Matt Thomas of The Matt Thomas Show and Dan Mathews of The A-Team preview ace Justin Verlander returning to the mound for the first game of a three-game series against the Washington Nationals starting Friday. 

Matt Thomas of The Matt Thomas Show and Dan Mathews of The A-Team break down the Atlanta Braves completing the sweep over the Houston Astros with a 5-4 win in the 10th inning Wednesday at Minute Maid Park. Brian McTaggart, Astros beat reporter for MLB.com, joins to discuss the inconsistency of the team as they travel to take on the Washington Nationals. Matt and Dan review a leak showcasing a new helmet design for the Texans, tell people to "Shut Yo Bum Ass Up, Ain't Nobody Got Time," say "I Just Don't Get It" and more.

Brian McTaggart, Astros beat reporter for MLB.com, joins The Matt Thomas Show to discuss the Atlanta Braves completing the three-game sweep over the Astros with a 5-4 win in the 10th inning at Minute Maid Park. "They couldn't shut the door," despite having Bryan Abreu, Ryan Pressly and Josh Hader pitch in the seventh, eighth and ninth inning. "They got to get some consistency going in so many areas," and "they got to get the bottom of the order going," McTaggart said. José Abreu continued to struggle at first base with a fielding error that resulted in a run for the Braves. Abreu also went 0-for-2 with a walk to drop his batting average to .078. "It's just a tough situation all around."

Matt Thomas of The Matt Thomas Show recaps the Houston Astros losing the first game of a three-game series to the Atlanta Braves 6-1 Monday at Minute Maid Park. Manager Joe Espada joins to discuss Josh Hader giving up four runs on four hits and a walk in the top of the ninth, and center-fielder Jake Meyers also joins to share his optimism about the team despite a 6-12 start to the season. Matt also breaks down Rockets general manager Rafael Stone getting a contract extension, shares his displeasure with fans participating in "the wave," gives his latest "Gut Feelings" and more.

Astros center-fielder Jake Meyers joins The Matt Thomas Show ahead of game two of a three-game series against the Atlanta Braves. Jake Meyers was not in the lineup when the Astros lost the first game of the series 6-1 Monday at Minute Maid Park but says he is not concerned with the 6-12 start to the season. "It's a very level-headed clubhouse... it's a long season" and "we know we're really good," Meyers said. Early in the offseason, Jake Meyers was named the starting center-fielder. Meyers says he "didn't know that was coming" but knew he "needed to put in work" when returning from injury. "I tried to focus on how to maximize what I can do." Hours before Tuesday's matchup against the Braves, the Astros announced that former top pitching prospect Forrest Whitley was being promoted for his major league debut, and Meyers expressed his excitement for his former minor league teammate. My advice is "just to go out there and compete," but "the young guys have to bring donuts on day games."

Manager Joe Espada joins The Matt Thomas Show to review the Houston Astros losing 6-1 to the Atlanta Braves on Monday at Minute Maid Park. The Astros are now 6-12 to start the season, and Espada says they "haven't been able to put everything together both offensively and defensively." Things fell apart in the first game against the Braves when Josh Hader took the mound in a non-save situation with the Braves leading 2-1. Hader allowed four runs on four hits and a walk in the top of the ninth inning. "I still want the city to be excited about the backend of our bullpen," we just have "got to be able to hit our spots," and "we'll turn things around," Espada said. Despite the loss, Spencer Arrighetti had a strong start on the mound in his home debut, getting 15 swings-and-misses out of his 87 pitches. "His presence on the mound was better" than his debut against the Kansas City Royals, and "his performance was better than what the box score showed." Espada also discusses Forrest Whitley getting called-up, Justin Verlander and Framber Valdez's return and Hunter Brown maintaining his confidence.

Ross Villarreal of The Matt Thomas Show, along with Stan Norfleet of Next Up and Adam Clanton and Adam Wexler of The A-Team, react to the Houston Astros defeating the Texas Rangers 8-5 Sunday at Minute Maid Park to lead the season record of the Silver Boot Series 4-3. The Astros will host the Atlanta Braves for a three-game series starting Monday. The Rockets were victorious in their season finale against the Los Angeles Clippers, winning 116-105 on the road Sunday to finish with a 41-41 record. This is the first time the Rockets have finished with at least a .500 season record since 2019-2020. The Rockets were unable to make the postseason as this year's Western Conference was the first conference in NBA history to have 11 teams without a losing record. Ross also reviews the latest comments from head coach DeMeco Ryans as the Texans begin organized offseason workouts, speculates whether minor leaguer Joey Loperfido will be brought up to replace Jose Abreu at first base and more.

Matt Thomas and Ross Villarreal of The Matt Thomas Show recap the Kansas City Royals completing the sweep over the Houston Astros with a 13-3 win Thursday. Starting pitcher Hunter Brown set a MLB record for the most hits given up in less than a full inning. The Astros return to Minute Maid Park to host the Texas Rangers for a three-game series starting Friday. The Rockets lost 121-124 on the road to the Utah Jazz in game that they were favored to win. The loss brings the Rockets' season record to 39-41, and with two games left, the best the Rockets can finish is breaking even at a .500 record. Matt and Ross also react to the passing of O.J. Simpson, tell their "Non-Florida Stories" and more on this Anything Goes Friday.

Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka joins The Matt Thomas Show following the disappointing 121-124 loss to the Utah Jazz on Thursday. In his postgame comments, Udoka did not shy away from expressing his disapproval of the on-court effort, saying "it's who I am" because "guys will see through the fake or the phony." "You may not like it at times, but you have to respect it" and "guys respond to it well." With only two games left in the season, Udoka says it's important that the Rockets were able to play "meaningful basketball" late in the season, "accomplishing something that they haven't in a while" despite not achieving the "goal which was making the playoffs." After Alperen Şengün went down with injury, rookie Amen Thompson joined the starting lineup, and Udoka says Thompson was able to figure out "a whole new way to play basketball," going from running the point most of his career to working off-ball and defending one-through-five on the court.