Matt & Ross In The Morning

Houston Astros manager Joe Espada joins The Matt Thomas Show following Monday's 5-4 victory over the Boston Red Sox. Yusei Kikuchi allowed three runs on six hits with seven strikeouts in over five innings, continuing his streak of positive performances since being traded to the Astros. "I was excited when we got him," Espada said. "We knew that we could help [Kikuchi] and make him better." The Astros defense struggled early, committing a season-high four errors; however, the offense would rally and secure the win with a walk-off solo home run from Yainer Diaz. Following a pair of days off, Diaz "made some adjustments to his swing," and "everything has come together for him." Victor Caratini also contributed to the Astros comeback win, recording three hits with one RBI. "[Caratini] has been a big piece," and "I've been considering" playing him at first base "to keep his bat in the lineup." Rookie Shay Whitcomb has temporarily taken over at third base since Alex Bregman has been out for four straight games due to swelling in the back of his right elbow. Bregman is "going to want to be in there again today," and "he could be an option for today...just depending on how it feels."

Matt Thomas and Ross Villarreal of The Matt Thomas Show review the Houston Astros winning the series over the Chicago White Sox after Sunday's 2-0 victory. Framber Valdez had another productive performance, striking out nine batters to help the Astros extend their lead in the AL West to four games ahead of the Seattle Mariners. Matt and Ross also react to the key points from the Texans' preseason victory over the New York Giants, preview Justin Verlander's return to the mound following rehab starts, play "To Tell The Truth" and more.

Former Major League reliever turned Space City Home Network analyst Mike Stanton joined The Matt Thomas Show with Matt Thomas and Ross Villareal. He talks about this run of 10 wins in the Astros last 11 games. He talks about this Astros lineup and their ability to hit. Plus, how this pitching staff has handled themselves this season.

Matt Thomas and Ross Villarreal of The Matt Thomas Show preview the Houston Astros hosting the Chicago White Sox for a three-game series starting Friday with Spencer Arrighetti on the mound. The Astros will look to extend their eight-game winning streak and distance themselves further from the Seattle Mariners in the AL West lead. During the show, news broke that third baseman Alex Bregman will be out of the lineup Friday due to swelling in his right elbow. Matt and Ross also discuss the Astros calling up Shay Whitcomb, preview the Texans hosting the New York Giants for their third preseason matchup, debate the top five best NFL teams heading into the regular season, react to Hailey "Hawk Tuah Girl" Welch throwing out the first pitch at a Mets game, tell their "Non Florida Stories" and more on this "Anything Goes Friday."

Matt Thomas and Ross Villarreal of The Matt Thomas Show react to the Houston Astros earning back-to-back series sweeps following Wednesday's 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays. Brian McTaggart, Astros beat reporter for MLB.com, joins to discuss the Astros winning eight games in a row and holding a three-game lead in the AL West after the Detroit Tigers swept the Seattle Mariners. Matt and Ross also discuss the NBA releasing the regular season schedule, preview the Texans preparing for their preseason matchup against the New York Giants, say "I Just Don't Get It" and more.

Brian McTaggart, Astros beat reporter for MLB.com, joins The Matt Thomas Show as the Astros complete back-to-back series sweeps following Wednesday's 2-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays. "They really had to do everything right to win that game," McTaggart said. During this road trip, in which the Astros went 8-1, Kyle Tucker was seen working out on the field, a positive sign for the right fielder, who has been on the injured list since fouling a ball off his shin on June 3. "Once Tucker comes back, whenever that is, your one through five is really deep." Productive at-bats from the outfield have been lacking from the Astros offense, especially with Chas McCormick, whose batting average has dipped to .198 after going 0-4 with four strikeouts on Wednesday. If McCormick could get hot, "it would really deepen this lineup and make [Joe Espada] sleep better at night." McTaggart also discusses Justin Verlander making his second minor league rehab start for Triple-A Sugar Land, Ryan Pressly slumping in his eighth-inning role and Yusei Kikuchi performing well in each of his starts since being traded to the Astros.

Matt Thomas and Ross Villarreal of The Matt Thomas Show recap the Houston Astros defeating the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2 on Tuesday at Tropicana Field. In this third start with the Astros, Yusei Kikuchi held the Rays to one run on three hits in just under six innings. Alex Bregman went 3-for-5 with a double and homered in his fourth consecutive game. The Astros have now won seven straight games and are 1.5 games ahead of the Seattle Mariners for the lead in the AL West. Matt and Ross also review the latest comments from general manager Dana Brown, preview the Texans preseason matchup against the New York Giants, react to breaking news that Minnesota Vikings rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy will be out for the season after undergoing surgery, tell people to "Shut Yo Bum Ass Up, Ain't Nobody Got Time" and more.

Kenny "the Jet" Smith joins The Matt Thomas Show to discuss the potential for the Houston Rockets in the 2024–25 season. Smith won two NBA championships with the Rockets in 1994 and 1995. Smith is also a part of "Inside the NBA," the Emmy Award-winning show hosted by Ernie Johnson alongside Charles Barkley and Shaquille O'Neal. The future of the studio program has been in question much of this offseason after the NBA finalized an 11-year, $76 billion media rights deal with ESPN, NBC and Amazon. Warner Bros. Discovery's Turner Sports has been a broadcast partner of the NBA for almost 40 years, and "Inside the NBA" has been broadcast on TNT since 1990. "We have to continue to be a part of the NBA," Smith said.

Matt Thomas and Ross Villarreal of The Matt Thomas Show react to the Houston Astros taking the first of a three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays with a 6-1 win on Monday. Manager Joe Espada joins to talk about the Astros momentum, and relief pitcher Kaleb Ort joins to discuss landing in Houston in the middle of the season. Matt and Ross review running back Joe Mixon's return to Texans training camp, guess the world's top 10 richest athletes, predict who will hit the first grand slam for the Astros this season, give their latest "Gut Feelings" and more.

Houston Astros relief pitcher Kaleb Ort joins The Matt Thomas Show after sealing Monday's 6-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays. The Astros claimed Ort off waivers on May 28 and recalled him from Triple-A Sugar Land on July 29. Ort talks about pushing through injuries early in his career, his excitement to join the Astros and more.