Matt & Ross In The Morning

Matt Thomas and Ross Villarreal of The Matt Thomas Show preview the Houston Astros traveling to Los Angeles to take on the Angels in a weekend series starting Friday. Outfielder Trey Cabbage joins to talk about facing his former team and taking advantage of his time in the Majors. Matt and Ross recap the Boston Celtics defeating the Dallas Mavericks 107-89 to take game one of the NBA Finals, react to a golf reporter mistaking Citadel assistant coach Everette Sands for former NFL quarterback Vince Young, tell their "Non-Florida Stories" and more on this Anything Goes Friday.

Astros outfielder Trey Cabbage joins The Matt Thomas Show ahead of the first of a three-game, weekend series against his former team: the Los Angeles Angels. Cabbage was traded from the Angels to the Astros for pitching prospect Carlos Espinosa on January 31. The Astros "welcomed me coming in," Cabbage said. The 27-year-old was recalled to the majors Tuesday after Kyle Tucker fouled a ball off his shin and left Monday's game against the St. Louis Cardinals. Even though he does not want to see anybody injured, "you got to take advantage of the opportunity." Cabbage recorded his first home run of the season against the Cardinals on Wednesday. Cabbage also discusses growing up in Tennessee, experiencing the humidity in Houston and getting experience at first base.

Matt Thomas and Ross Villarreal of The Matt Thomas Show review the Houston Astros losing 4-2 against the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday at Minute Maid Park. Catcher Yainer Diaz homered in his third straight game, and even though they could not complete the sweep, the Astros won the series 2-1 before heading on the road to take on the Los Angeles Angels for a weekend series starting Friday. Brian McTaggart, Astros beat reporter for MLB.com, joins to discuss how will starting pitching will move forward with Cristian Javier and José Urquidy out for the rest of the season. Matt and Ross read "Mean Tweets" with Chris Gordy about Oklahoma softball, preview the NBA Finals, tell people "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 to break down how injuries to the roster will affect the Astros chances to make the postseason, as well as how the organization will position themselves with the trade deadline approaching. General manager Dana Brown announced Wednesday that starting pitchers Cristian Javier and José Urquidy are both scheduled to have right elbow surgery and will be out for the rest of this season and part of next season. This is another blow to an already damaged rotation. "There is no depth," McTaggart said. "Their roster is a little thin," and "the Triple-A talent is not the greatest." According to McTaggart, Luis Garcia is expected to return "after the All-Star break," and Lance McCullers will be "five weeks behind Garcia." The MLB trade deadline falls on July 30, and McTaggart predicts the Astros "will be buyers" in the first baseman and starting pitching market. "Neither [Jon] Singleton nor [Jose] Abreu have been very good defensively," so "the longer you don't address first base...it's only going to get harder."

Matt Thomas and Ross Villarreal of The Matt Thomas Show look back on the Houston Astros defeating the St. Louis Cardinals 7-4 on Monday at Minute Maid Park. Starting pitcher Justin Verlander struggled in the first inning, giving up two home runs, but with bullpen help and home runs from Yordan Alvarez, Alex Bregman and Yainer Diaz, the Astros earned the win and moved to seven games back from the lead in the AL West. Astros manager Joe Espada joins to give updates on Kyle Tucker, who left the game in the third inning after fouling a ball off his right shin. Matt and Rossd review the latest comments from wide receivers Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell from Texans mandatory minicamp, discuss the advancement of artificial intelligence, give their "Gut Feelings" and more.

Houston Astros manager Joe Espada joins The Matt Thomas Show ahead of the second of a three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals at Minute Maid Park. The Astros took the first game of the series 7-4 on Monday. Espada labeled the victory a "team win" after starting pitcher Justin Verlander had a rough start giving up two home runs in the first inning but received help from the bullpen and offensive production. "We did a lot of things well," and we are looking to "build on that momentum," Espada said. Yainer Diaz homered for the fourth time this season in the eighth inning. This was Diaz's first home run since April 11. Espada says it's been "a process" for Diaz to transition from a backup catcher to a starter as it "requires a lot of patience and discipline" and that he has started "chasing some pitches" leading to a higher ground ball rate; however, Diaz is "moving in the right direction." Kyle Tucker left the game in the third inning after fouling a ball off his right shin, and even though X-rays were negative, Espada says Tucker is "still day-to-day" but is "in good spirits." Espada also discusses Ryan Pressly's recent struggles, Chas McCormick's return to the lineup, Spencer Arrighetti's confidence, updates on Cristian Javier and Jose Urquidy and more.

Matt Thomas and Ross Villarreal talk about what going on in Houston sports and more on Monday, June 3rd, 2024.

Matt Thomas and Ross Villarreal of The Matt Thomas Show react to the Houston Astros avoiding a series sweep on the road against the Seattle Mariners with a 4-0 win on Thursday. The Astros lost the previous three games in the four-game series. Spencer Arrighetti started on the mound, pitching six scoreless innings and only allowing two hits and three walks while striking out eight in the best outing of his career. Alex Bregman and Victor Caratini both recorded homers to help the Astros return to 5.5 games back from the lead in the AL West. Matt and Ross review Luka Dončić's 36 point-performance to send the Dallas Mavericks to the NBA Finals, comment on New York Giants tight end Darren Waller releasing a song aimed at his divorce, tell their "Non-Florida Stories" and more on this "Anything Goes Friday."

Matt Thomas and Ross Villarreal of The Matt Thomas Show recap the Houston Astros losing three straight on the road against the Seattle Mariners with the latest defeat ending in a 2-1 final in the 10th inning on Wednesday. Spencer Arrighetti will start on the mound Thursday as the Astros look to avoid the series sweep and gain some ground in the AL West, currently sitting 6.5 games back from the lead in the division. Matt and Ross discuss Stefon Diggs and Danielle Hunter participating in Texans OTAs, react to the Red River Rivalry game between Oklahoma and Texas being moved back to a 2:30 CT start time, say "I Just Don't Get It" and more.

Brian McTaggart, Astros beat reporter for MLB.com, joins The Astros On-Deck Show following the third straight loss on the road against the Seattle Mariners with the latest defeat ending in a 2-1 final in the 10th inning on Wednesday. Justin Verlander started on the mound, allowing one run on three hits and one walk while striking out nine in over seven innings. Framber Valdez and Hunter Brown have also given the Astros quality starts in this series, but the offense has not been productive. There are "a lot of holes in this lineup," McTaggart said. The Astros have missed Yordan Álvarez's power-hitting in this recent stretch, and McTaggart says Álvarez has lost some discipline at the plate. "He's chasing a little bit more" and "expanding his zone." McTaggart also previews the Astros looking to avoid the series sweep with Spencer Arrighetti on the mound Thursday, discusses Jose Abreu's place in the lineup and gives the latest update on injured starting pitchers José Urquidy and Cristian Javier.