Houston snapped a four-game skid with a 7-2 win in Baltimore, pushing across seven runs on 12 hits. Christian Walker and Yainer Diaz homered, Carlos Correa drove in two, and six Astros reached base at least once as their lineup showed depth the past week lacked. Jason Alexander faced Baltimore again and leaned on a heavier four-seam fastball mix, setting up changeups and sinkers to keep the Orioles off balance while the offense did the heavy lifting early.

Jesús Sánchez broke out of an 0-for-29 rut with five singles and a double, clocking multiple balls at 101 mph exit velocity, and Beavers’ and Urías’ contributions kept Baltimore in check after Houston built a 7-1 cushion through three. Beavers added a solo homer for the Orioles, but the night belonged to Houston, whose win keeps them two games clear in the AL West as they keep the pedal down in a pivotal stretch.

Manager Joe Espada stressed patience and passing the baton as the key to sustaining this surge, and the Astros’ veterans fed off the improved contact and aggressiveness. Young’s hamstring issue cratered Baltimore’s chance to rebound, but the story remains Houston’s balanced attack, improved by the tweaks on the mound and in the box.

Lamar Little League from Richmond spent Williamsport’s glow year’s end moment at Camden Yards, watching the Astros take BP and mingle with the crowd before a four‑game set with the Orioles. On-field stars Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa, Jeremy Peña and Mauricio Dubón stopped to sign baseballs and swap smiles with the young visitors as Astros manager Joe Espada snapped a group photo. The scene blurred the line between youth baseball and the big leagues, turning a routine series stop into a memory that could fuel these players’ dreams for years to come.

For the Lamar crew, the experience went beyond autographs: exposure to a myriad of cultures, the chance to witness big‑league atmospheres up close, and a reminder that their Williamsport dream is part of a larger, diverse baseball story. Camden Yards became a bridge between the Little League field and the majors, a vivid display of how MLB’s reach can uplift community baseball while giving fans a fresh, personal connection to its stars.

James Wood is the marquee homer play tonight at +600 as Washington faces Sean Manaea of the Mets. Wood has 25 homers this season and thrives against lefties, posting a .494 slugging mark versus southpaws compared with .463 against righties, a pattern that tilts the odds in his favor tonight. Manaea’s penchant for giving up homers (1.7 HR/9) in 2024 adds upside to Wood’s giant-play potential in a high-variance short slate.

Carlos Correa closes the night as a +900 longshot sleeper after rejoining Houston and flashing a .492 slugging since the deadline, a sign he can pop one against Brandon Young of Baltimore, who carries a 5.68 ERA and the HR/9 leakage that Correa can exploit. BetMGM promos add extra juice for new players, but the core angles remain: power upside against a vulnerable pitcher and a reduced upside ceiling for the underdogs. This nine-game slate lends itself to bold plays and careful exposure management.

Bottom line: leverage Wood’s lefty-smashing profile and Correa’s late-season spark for big-rate returns, while respecting risk on a tight MLB Thursday. The bets hinge on split data, homer pace, and a contrarian payout that could deliver a solid night for fantasy and sports bettors willing to chase the upside.

Houston’s first-place cushion in the AL West is under pressure after a Detroit sweep exposed the Astros’ flaws: an offense that stalled at times, a rotation that sputtered behind a brilliant but squandered outings, and a bullpen that couldn’t steady the ship. A team meeting led by Carlos Correa and Mauricio Dubón stressed energy and a return to Houston’s brand of baseball, signaling a reset. Correa has been a catalyst since returning, batting .333 with an .859 OPS in 17 games this month, while Dubón emphasizes supporting teammates as the lineup grows deeper with Yordan Alvarez nearing a mid-next-week return from rehab. Hunter Brown offered six scoreless innings in the Detroit start, but Houston still lost, underscoring the need for more consistent offense as Spencer Arrighetti and Framber Valdez each faced rough innings. Alvarez’s comeback could spark immediate upside, even as Houston clings to the division lead amid Seattle’s skid and a Dodgers-flavored reminder of MLB volatility. The next few days will be telling as Houston looks to reestablish its rhythm and close the gap to playoff pace.

Detroit’s first-place climb in the AL took a hit as Houston’s skid widened with a 7-2 loss that capped a brutal week for the Astros. The Tigers unloaded in the opener of a three-game set, riding a multi hit attack from Spencer Torkelson, Riley Greene and Javier Báez to seize early momentum. Dubón’s two-run shot was the Astros’ lone lasting damage, while Framber Valdez faded after a sharp opening, and Houston’s offense went quiet with runners in scoring position. The result tightened the division, even as Detroit built a cushion with repeatable offense and bullpen steadiness.

Fantasy impact centers on the Tigers’ rising bats and the Astros’ continued offensive drought. Torkelson and Greene look like trustworthy contributors as the lineup starts to click, while Báez supplied a timely RBIs spark. Houston’s lineup remains potent on paper, but Valdez’s late-season slide, and the general malaise of Houston’s batting order, create bearish readthroughs for upcoming matchups. Trammell’s injury flare adds an extra layer of concern for Houston’s outfield depth going forward.