Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve will try and finish up a tough month of August strong Monday night against the Mariners in Seattle. Altuve is slashing only .248/.309/.327 over his last 101 at-bats with only zero home runs and three runs batted in. Altuve was slugging an impressive .547 over his previous 313 at-bats so the former MVP's power outage could be attributed to general fatigue or nagging injuries that fans may not be aware of. Altuve is not a strong fantasy option right now during the dog days of the season and certainly is not a strong DFS option to start the week as Altuve is posting a mediocre .733 OPS in road games this season.

Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve is not in the starting lineup on Friday night. It looks to just be a night off for Altuve, who has started in all but 15 of the team's games this season. Altuve is slashing .274/.346/.479 with 25 homers, four steals, 67 RBI and 89 runs scored this year, but he's in a bit of a slump at the plate this month, as he's slashing .253/.297/.337 over 22 games in August. With Altuve out, Aledmys Diaz is getting the start at second base and is batting second in the order against Texas.

Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve is slashing only .242/.288/.290 over his last 15 games heading into the team's matchup against the Mariners. Altuve has not homered since July 30 and has only three extra-base hits over his last 71 at-bats. The former MVP has hits in three of his last four games and playing at home this weekend could help him rekindle his power stroke. Altuve has been an above average hitter at Minute Maid Park this season, slashing .290/.373/.551 with 15 of his 25 home runs this season coming in his home ballpark. The best time to deploy Altuve into DFS tournaments is when the 31-year-old plays in Houston.

Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve will try and snap out of the 'dog days' of August when the team goes on the road to play the Royals Monday night. Through 12 games this month, Altuve is slashing only .191/.255/.213 with only one extra-base hit. Altuve is enjoying a nice bounce back season but has been quiet offensively for some time now. The former MVP is hitting only .232 over his last 125 at-bats and, even more troubling, is posting a .282 on-base percentage during that span from the leadoff spot. Altuve's DFS value takes another hit when he plays on the road, posting a mediocre .735 OPS through 50 road games this season.

Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve went 2-for-5 in the Astros 5-1 victory over the Rockies on Wednesday. Altuve now has multiple hits in two of his last four starts but it has been a slow month of August offensively thus far. The 31-year-old is only 6-for-29 (.207) in August with zero extra-base hits and a .281 on-base percentage. Altuve's last extra-base hit came on July 30 and may not be the ideal DFS option until he starts hitting the ball with more authority in the coming days.

Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve is on the bench for Sunday's game against the Minnesota Twins with right-hander Kenta Maeda on the mound. Altuve, who went 2-for-4 on Saturday, has been in a bit of a cold snap but is enjoying a strong season, batting .274 with 25 home runs, 65 RBI and 81 runs scored. Aledmys Diaz is at second base and hitting third against Minnesota, with Jacob Wilson at the hot corner and batting eighth. Fantasy managers with daily moves can swap out the 31-year-old Altuve, but he should be a mainstay in rosters the rest of the season.

Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve will try and snap out of a 3-for-21 slump heading into the team's weekend series against the Twins. The 31-year-old has popped five home runs over his last 15 games but his offense has slowed to a crawl over the past week. The good news for DFS lineups is that Altuve will be hitting in Minute Maid Park against the Twins and the former MVP is slashing .286/.371/.571 with nine doubles and 15 home runs through 49 home games. Altuve's slump could come to an end this weekend against Minnesota.

Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve will head into the month of August enjoying a power surge at the plate. The former MVP has 18 home runs over his last 50 games played and is wrapping up a month of July that saw him slash .260/.308/.550 over his last 100 at-bats. The power numbers have been slightly surprising for the 31-year-old and it will be interesting to see if Altuve can keep it up heading into the dog days of the season.

NEW YORK (AP) — Austin Riley hit a grand slam and a two-run homer to set a career high with six RBIs, powering the Atlanta Braves to a 12-5 rout of the New York Mets on Tuesday night. Ozzie Albies and Abraham Almonte also had two-run homers for the Braves, who have won two of the first three in a five-game series as they chase the first-place Mets in the NL East. Dansby Swanson delivered a two-run double in the first inning to get Atlanta started. Charlie Morton (10-3) allowed three runs and five hits with five strikeouts over five innings. Mets spot starter Jerad Eickhoff (0-2) gave up 10 runs on seven hits and five walks in 3 1/3 innings. Jeff McNeil and Brandon Drury each hit a two-run homer for the Mets after they trailed 10-1 in the fourth. GIANTS 2, DODGERS 1 SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Buster Posey scored the tiebreaking run on a throwing error by first baseman Cody Bellinger in the eighth inning, and San Francisco beat Los Angeles, increasing its lead over the Dodgers in the NL West to... [More]

Marcus Stroman pitched one-hit ball for eight innings, Dominic Smith launched a grand slam and the New York Mets cruised to a 7-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday. Stroman (7-8) gave up a leadoff single to Aristides Aquino in the third inning and little else. He struck out seven and walked one while giving New York’s beleaguered bullpen precious rest going into Thursday’s day off. Jeurys Familia struck out three in a hitless ninth. Luis Guillorme hit his first homer of the season and Jonathan Villar also connected for the NL East leaders. Mets manager Luis Rojas returned to the dugout after serving a two-game suspension for excessive arguing on Sunday. Jeff Hoffman (3-5) came off the 10-day injured list to make his first start since May 26 and lasted four innings, allowing seven hits — including Smith's slam — and five runs with three walks. GIANTS 4, DODGERS 2 LOS ANGELS (AP) — Wilmer Flores hit a go-ahead, two-run homer off closer Kenley Jansen in the ninth inning and San Francisco... [More]

Marcus Stroman pitched one-hit ball for eight innings, Dominic Smith launched a grand slam and the New York Mets cruised to a 7-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday. Stroman (7-8) gave up a leadoff single to Aristides Aquino in the third inning and little else. He struck out seven and walked one while giving New York’s beleaguered bullpen precious rest going into Thursday’s day off. Jeurys Familia struck out three in a hitless ninth. Luis Guillorme hit his first homer of the season and Jonathan Villar also connected for the NL East leaders. Mets manager Luis Rojas returned to the dugout after serving a two-game suspension for excessive arguing on Sunday. Jeff Hoffman (3-5) came off the 10-day injured list to make his first start since May 26 and lasted four innings, allowing seven hits — including Smith's slam — and five runs with three walks. RED SOX 7, BLUE JAYS 4 BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — J.D. Martinez and Hunter Renfroe connected back-to-back as Boston won a home run derby in Toronto’s... [More]

Marcus Stroman pitched one-hit ball for eight innings, Dominic Smith launched a grand slam and the New York Mets cruised to a 7-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday. Stroman (7-8) gave up a leadoff single to Aristides Aquino in the third inning and little else. He struck out seven and walked one while giving New York’s beleaguered bullpen precious rest going into Thursday’s day off. Jeurys Familia struck out three in a hitless ninth. Luis Guillorme hit his first homer of the season and Jonathan Villar also connected for the NL East leaders. Mets manager Luis Rojas returned to the dugout after serving a two-game suspension for excessive arguing on Sunday. Jeff Hoffman (3-5) came off the 10-day injured list to make his first start since May 26 and lasted four innings, allowing seven hits — including Smith's slam — and five runs with three walks. RED SOX 7, BLUE JAYS 4 BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — J.D. Martinez and Hunter Renfroe connected back-to-back as Boston won a home run derby in Toronto’s... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — Freddie Freeman homered off Yu Darvish in the sixth inning, Touki Toussaint allowed one run and three hits in his season debut, and the Atlanta Braves beat the San Diego Padres 2-1 on Tuesday night. Toussaint, who missed the first 3½ months rehabbing a right shoulder strain, retired the first seven batters he faced before walking Victor Caratini in the third. He didn’t allow a hit until Manny Machado doubled with one out in the fourth. The Padres tied it 1-all in the fourth when Jake Cronenworth was hit by a pitch, advanced to third on Machado’s double and scored on Tommy Pham’s sacrifice fly. Freeman made it 2-1 by taking Darvish deep over the wall in left field with an opposite-field shot, his 22nd homer. Toussaint (1-0) walked two and struck out five in 6 2/3 innings. Darvish (7-4) was making his first start since July 8 after a stint on the injured list due to left hip inflammation. He allowed four hits and two runs with two walks and three strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — Freddie Freeman homered off Yu Darvish in the sixth inning, Touki Toussaint allowed one run and three hits in his season debut, and the Atlanta Braves beat the San Diego Padres 2-1 on Tuesday night. Toussaint, who missed the first 3½ months rehabbing a right shoulder strain, retired the first seven batters he faced before walking Victor Caratini in the third. He didn’t allow a hit until Manny Machado doubled with one out in the fourth. The Padres tied it 1-all in the fourth when Jake Cronenworth was hit by a pitch, advanced to third on Machado’s double and scored on Tommy Pham’s sacrifice fly. Freeman made it 2-1 by taking Darvish deep over the wall in left field with an opposite-field shot, his 22nd homer. Toussaint (1-0) walked two and struck out five in 6 2/3 innings. Darvish (7-4) was making his first start since July 8 after a stint on the injured list due to left hip inflammation. He allowed four hits and two runs with two walks and three strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — Freddie Freeman homered off Yu Darvish in the sixth inning, Touki Toussaint allowed one run and three hits in his season debut, and the Atlanta Braves beat the San Diego Padres 2-1 on Tuesday night. Toussaint, who missed the first 3½ months rehabbing a right shoulder strain, retired the first seven batters he faced before walking Victor Caratini in the third. He didn’t allow a hit until Manny Machado doubled with one out in the fourth. The Padres tied it 1-all in the fourth when Jake Cronenworth was hit by a pitch, advanced to third on Machado’s double and scored on Tommy Pham’s sacrifice fly. Freeman made it 2-1 by taking Darvish deep over the wall in left field with an opposite-field shot, his 22nd homer. Toussaint (1-0) walked two and struck out five in 6 2/3 innings. Darvish (7-4) was making his first start since July 8 after a stint on the injured list due to left hip inflammation. He allowed four hits and two runs with two walks and three strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — Freddie Freeman homered off Yu Darvish in the sixth inning, Touki Toussaint allowed one run and three hits in his season debut, and the Atlanta Braves beat the San Diego Padres 2-1 on Tuesday night. Toussaint, who missed the first 3½ months rehabbing a right shoulder strain, retired the first seven batters he faced before walking Victor Caratini in the third. He didn’t allow a hit until Manny Machado doubled with one out in the fourth. The Padres tied it 1-all in the fourth when Jake Cronenworth was hit by a pitch, advanced to third on Machado’s double and scored on Tommy Pham’s sacrifice fly. Freeman made it 2-1 by taking Darvish deep over the wall in left field with an opposite-field shot, his 22nd homer. Toussaint (1-0) walked two and struck out five in 6 2/3 innings. Darvish (7-4) was making his first start since July 8 after a stint on the injured list due to left hip inflammation. He allowed four hits and two runs with two walks and three strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — Freddie Freeman homered off Yu Darvish in the sixth inning, Touki Toussaint allowed one run and three hits in his season debut, and the Atlanta Braves beat the San Diego Padres 2-1 on Tuesday night. Toussaint, who missed the first 3½ months rehabbing a right shoulder strain, retired the first seven batters he faced before walking Victor Caratini in the third. He didn’t allow a hit until Manny Machado doubled with one out in the fourth. The Padres tied it 1-all in the fourth when Jake Cronenworth was hit by a pitch, advanced to third on Machado’s double and scored on Tommy Pham’s sacrifice fly. Freeman made it 2-1 by taking Darvish deep over the wall in left field with an opposite-field shot, his 22nd homer. Toussaint (1-0) walked two and struck out five in 6 2/3 innings. Darvish (7-4) was making his first start since July 8 after a stint on the injured list due to left hip inflammation. He allowed four hits and two runs with two walks and three strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — The Houston Astros have activated All-Star shortstop Carlos Correa from the injured list. Correa was placed on the IL last week due to health and safety protocols. He skipped Tuesday's All-Star game so he could spend time with his wife, Daniella, who is expecting the couple’s first child. Correa is batting .288 with 16 homers and 52 RBIs heading into Houston's weekend series against the Chicago White Sox. “We're happy to have him back. ... This guy's a heck of a player, and sometime you just take it for granted until they're gone,” manager Dusty Baker said. Houston also activated right-hander Austin Pruitt from the 60-day IL. Pruitt was acquired in a January 2020 trade with Tampa Bay, but he missed last season with an elbow injury. “We'll see what we have. Like I said, I've never seen him pitch in person,” Baker said. “It's my understanding that he throws strikes. He throws quality strikes. He'll probably be in more of a low-leverage situation because he hasn't been out there... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — The Houston Astros have activated All-Star shortstop Carlos Correa from the injured list. Correa was placed on the IL last week due to health and safety protocols. He skipped Tuesday's All-Star game so he could spend time with his wife, Daniella, who is expecting the couple’s first child. Houston also activated right-hander Austin Pruitt from the 60-day IL before its series opener at the Chicago White Sox. Pruitt was acquired in a January 2020 trade with Tampa Bay, but he missed last season with an elbow injury. The AL West-leading Astros created room on their roster when they optioned right-hander Ralph Garza Jr. to Triple-A Sugar Land on Sunday and sent infielder Taylor Jones down on Thursday. Correa, Jose Altuve and Michael Brantley were in the starting lineup Friday night. Altuve missed the All-Star game so he could have more time to deal with unspecified issues with his left leg, and Brantley skipped the festivities in Colorado because of lingering soreness on his right side. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

HOUSTON (AP) — Dusty Baker never felt quite right while navigating his first season as manager of the Houston Astros during last year’s pandemic-shortened campaign. “I felt like a substitute teacher,” Baker said. Now, halfway through his second season in Houston, he has settled in, and the Astros are tied for the second-best record in the American League as they come out of the All-Star break. “This year I feel like the teacher,” he said. “I feel like I’m one of them.” Baker was already playing catch-up in getting to know his team last season before the pandemic hit. He was hired only about two weeks before the start of spring training to replace A.J. Hinch, who was fired after being a suspended by Major League Baseball for a year for his role in the team’s sign-stealing scandal. “We had spring training, I was learning them, they were learning me and then we had the stoppage,” Baker said. “Then we had to come back right quick and then we only had 60 games and there wasn’t time for that... [More]