Lyon goes from setting up to stepping up  ...more ?
Lyon goes from setting up to stepping up
Astros outright Sampson to Triple-A  ...more ?
Astros outright Sampson to Triple-A
Pitching, Pence help Astros sweep Cards  ...more ?
Pitching, Pence help Astros sweep Cards
Esposito searching for elusive at-bat  ...more ?
Esposito searching for elusive at-bat
Bogusevic ecstatic to get call  ...more ?
Bogusevic ecstatic to get call
Astros honor broadcaster Hamilton  ...more ?
Astros honor broadcaster Hamilton
Lindstrom, Keppinger activated from DL  ...more ?
Lindstrom, Keppinger activated from DL
Downs not available until Saturday  ...more ?
Downs not available until Saturday
Wandy hexes Cards to continue magical run  ...more ?
Wandy hexes Cards to continue magical run
Astros to send seven to Arizona Fall League  ...more ?
Astros to send seven to Arizona Fall League
Bagwell reflects on trade to Astros  ...more ?
Bagwell reflects on trade to Astros
Bogusevic heads list of September callups  ...more ?
Bogusevic heads list of September callups
Happ's shutout tells Cards a 'different story'  ...more ?
Happ's shutout tells Cards a 'different story'
Roster won't expand fully right away  ...more ?
Roster won't expand fully right away
Bourn shakes off leg injury to start  ...more ?
Bourn shakes off leg injury to start
Progressing Paulino throws off mound  ...more ?
Progressing Paulino throws off mound
Lindstrom feels better, eyes rehab outing  ...more ?
Lindstrom feels better, eyes rehab outing
Norris roughed up, ends string for Astros  ...more ?
Norris roughed up, ends string for Astros
Tag's Lines | Alyson's Footnotes  ...more ?

Yahoo! Sports

Astros Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)  ...more ?

The fact that the Astros haven't recovered to sniff contention since their 0-8 start to the season hasn't meant that they have given up all influence on the National League's tight playoff races. In the span of two weeks, the Astros have swept two contenders, dealing devastating blows to the Phillies and Cardinals.

Last week, they took four of four in Philadelphia, costing the two-time defending NL champions a chance to close ground on the then-sputtering Braves in the NL East or to open up a lead in the wild-card race. Then this week, Houston took three straight from St. Louis, allowing just two runs and letting Cincinnati grab control of the NL Central.

The Astros say they're still playing for themselves, and they're proud of their ability to throw a wrench in the...

Does another team have a Houston-type spoiler effort in them? (Yahoo! Sports)  ...more ?
If this were a perfect world, the Houston Astros would be entering September with a slate full of important...
Phillies in a familiar place, just different (Yahoo! Sports)  ...more ?
Continuity, experience and starting pitching has Philadelphia in the chase for another NL pennant.
Pence hits 3-run HR, Astros sweep slumping Cards (AP)  ...more ?
Even their opponents are surprised by the St. Louis Cardinals' slide. Hunter Pence hit a three-run homer and the Houston Astros completed a sweep of St. Louis with a 5-2 victory Wednesday, handing the slumping Cardinals their fifth straight defeat. "Their backs are against the wall, not ours, and it didn't look like they wanted to come out and beat us," Blum said.
Rodriguez helps Astros blank Cards again, 3-0 (AP)  ...more ?
The St. Louis Cardinals tried to be optimistic Tuesday night after a second straight shutout left them with an 11-15 record in August and seven games behind first-place Cincinnati in the NL Central. "It's a good thing tomorrow starts a new month," Jon Jay said. "It's September, so hopefully we can get on a roll.
Cardinals website/Twitter compares lifeless loss to pigeon poop (Yahoo! Sports)  ...more ?
The common lament of a pennant-race involved fan is that his team didn't give two, uh, well, you knows...
Clemens, in court, tells judge: 'Not guilty' (AP)  ...more ?
Roger Clemens put his right hand on the lectern, leaned down toward the microphone and made what might be the most important pitch of his life: "Not guilty, your honor." Those words, uttered Monday in a strong, confident voice by the seven-time Cy Young Award winner sporting a black blazer and blond highlights in his hair, marked the official beginning of a court case that could taint...
Happ throws 2-hitter as Astros shut out Cards 3-0 (AP)  ...more ?
J.A. Happ was determined to pitch better on Monday night than he did in his last outing against the St. Louis Cardinals. The Houston lefty certainly accomplished his goal. Happ threw a two-hitter and rookie Brett Wallace had a career-high three hits and drove in a run to help the Astros beat the struggling Cardinals 3-0.
Ballpark Reviews: Minute Maid Park in Houston (Associated Content)  ...more ?
Across the nation, there are currently 30 MLB stadiums in use, ranging from Miami to Seattle. Of those 30, I've personally attended eight different stadiums, and easily among my favorites is Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas. Minute Maid vs. Astrodome But out of those eight stadiums, what is it that makes Minute Maid park one of my favorites? First off, let me compare Minute Maid to the predecessor to Minute Maid Park. From 1965-1999 the Astrodome served as the Astros stadium, and as a visitor to the Astrodome as well, I can definitely say that Minute Maid...
Dickey leads Mets past Astros 5-1 with arm, bat (AP)  ...more ?
Pitching, hitting, running the bases -- R.A. Dickey did it all for the New York Mets. The way their offense has sputtered this summer, he probably had to if he wanted a win. Dickey flustered the Houston Astros with knuckleballs and foiled them with his bat, leading the Mets to a 5-1 victory on a crystal-clear Sunday at Citi Field.
NL Roundup: A look at Saturday's games (The Canadian Press)  ...more ?
The Philadelphia Phillies probably wish they played in the National League West.
Lee homers, Myers goes long for Astros in 4-1 win (AP)  ...more ?
Brett Myers pitched at least six innings again, Carlos Lee homered off Johan Santana again and two of the few remaining veterans on the young Astros gave Houston a team first: a win at Citi Field. Lee also drove in a run in a two-run first inning, and that was all the Astros really needed to beat the New York Mets 4-1 Saturday night.
Lindstrom's rehab pushed back, Keppinger to bat (AP)  ...more ?
Houston Astros closer Matt Lindstrom still has a stiff back and his scheduled bullpen session has been delayed. Astros manager Brad Mills says Lindstrom was scheduled to throw Saturday before heading out on a rehab assignment. He will be evaluated daily to see if he's ready to throw. Mills said infielder Jeff Keppinger (left big toe) is expected to play a rehab game at Double-A Corpus Christi on...
Pelfrey dominates in Mets' 2-1 win over Astros (AP)  ...more ?
Mike Pelfrey nearly made the All-Star team with a terrific first half, then took a seven-start stumble that threatened to ruin his season. He's determined to avoid that kind of letdown again. Pelfrey allowed six hits in eight shutout innings and the New York Mets took advantage of a wild outing by former teammate Nelson Figueroa and a big baserunning blunder by Chris Johnson to end the Houston...
Another milestone: Pujols adds 400th homer to his resume (SportingNews.com)  ...more ?
As milestones go, home run No. 400 should make Albert Pujols' top five. He cherishes his one World Series ring the most. The three MVP awards mean a lot. For pure numbers, it is tough to beat his unprecedented nine consecutive seasons (soon to be 10) to start a career with a .300 batting average, 30 homers and 100 RBIs. There also are the 2003 batting title and the 2009 home run title, plus the four times he has led the NL in runs and three times he has led the NL in OPS.
Answer Man: Gary Carter talks coaching, Mets, Expos and signing (Yahoo! Sports)  ...more ?
Gary Carter often says he's living the dream. After growing up idolizing Hall of Famer ballplayers, Carter...
Rodriguez goes 7 strong, Astros sweep Phillies (AP)  ...more ?
There's something about the Phillies that brings out the best in the Houston Astros. Wandy Rodriguez pitched seven sharp innings, Carlos Lee homered and the Astros beat the Phillies 5-1 Thursday to complete their first four-game sweep in Philadelphia in 11 years. "Houston has been a team that for years has given us problems," Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins said.
Power Rankings: San Diego is sunny (Yahoo! Sports)  ...more ?
Although the Yankees and Rays continue to hold the top two spots, the plucky Padres keep inching upward.
Happ outduels Halladay, beats former team (AP)  ...more ?
First, Brett Myers. Then, J.A. Happ. Maybe Houston should move Nelson Figueroa up a day in the rotation. Happ pitched effectively into the seventh inning against his former team and the Astros beat Roy Halladay and the Philadelphia Phillies 3-2 on Wednesday night. Happ (4-2) allowed two runs and five hits in 6 1-3 innings, becoming the second former Phillies pitcher to beat them in this series.
Astros outlast Phillies in 16 innings (AP)  ...more ?
The Houston Astros' wild 4-2 win over Philadelphia lasted 16 innings, over 5 hours, and saw Phillies pitcher Roy Oswalt play left field and ground into the final out Tuesday night. Oswalt became the first Phillies pitcher to play a position in the field in 39 years after Ryan Howard was ejected in the 14th inning.