented player only to add another experiment to their roster. Related: "With Jordan, they don't talk about the the playoff losses" - Michael Beasley says LeBron is '100%' the GOAT over MJ This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on May 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
12 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Stephen A. Smith Updates Tyrese Haliburton's 'Superstar' Status After Game 6 of the NBA Finals
Stephen A. Smith Updates Tyrese Haliburton's 'Superstar' Status After Game 6 of the NBA Finals originally appeared on Athlon Sports. As the NBA season looks forward to the final game of the 2024-25 season, there will be a lot of anticipation leading up to Game 7 of the NBA Finals. Advertisement The Indiana Pacers were able to keep their championship hopes alive after a complete blowout in their final home game of the season, beating the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 6 with a final score of 108-91. Jun 19, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard (2) dribbles defended by Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (8) in the first quarter during game six of the 2025 NBA Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse© Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images Defense was the key factor to the Pacers' dominant victory, as Indiana made Oklahoma City turn the ball over 21 times compared to their 11. This helped the Pacers take 92 shots, while the Thunder attempted just 74. One key headline leading up to the game was the health status of the Pacers' point guard, Tyrese Haliburton. Haliburton has been dealing with a calf strain, and it left him labeled as questionable heading into the series-determining game. Advertisement He was able to play in the game, and his calf was able to hold up as he finished with 14 points, five assists, and two steals in a limited 23 minutes. Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton reacts after a play against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game 6 of the 2025 NBA Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on June 19, Terada-Imagn Images ESPN's Stephen A. Smith was left unimpressed, however, and he was able to give an update on Haliburton's "superstar" status on Friday morning. "He's a damn good player. He sort of stirs the cups for Indiana's offense. We will give him his props where it's due, what we're not going to do is call him a superstar. We're not going to do that," Stephen A. Smith said on First Take. Stephen A. was also able to give Haliburton credit in the impressive amount of clutch shots he's made for the Pacers in their playoff run this season. Advertisement Haliburton has hit four different game-tying or go-ahead shots in the final five seconds of games in the 2025 NBA Playoffs. His buzzer-beating game-winner in Game 1 has given the Pacers momentum in The Final's series against the Thunder, leading to their push to Game 7 to determine who will win the NBA championship this season. The real question will be if Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers will be able to continue their prominent run this playoffs and travel back to Oklahoma City to knock of the Thunder and capture the franchise's first NBA championship. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
15 minutes ago
- Yahoo
WNBA Coach Responds to Reporter's Accusation Following 2024 Post About Caitlin Clark
WNBA Coach Responds to Reporter's Accusation Following 2024 Post About Caitlin Clark originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve found herself in hot water again after her previous behavior toward Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark resurfaced. Advertisement Reeve's 2024 social media posts recently resurfaced after award-winning reporter Christine Brennan brought them up in a recent interview. Brennan accused Reeve of showing "stunningly bad behavior" for supposedly "blaming [Clark] for not having Minnesota Lynx games on TV." Reeve caught wind of the allegations, and the veteran coach decided to fire back with her own tirade against Brennan. "What she wrote is fiction," Reeve said in a recent appearance on FanDuel Sports Network. "And if she were paying attention, one of the things that I have done for years is held the league accountable for their missteps, mishaps, their lack of representation of all teams. "And so that particular situation had nothing to do with Caitlin Clark. It had everything to do with a WNBA social media post that promoted one preseason game and not all preseason games. And so I simply said that. Advertisement "And by the way, the Minnesota Lynx are playing the Chicago Sky, which also had some popular player in Angel Reese that people were interested in. And it simply wasn't posted on their account." Reeve was far from done. She then turned her attention to Brennan, whom she is now accusing of painting her as the villain in her story. "If Christine Brennan were being thorough and a legitimate reporter in this situation, she would have gotten full context. But it didn't fit the narrative," Reeve said. "Christine Brennan likes to have a villain in her storytelling. I am Christine Brennan's villain. That's what she's going to, that's the sword she's going to die on. And it's a fiction, the stuff that she has written about me and my interest in Caitlin Clark being on or off the (national) team." Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve during a game.© Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports Reeve also touched on Brennan's accusation about the former's role in not including Clark in the national team for the Paris Olympics last year, which was a whole controversy on its own. Reeve is strongly denying that allegation as well, as she has now left no doubt about her opinion on this matter and on Brennan. Advertisement Related: Caitlin Clark Assigns Blame After Fever's Loss to Valkyries Related: Indiana Fever's Sophie Cunningham Turns Heads After Exciting Personal News Related: WNBA Makes Caitlin Clark Announcement After Fever-Sun Game This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 21, 2025, where it first appeared.
