Houston rolled out a bullpen-by-committee win, led by AJ Blubaugh, who opened and piled up seven strikeouts across three scoreless frames to set the tone against Texas. The early lead built by the middle innings gave the Astros room to stretch the bullpen and survive a late Rangers surge, preserving a tight place in the wild-card picture.

The win showcased Houston’s depth, with Colton Gordon, Enyel De Los Santos, and Bryan Abreu contributing key innings as the club held on for a 6-5 victory. Carlos Correa extolled Blubaugh’s preparation and mentality, underscoring how a diligent, versatile rookie could become a postseason asset for the Astros.

Oakland rookie Connelly Early shined in Boston, beating the Red Sox 2-1 in his second big league start. He logged 5.1 innings, one run, seven strikeouts and no walks, mixing a sinker with a sharper changeup to keep Boston off balance after an 11-strikeout debut in Sacramento. Early joined a rare club with 18 strikeouts across his first two starts, a mark last reached by Paul Skenes in 2024. Alex Cora praised his command as Boston’s offense again struggled with runners in scoring position, tightening the playoff picture.

Two-start sample size points to a high-upside rookie with a clean delivery and a versatile mix. The performance provides Oakland a blueprint: efficient innings, a varied arsenal, and a relentless approach through the lineup. The context of Skenes’ historic pace adds historical weight to Early’s early success and questions remain for Boston’s lineup and playoff odds.