Houston Astros manager Joe Espada joins The Matt Thomas Show following Monday's 6-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays. The Astros, who hold a half-game lead in the AL West, are "carrying some momentum" during this six-game win streak, Espada said.
Framber Valdez earned the win Monday, allowing one run on three hits and one walk and striking out nine over five innings. Valdez struggled early in the season when paired with Yainer Diaz, as emphasized by the May 20 loss to the Los Angeles Angels, where Valdez admitted to deviating from the game plan. However, Valdez has gone 7-0 with a 2.68 ERA in nine starts since June 23, and Diaz was the catcher for the last seven of those starts. Valdez is "just controlling his emotions," and "Diaz is doing a phenomenal job just getting him back on track."
Alex Bregman has homered in each of his past three games and was named American League Co-Players of the Week alongside Yordan Alvarez. "It was just a matter of time" until Bregman got hot, and "he found that consistent swing path that he's been searching for."
Espada also talks about exploring the potential of playing Zach Dezenzo in left field, communicating with Alvarez about when to DH, Kyle Tucker working to return from injury and Justin Verlander beginning his rehab assignment with Double-A Corpus Christi.