Matt & Ross In The Morning

Astros General Manager Dana Brown talks about where things stand with contract negotiations regarding Alex Bregman and Kyle Tucker. He also talks about why they have decided to construct the roster the way they have.

Astros Manager Joe Espada addresses the media ahead of their Opening Day game with the New York Yankees. He talks about why they're going with Framber Valdez as their starter. Plus, he also talks about why they're batting Yordan Alvarez in the second spot of the order. Also, what the injury statuses are of Justin Verlander and Jose Urquidy.

Matt Thomas and Ross Villarreal of The Matt Thomas Show preview the Houston Rockets taking on the Oklahoma City Thunder as they look to extend their win streak to 10 games and move closer to the final spot in the Play-In Tournament. Rockets head coach Ime Udoka joins to discuss the matchup and how the Rockets have maintained consistency over this victorious stretch. During the show, news breaks that Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been ruled out of tonight's game due to a right quadriceps contusion. Astros ace Justin Verlander has been recovering from shoulder inflammation but was able to throw live batting practice Tuesday. Brian McTaggart, Astros beat reporter for MLB.com, joins to give the latest updates ahead of the Astros Opening Day matchup against the New York Yankees on Thursday. Matt and Ross review the latest win total projections for the Texans in the 2024-2025 season, react to Ice Cube offering Caitlin Clark $5 million to play in the BIG3 league, 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 to recap spring training and preview the Astros Opening Day matchup against the New York Yankees. 
The Astros announced Wednesday that pitcher Parker Mushinski will be included on the Opening Day roster. It "speaks to the good spring he's had" and "we'll see how Joe Espada deploys him as a weapon this year," McTaggart said. With many injuries to the Astros pitching staff, McTaggart points to middle relief who "have a lot of unproven guys," but says it shouldn't be a big issue "if the starting pitching is strong." Starter Framber Valdez will take the mound on Opening Day. "If he's Framber of old, they're going to be in pretty good shape." However, with injuries to starting pitchers, the Astros "absolutely need [Framber] to deliver 200 quality innings." One of the injuries is ace Justin Verlander, who threw 32 pitches during live batting practice Tuesday. McTaggart expects Verlander to return to the lineup by the "end of April," depending on "if he builds up to 95 pitches." Jose Urquidy, Lance McCullers Jr. and Luis Garcia join Verlander on the injured list to start the season. The Astros offered free agent Blake Snell to help aid the starting rotation before Snell signed with the San Francisco Giants. Another free agent pitcher that was available was Jordan Montgomery; however, Montgomery agreed to terms with the Arizona Diamondbacks on a one-year, $25 million deal, and McTaggart "never heard Jordan Montgomery's name" within the Astros organization. Third baseman Alex Bregman is set to become a free agent at the end of the season, and McTaggart thinks that Bregman wants to be in Houston, but "also wants to get paid."

Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka joins The Matt Thomas Show to preview the matchup against the Thunder in Oklahoma City tonight as the Rockets look to extend their win streak to 10 games and move closer to the final spot in the Play-In Tournament. The win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday as the Rockets' ninth straight victory, their longest winning streak since 2019. "I love the consistency and effort from our guys," Udoka said. Guard Jalen Green has led this Rockets resurgence, scoring 27 points against the Trail Blazers. "The scoring is always going to be there" for Green, but "I think he's been more well-rounded lately." Center Jock Landale has stepped up while Alperen Şengün has been recovering from injury, recording 17 points and 9 rebounds in his first start of the season against the Trail Blazers. "It was really about opportunity" for Landale, but "he's taking full advantage of it." Rookie Amen Thompson has served as a backup guard most of the season, but with Şengün out, Thompson has entered the starting rotation as a forward and has found himself under the basket, fighting for offensive rebounds and positioning himself in the dunker spot. Thompson has "had the ball in his hands his whole life," but he's "finding out different ways to impact the game. The Rockets have won seven straight games without Şengün leaving many to wonder if Jalen Green's success can be connected to Şengün's absence from the floor; however, Udoka looks to dispel that notion. "We were playing much faster coming out of the All-Star break," and "our pace was the same with Alpy," so "both [Şengün and Green] can compliment each other very well." The Rockets are a game back from the Golden State Warriors to earn the final spot in the Play-In Tournament, and Udoka acknowledges the motivation for making the postseason. "Everbody knows what's at stake" and we look to "hold ourselves to a certain standard regardless of the opponent."

Matt Thomas and Ross Villarreal of The Matt Thomas Show discuss MLB star Shohei Ohtani addressing the gambling allegations surrounding Ippei Mizuhara, Ohtani's longtime friend and interpreter. Ohtani gave his statement through interpreter Will Ireton in the press conference room at Dodger Stadium and did not take questions from the media. The Rockets defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 110-92 Monday at the Toyota Center to extend their win streak to nine games, their longest winning streak since 2019. Jalen Green scored 27 points to help the Rockets get to only a half-game behind the Golden State Warriors for the final spot in the Play-In Tournament. Matt and Ross preview the Texans opening the NFL preseason with the Hall of Fame game against the Chicago Bears, react to NFL owners approving Cal McNair as the principal owner of the Texans, give their "Gut Feelings" and more.

Matt Thomas and Ross Villarreal of The Matt Thomas Show recap the Houston Cougars men's basketball team defeating the Texas A&M Aggies 100-95 in the second round of the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. The Cougars will travel to Dallas to take on the Duke Blue Devils in the Sweet 16 on Friday. The Rockets earned their eighth straight victory Saturday against the Utah Jazz. The 147-119 win pushed the Rockets to just one game outside of a Play-In Tournament spot. The Rockets host the Portland Trail Blazers tonight before heading on the road to take on the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday. Matt and Ross give an update on Astros center fielder Jake Meyers who was hit in the hand during Saturday's spring training game, react to the NFL's Competition Committee unanimously voting to ban the hip-drop tackle, play "To Tell the Truth" and more.

Matt Thomas and Ross Villarreal of The Matt Thomas Show go live from Big City Wings to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Houston Rockets winning their first NBA championship. Former Rockets guard Vernon "Mad Max" Maxwell stops by to reflect on the 1994 Finals run and comment on the current state of the Rockets, who are on a seven-game winning streak after defeating the Chicago Bulls 127-117 Thursday at the Toyota Center. The Astros were scheduled to take on the Washington Nationals in a spring training matchup but the game was cancelled due to rain. However, news broke that starter Justin Verlander will throw a live BP session either Monday or Tuesday. Verlander has been sidelined since the beginning of spring with shoulder inflammation and has been placed on the injured list to start the season. Matt and Ross debate whether it's OK to text somebody after their basketball team lost in the first round of the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, review the Los Angeles Dodgers firing Shohei Ohtani's interpreter Ippei Mizuhara following allegations that Mizuhara stole millions to cover gambling debts, preview the Cougars taking on the Longwood Lancers with Joseph Duarte, University of Houston beat writer for the Houston Chronicle, tell their Non-Florida Stories and more on this Anything Goes Friday.

Joseph Duarte, University of Houston beat writer for the Houston Chronicle, joins The Matt Thomas Show to preview the No. 1 seed Cougars taking on the Longwood Lancers in the first round of the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. Duarte is confident in the Cougars ability to defeat the Lancers, saying they're in "better shape" than they were last week in the Big 12 Championship tournament. The Cougars' bench will also get some relief as guard Ramon Walker Jr. "was cleared to get back on the court Monday." Point guard Jamal Shead had a breakout season, earning Big 12 Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year in Houston's first season in the conference. However, Shead will have a tough matchup in guarding Wade Taylor IV if Texas A&M makes it to the second round. Shead is "going to be extremely motivated."