Rangers call up prospect Winston Santos

Alvarez put the Astros on the board with a base hit in the first inning to drive in a run. After he was intentionally walked in the second, he took Carlos Vargas deep for a two-run blast in the eighth to extend the Houston lead. The home run ties Alvarez with Junior Caminero for the AL lead at 41 home runs. The homer also marked the 900th hit of his career. The 29-year-old slugger is slashing an incredible .314/.431/.601 with 102 RBI across 668 plate appearances.

Walker gave the Astros a comfortable lead early, taking Logan Gilbert deep for a three-run homer in the third inning. The home run was Walker’s 26th of the season to with 83 RBI while slashing .221/.294/.410 across 613 plate appearances.

Gilbert started the first inning by giving up four straight singles to put a run on the board for the Astros. He was able to avoid further damage, leaving the bases loaded with a strikeout and two shallow flyouts. He stranded three more runners in the second, then gave up a three-run homer to Christian Walker in the third inning. Gilbert would return for a scoreless fourth and end his day at 81 pitches with three strikeouts. The 29-year-old right-hander is due to take a 3.81 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and a 197/48 K/BB ratio across 182 innings into Sunday’s regular-season finale against the Angels in Seattle.

Imanaga gave up four hits, walked none and struck out seven. Having likely made his last start of the season, Imanaga will finish with a 3.74 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 171 strikeouts and 11 wins. Imanaga won 15 games with a 2.91 ERA in rookie 2024 campaign, but hasn’t been able to repeat those numbers over the last two seasons.

Peña was hit in the right wrist/forearm after checking his swing. He stated in to run and scored on a Yordan Alvarez homer but was then replaced by Nick Allen.

Jenkins gave the Twins an insurance run in the seventh inning, leading off the frame with a solo homer off Duncan Davitt. The 21-year-old outfielder is up to four homers and one steal while hitting .214/.295/.414 across 79 plate appearances.

Hoffman was summoned to close out the game in the bottom of the ninth with a two-run lead over the Giants. He walked the leadoff man, then hit the next batter before a sacrifice bunt put the tying run in scoring position. The Giants would bring one run across on a force out before Hoffman struck out the final batter to secure the win with his sixth save of the season.

Bradley tossed a scoreless first inning, then gave up a run on two hits and a sacrifice fly in the second. He recovered nicely, cruising through four more scoreless innings, ending his day after six innings with six strikeouts. The 25-year-old right-hander has likely made his final start, ending a breakout season with a 3.73 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and a 205/76 K/BB ratio across 178 1/3 innings.

Molina had retired his first ten batters before the Brooks Lee got on with a hit in the fourth. He stranded one more baserunner in the fifth, then gave up two runs on three hits in the sixth. Molina’s day would be done after the sixth at 85 pitches. He struck out six. The 24-year-old right-hander has been solid over nine games(five starts), posting a 3.97 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and a 31/7 K/BB ratio across 34 innings. He’s in line to take the mound for Sunday’s season finale against the Dodgers in San Francisco.