Houston welcomes back Lance McCullers Jr. from a month-long blister to face Baltimore’s Cade Povich in a key series opener at Camden Yards. Houston is trying to snap a four-game skid, and McCullers’ return could stabilize a rotation that has carried extra workload. Baltimore counters with Povich, who limited Houston last week to a handful of runs, while the Astros hope Yordan Alvarez’s return adds serious punch to a slumping lineup.

The Detroit-style pregame chatter centers on how McCullers will look after the layoff, how Houston will deploy him, and whether Alvarez can immediately restore power to the middle of the order. For fantasy managers, this game offers a test of McCullers’ health, Povich’s command, and how Alvarez’s presence shifts the Astros’ run production and lineup balance in a tight divisional clash.

Houston visits Baltimore at Camden Yards for a marquee Friday night clash, with McCullers returning to the Astros’ rotation to face Cade Povich and the Orioles. Houston leaned on Carlos Correa’s hot-streak revival since his return, while Jason Alexander has quietly anchored the rotation after a long path through the minor leagues. Baltimore counters with a disciplined approach at home, and the latest NBC/Rotoworld projections highlight a market-friendly over/under around 9 runs as analytics-driven bets tilt toward the chalky edge in a tight, high-leverage matchup.

Correa is delivering right away for fantasy managers, batting .338 with two homers and 10 RBIs since rejoining Houston. McCullers’ return from a finger injury adds intrigue to the Astros’ ceiling, though his 2-4 record and 6.90 ERA temper optimism for an instant ace return. Povich, coming off a high-strikeout August 16 start in Houston, will try to keep Baltimore in striking range. Altuve’s recent skid (.0-for-12 in three games) creates a slight squeeze on Houston’s lineup, but the upside remains, especially with Correa heating up and a bullpen that’s shown flashes behind Alexander.

Houston backs J.P. France off a 30-day minor-league rehab, weighing whether he returns as a starter, long-relief option, or swingman as the Astros juggle a thinning pitching staff. With Spencer Arrighetti, Cristian Javier, and Jason Alexander set to start in Baltimore, Houston is weighing how to create space for a potential McCullers promotion from the IL while keeping its rotation intact. The decision hinges on France’s readiness and the team’s roster flexibility, a strategic crossroad that could reshape fantasy value on both ends of the rotation.

France, who built 3.83 ERA across 136 1/3 innings in 2023 (23 starts), has battled shoulder issues and underwent surgery before rehab. His return could add depth if used as a starter, but Houston remains unclear on whether he’ll slot into the rotation or fill a bullpen swing role. McCullers’ return further clouds the picture, as Houston must clear a roster spot while preserving a stable stretch run, making France a wait-and-see play for fantasy managers until a concrete role emerges.

In fantasy terms, the situation is a classic add-or-drop scenario: Paris-worthy upside if he’s in the rotation with a clear workload, but significant risk if he’s a swingman or bullpen piece. The Orioles series offers a concrete test, but the real signal will come once Houston confirms France’s role and whether McCullers returns to complement or supplant any of the current starters. Until then, patience and lineup-dynamic monitoring are key.

Lance McCullers Jr. will rejoin Houston's rotation Friday in Baltimore after a month on the injured list with a finger blister. In 11 starts this season, he owns a 6.90 ERA, and this will be his latest comeback after flexor tendon surgery and a separate IL stint earlier in the year. McCullers threw five innings on 80 pitches in a Sugar Land rehab start and traveled with the Astros for their Detroit series, with coach Joe Espada indicating the blister is cleared for now.

Houston is navigating a busy 10-game stretch with no off day on the horizon, and McCullers could slot in as a sixth starter to help bridge the rotation. Cristian Javier, who left a recent start with illness, rejoined the team but the club hasn’t confirmed his next turn, leaving the Astros in a fluid rotation scenario as they head to Baltimore. The series marks a crucial test for how the Astros will manage innings and bullpen leverage as they chase wins down the stretch.

In the Baltimore set, the Orioles will try to slow the Astros' momentum, and fantasy managers will be watching McCullers closely for mixed league value. If he maintains health and pitches efficiently, he could become a speculative add in deeper formats, especially with the potential for a longer outing as he builds back stamina.

Brandon Young flirted with a no-hitter into the eighth, only to have Ramón Urías break it up with an infield hit that turned into a throwing error, ending the bid and leaving Houston silent at Daikin Park as Baltimore rolled to a 7-0 win.

Young, in his 11th big-league start, rode a fastball up to 95 mph and a cutter, mixing in a curve, splitter and change to navigate a righty-heavy Houston lineup. He exited after eight innings with 93 pitches, six punch-outs and a 83.7 mph average exit velocity against 19 balls in play. Offensively, the Orioles rewarded him with 14 first-half balls in play that yielded timely hits, including Coby Mayo’s two-out homer in the fourth. The Astros’ bats were quiet, with minimal hard contact through six innings, and Valdez yielded four runs, keeping the door open briefly but Baltimore closed it late. Lance McCullers Jr. showed progress on a Sugar Land rehab, signaling depth moves for Houston as the series opened with a notable pitching duel turned one-sided in the Orioles’ favor.