Matt & Ross In The Morning

Houston Astros outfielder Ben Gamel joins The Matt Thomas Show following Monday's 3-2 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies. Gamel got his third straight start, batting seventh in the first of a three-game road series. Gamel has been favored against right-handed pitchers and is part of a right field platoon with Chas McCormick and Mauricio Dubon. The Astros claimed the MLB journeyman off waivers from the New York Mets on August 20, and Gamel made his Astros debut in Thursday's 6-0 victory over the Baltimore Orioles, recording two RBI. Gamel discusses his eventful career in baseball, how he found out he was going to Houston, his relationship with manager Joe Espada and more.

Houston Astros manager Joe Espada joins The Matt Thomas Show following Monday's 3-2 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies. The Astros dropped the opening game of the three-game road series after Bryce Harper hit a walk-off RBI single to win in the 10th inning. The Astros offense was unable to generate much production, and the defense committed a handful of errors in a matchup of division leaders. "It's that time of the year where you need to bring your A-game every single night," Espada said. "We're in a very long stretch," and "good teams take advantage of extra outs." Alex Bregman and Yordan Alvarez are "feeling good" as both have returned to the lineup. Jose Altuve had a day off Monday, but "it's all hands on deck." Kyle Tucker, who has been injured since June 3 when he fouled a ball off the shin, has been seen working out and shagging fly balls in an attempt to return in early September, according to general manager Dana Brown. "He wants to be on the field so bad." After September 1, all MLB teams will have an expanded roster of 28 players up from the standard 26. Rafael Montero, who was designated for assignment at the end of July, "has made some adjustments" while in Triple-A Sugar Land, and Forrest Whitley is "also someone we are considering" adding to the expanded roster.

Matt Thomas and Ross Villarreal of The Matt Thomas Show recap the Houston Astros splitting the four-game road series with the Baltimore Orioles following Sunday's 6-3 victory. Yusei Kikuchi allowed three runs on two hits while striking out four over five innings. Ronel Blanco starts on the mound Monday to open up a three-game series at the Philadelphia Phillies. Matt and Ross review the opening weekend of the college football season, discuss the Texans making roster cuts, react to Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb agreeing to a four-year, $136 million deal, play "To Tell The Truth" and more.

Matt Thomas and Ross Villarreal of The Matt Thomas Show discuss the Houston Astros struggling to find consistency at first base. The position has been an issue all season, with seven different players starting games at first base. Rookie Joey Loperfido, who was traded to Toronto in July, and catcher Victor Caratini have also played the position. The Astros released veteran Jose Abreu in June, halfway through a three-year, $58.5 million deal. Jon Singleton and Mauricio Dubon have split the majority of the time at first base since Abreu's release, but the Astros have been unable to find a solution to the lack of offensive production and defensive liabilities at a key position heading into a tight postseason race.

Matt Thomas and Ross Villarreal of The Matt Thomas Show go LIVE from Circa Resort and Casino in Las Vegas and recap the Houston Astros shutting out the Baltimore Orioles 6-0 to take the first game in the three-game road series. Spencer Arrighetti threw six scoreless innings, and Ben Gamel, who was claimed off waivers from the Mets on Tuesday, recorded two RBI to lead the Astros to their ninth straight road victory. Matt and Ross also talk with Eddie Nuñez, the new athletic director at the University of Houston, about the upcoming season, preview the Texans final preseason matchup against the Los Angeles Rams, tell their "Non-Florida Stories" and more on this "Anything Goes Friday."

Eddie Nuñez, the new athletic director at the University of Houston, joins The Matt Thomas Show to discuss arriving in Houston after seven years leading the University of New Mexico's athletic department. Despite success in various programs during their first year in the Big 12, Nuñez is entering the position with challenges ahead, as UH's current athletic department ranks at the bottom of all Power 4 schools. "Change is always happening in college athletics," so "we're going to do things differently," Nuñez said.

Matt Thomas and Ross Villarreal of The Matt Thomas Show go LIVE from Circa Resort and Casino in Las Vegas to recap the Houston Astros losing the three-game series against the Boston Red Sox following Wednesday's 4-1 defeat. Brian McTaggart, Astros beat reporter for MLB.com, joins to discuss the return of Alex Bregman and Justin Verlander to the lineup, as well as reliever Hector Neris rejoining the Astros after getting released by the Chicago Cubs. Matt and Ross catch up with Dr. Roto about fantasy football, review the Texans hosting a joint practice with the Los Angeles Rams, tell people to "Shut Yo Bum Ass Up, Ain't Nobody Got Time" and more.

Brian McTaggart, Astros beat reporter for MLB.com, joins The Matt Thomas Show following the Astros losing the three-game series to the Boston Red Sox after Wednesday's 4-1 defeat. Justin Verlander allowed four hits and two runs with six strikeouts in five innings during his first start since June 9. "He looked like typical Verlander," and now the Astros are "in a six-man rotation," McTaggart said. Alex Bregman returned to the lineup as a designated hitter after missing five games with right elbow inflammation. While he has not mentioned any discomfort, Bregman will probably not play at third base in the coming games. This creates a challenge in the lineup, as Yordan Alvarez will have to play more left field. "This outfield here in Baltimore is massive." While the Astros have a five-game lead in the AL West, "I don't see them taking their foot off the gas until they clinch the division," because they "certainly have some challenges ahead." McTaggart also gives an update on Kyle Tucker and comments on reliever Hector Neris returning to the Astros.

Matt Thomas and Ross Villarreal of The Matt Thomas Show react to the Houston Astros defeating the Boston Red Sox 5-4 on Monday, with Yainer Diaz hitting a walk-off home run. Manager Joe Espada joins to discuss how the Astros have won 11 of their last 12 games and are now five games ahead in the AL West. Astros rookie Shay Whitcomb also joins to discuss his first few games in the Majors. Matt and Ross review the Texans winning their third preseason matchup 28-10 over the New York Giants, debate the future of officiating in professional sports, give their latest "Gut Feelings" and more.

Astros rookie Shay Whitcomb joins The Matt Thomas Show following Monday's 5-4 victory over the Boston Red Sox. The Astros selected Whitcomb 160th overall in the fifth round of the MLB Draft in 2020. Whitcomb made his Major League debut on Saturday, recording a double and a single and scoring twice. Whitcomb talks about receiving the call to join the Astros, the differences between playing outdoors and indoors in Houston, growing up as a San Diego Padres fan and more.