DUSTY BAKER

Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve seems headed for a lengthy stint on the injured list after being hit on the hand with a pitch while playing for Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic.

Houston Astros star Jose Altuve has a broken right thumb and needs surgery after getting hurt in Venezuela’s 9-7 quarterfinal loss to the United States at the World Baseball Classic. The Astros said Sunday they will announce a prognosis for the second baseman after the operation. The ight-time All-Star and the 2017 American League MVP fell after he was struck by a 95.9 mph sinker from Colorado reliever Daniel Bard in the fifth inning Saturday night.

Darren Baker, the son of Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker, hit a game-tying grand slam against his father's team Friday as the Nationals beat the Astros.

So far, baseball's new speed-up rules are working.

Baseball's new rules designed to improve pace of play are coming fast at everyone, particularly the players.

Dusty Baker finally got his elusive championship with the Houston Astros, garnering his first World Series ring in 25 years as a manager in one of the most memorable moments of the year in sports.

Jeff Bagwell made it clear that he was not interested in filling the Astros vacant general manager role, but he was critical of ex-GM James Click's data-driven approach.

Terry Francona of the Cleveland Guardians and Buck Showalter of the New York Mets have been voted Managers of the Year, improving the already sparkling resumes of both veteran baseball leaders.

Astros GM James Click will not be given a new contract — just six days after Houston won the World Series.

Houston Astros general manager James Click will not be given a new contract.

Astros general manager James Click will not be given a new contract, a highly unusual move that the team announced Friday — just six days after Houston won the World Series. Click was hired from the Tampa Bay Rays before the 2020 season and appeared increasingly distant from owner Jim Crane.

Houston's Dusty Baker and the Los Angeles Dodgers' Dave Roberts are the only Black managers in Major League Baseball.

Following his first World Series title as a manager, Dusty Baker will return to manage the Houston Astros in 2023.

Fresh off his World Series win, Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker has agreed to a one-year contract to remain with the team next season.

Fans were lining up in downtown Houston on Monday for a parade to celebrate the Astros’ latest World Series win.

An estimated more than 1 million fans celebrated the Houston Astros’ World Series win with a downtown parade.

The Houston Astros just won their second World Series in six years and have been a consistent presence in the playoffs.

After winning their second World Series, it's hard to argue these Astros aren't a dynasty. Where do they rank among MLB's best over the last 30 years?

While the stain on Houston’s first championship might never completely fade, Alvarez’s three-run homer helped fashion a fresh crown for the Astros.

The Astros chanted their manager's name, rubbed his head and hugged him, all at once. Dusty Baker had to grip Minute Maid Park's dugout netting to keep from falling.

Yordan Alvarez hit a moon shot that sent Space City into a frenzy, and the Houston Astros to their second World Series title.

The Astros are World Series champs again after toppling the Phillies in Game 6. Here are Ben Verlander's takeaways from the clincher.

"Every once in a while these guys come along, not that often," Astros manager Dusty Baker said of 25-year-old shortstop Jeremy Pena, who was named World Series MVP.

Dusty Baker had managed the most games in MLB history without winning a World Series. That is until Saturday, when his Astros won it all.

Jeremy Peña became the first rookie position player to win a World Series MVP after hitting.

The Houston Astros are once again World Series champions, clinching the title with their Game 6 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday night.

For now and forever, Dusty Baker, the epic storyteller, first-class name-dropper, toothpick chewer and baseball lifer will bear a most distinguished title.

Yordan Alvarez hit a towering three-run homer and the Houston Astros clinched their second World Series title in six seasons with a 4-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 6.

Yordan Alvarez hit a moon shot that sent Space City into a frenzy, and the Houston Astros to their second World Series title. While the stain on Houston’s first championship might never completely fade, Alvarez’s majestic three-run homer helped fashion a fresh crown for the Astros -- and the first for Dusty Baker as manager -- in a 4-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 6 on Saturday night. “What happened before, it doesn’t ever pass over completely,” said Baker, the veteran manager hired by the Astros in the wake of their sign-stealing scandal.

The title puts a bow on what has been a dominant season which saw the team win an American League-best 106 games.

Astros first baseman Yuli Gurriel will miss the rest of the World Series after spraining his right knee in Game 5.

Astros first baseman Yuli Gurriel will miss the rest of the World Series after injuring his right knee in Game 5. Houston replaced him on its active roster Saturday with rookie catcher Korey Lee. “He wasn’t crying, but he had tears in his eyes," Astros manager Dusty Baker said of Gurriel.

"Every once in a while these guys come along, not that often," Astros manager Dusty Baker said of 25-year-old shortstop Jeremy Pena, who's had an incredible postseason.

Dusty Baker has been here before.

Dusty Baker has been here before. It’s hard not to think of the last time the Astros’ manager was up 3-2 in the Fall Classic as he leads the team back to Houston Saturday night for Game 6 of the World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies needing just one win for a championship. In 2002, Baker’s San Francisco Giants and big bopper Barry Bonds entered Game 6 against the Anaheim Angels up by the same margin.

Houston Astros center fielder Chas McCormick and fill-in first baseman Trey Mancini both made key defensive plays in the late innings that helped preserve a 3-2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 5 of the World Series.

The Astros held off the Phillies in Game 5 of the World Series to take a 3-2 series lead. Here are Ben Verlander's takeaways.

Houston Astros rookie shortstop Jeremy Peña put on quite an all-around performance Thursday night in Game 5 of the World Series.

Pitchers Christian Javier, Bryan Abreu, Rafael Montero and Ryan Pressly held the Phillies hitless for the first World Series no-hitter since 1956.

Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker made the call to pull starter Cristian Javier from his Game 4 start after six no-hit innings despite history on the line.

Before his Game 4 start, Astros' Cristian Javier spoke to his parents, who predicted he would throw a no-hitter. Houston combined for one to beat the Phillies to tie the World Series.

Four Houston Astros pitchers combined to no-hit the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 4 of the World Series on Wednesday night for the third no-hitter in postseason history.

First lady Jill Biden joined the Standup to Cancer tribute in the middle of the fifth inning of Game 4 of the World Series.

The Philadelphia Phillies and Houston Astros are set to play Game 5 of the World Series on Thursday night.

By Homero de la Fuente, CNN(Source CNN):CNN — Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker said it “looks bad” that there will be no US-born Black players in the 2022 World Series. Meanwhile, the Phillies had no Black players on their Opening Day roster this year for the first time since 1959. In the 2022 MLB Draft, for the first time in draft history, four of the top five selections were Black players, according to the MLB. While no players will be US born African Americans, there will be Black players in the Fall Classic, including Afro-Cuban slugger Yordan Alvarez of the Astros. Players from eight different countries will be represented in the World Series this year.

Astros starter Lance McCullers never should have been left in the game long enough to give up five home runs. It's fair to question manager Dusty Baker.

While Kyle Schwarber and the Philadelphia Phillies took batting practice ahead of Game 3, Mr Hollywood DJ and DJ Smooth stood behind a turntable near the home dugout, spinning tunes from a playlist created by backup catcher Garrett Stubbs.

Starting extra innings with a runner on second base, the rule adopted by Major League Baseball as a way to shorten games during the pandemic, might be sticking around.

Dusty Baker has won 2,093 regular-season games, but not a World Series. The beloved manager will get his shot to change that with these Astros.

Game 3 of the World Series between the Philadelphia Phillies and Houston Astros has been postponed because of rain with the matchup tied 1-1, pushing the entire Fall Classic schedule back one day.

The World Series is set to return to Philadelphia for the first time since 2009 when the Phillies host the Houston Astros in Game 3 on Monday night.

Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. wasn’t born in Houston, but he sure loves it now.

For the first time in a sluggish postseason, Jose Altuve looked like himself in Game 2 of the World Series.

The Astros and Phillies travel Friday to Texas, where Game 6 of the World Series will be played a night later.

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Players’ union head Tony Clark says years of inattention by Major League Baseball has contributed to the World Series being played without any U.S.-born Black players for the first time since 1950.

Framber Valdez will start Game 2 of the World Series for the Houston Astros on Saturday night against Zack Wheeler of the Philadelphia Phillies.

It's the fourth World Series for the Houston Astros since 2017. They're tangling with the Philadelphia Phillies who made an unlikely playoff run to reach their first Series since 2009.

Dusty Baker is deeply disturbed that there project to be no U.S.-born Black players in this year's World Series.

Philadelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson is kind of a big deal back home.

Justin Verlander remains in search of his first World Series win after going 0-6 with a 5.68 ERA in seven Series starts.

No U.S.-born Black players are projected to be on World Series rosters when the Philadelphia Phillies and Houston Astros meet this week.

Bruce Bochy is coming out of a short retirement in hopes to get a title for the home team.

"Their championship in 2017, for many, carries a mental asterisk if not an official asterisk," Bob Costas said before the Astros accepted trophies.

Bryce Harper and the Philadelphia Phillies are set to play the Houston Astros in the World Series.

Yordan Alvarez and Alex Bregman delivered big hits and the Houston Astros advanced to the World Series again, finishing a four-game sweep of New York in the AL Championship Series with a 6-5 victory aided by another defensive gaffe from the Yankees.

With the Houston Astros one win from reaching the World Series again, Game 4 of the AL Championship Series against the New York Yankees has started after an 84-minute delay due to the threat of rain.

With the Houston Astros one win from reaching the World Series again, Game 4 of the AL Championship Series against the New York Yankees will not start on time Sunday night because of the threat of rain. Major League Baseball announced the impending delay on Twitter an hour before the scheduled 7:07 p.m. first pitch and said it was possible the game could get postponed until Monday. “We continue to evaluate the conditions and will provide another update by 7:00 p.m.,” MLB said.

Cristian Javier and Houston’s bullpen combined on a three-hitter, Chas McCormick followed a dropped flyball with an early two-run homer and the Astros beat Gerrit Cole and the New York Yankees 5-0 to take a 3-0 AL Championship Series lead.

Astros star Jose Altuve was more than happy to oblige when a fan ran onto the field and asked the Houston second baseman to take a selfie with him during Game 2 of the AL Championship Series against the New York Yankees.

The Yankees’ season keeps coming down to Gerrit Cole.

The New York Yankees struck out 17 times in Game 1 of the ALCS to the Houston Astros two. The 15-strikout difference between the two clubs is the largest in MLB postseason history.

Justin Verlander struck out 11 in six strong innings and Yuli Gurriel, Chas McCormick and Jeremy Peña all homered to power the Houston Astros to a 4-2 win over the New York Yankees in their AL Championship Series opener.

Houston Astros star Jose Altuve has long been a postseason powerhouse.

There was bunting draped off the railings in October and logos painted on the grass of T-Mobile Park that were absent for the past two decades when the Seattle Mariners were stuck in baseball purgatory and left as a spectator every postseason.

Yordan Alvarez and his mighty bat did it yet again, launching a go-ahead, two-run homer in the sixth inning off Seattle ace Luis Castillo that lifted the Houston Astros over the Mariners 4-2 for a 2-0 lead in the AL Division Series.

When Justin Verlander takes the mound for the Houston Astros in Game 1 of the AL Division Series on Tuesday against the Seattle Mariners, it will have been almost three years since his last playoff appearance.

Houston Astros ace Justin Verlander did not allow a hit in five innings and was pulled from the game after 77 pitches. Houston did not allow a hit until the ninth inning.

Aaron Nola took a perfect game into the seventh inning and Kyle Schwarber homered twice as the Philadelphia Phillies clinched their first playoff berth in 11 years with a 3-0 win over the Houston Astros Monday night.

Bryce Harper and the Philadelphia Phillies hoped to be in this position.

Shohei Ohtani vs.

When Shohei Ohtani is pitching impressively and hitting over 30 homers, he might always be the MVP favorite unless another player in his league comes up with something awfully special. Ohtani vs. Aaron Judge for the American League MVP figures to be the most hotly debated postseason award this year. Judge is closing in on Roger Maris' AL record of 61 homers and might also win the Triple Crown.

Tampa Bay Rays ace Shane McClanahan was pulled in the fifth inning with neck tightness during a 5-0 loss to the Houston Astros.

Yordan Alvarez homered in his first three at-bats, Justin Verlander threw five hitless innings in his return from the injured list and the Houston Astros clinched a postseason berth with a 5-0 win over the Oakland Athletics.

Even the mighty Houston Astros are not immune to occasional bouts of comprehensive ineptitude, as they demonstrated while blowing a four-run lead in the seventh inning Tuesday night with two errors, a hit batter with the bases loaded and a passed ball. The Astros still had plenty of time to recover against an opponent that's been largely inept for two full months now. Kyle Tucker delivered a tiebreaking RBI double in the ninth inning, and the Astros rallied for a 6-5 victory over the spiraling Los Angeles Angels.

One of the most widely attributed origins of the high five involves the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Astros slugger Yordan Álvarez flew back to Houston for treatment after being placed on the 10-day injured list because of a right hand injury that has gotten worse, according to manager Dusty Baker. Álvarez originally hurt his hand June 18 against the Chicago White Sox and has been dealing with soreness and inflammation since then. The Astros expect him to miss the next two series and possibly return after the All-Star break.

Mike Trout watched as a low sinker grazed the outside corner of the strike zone in the third inning Sunday, rung up once again in a weekend filled with strikeouts. The Angels star went 0 for 11 with nine strikeouts in a three-game series and Los Angeles hitters fanned 20 times overall Sunday as the Houston Astros won 4-2 for a sweep.

A day after Houston outfielder José Siri called his bat-flip home run celebration against the New York Mets “an error," he seemingly backtracked Wednesday with a profane tweet that was later deleted. Houston was up 7-2 in the eighth inning against the Mets on Tuesday when Siri snapped an 0-for-10 slump with a solo homer to the train tracks above left field in Minute Maid Park. “He should have ran,” Baker said after the game.

Dusty Baker is tinkering with his lineup and wants to avoid hitting José Altuve leadoff. Houston’s manager primarily batted the three-time American League batting champion first last year, but Baker says the 5-foot-6 Altuve isn’t all that fond of the leadoff spot. “Actually, Altuve led off because everybody asked him to lead off, not because that’s where he feels comfortable,” Baker said.

Carlos Correa stood on the steps of the dugout watching as Yuli Gurriel grounded out to end Game 6 of the World Series before slowly walking away and heading into Houston's clubhouse for what could be the last time. Atlanta’s 7-0 win over the Astros to win the World Series on Tuesday night could mark the end of an era in Houston. After losing Gerrit Cole and George Springer in free agency the last two years, Houston now faces the distinct possibility that Correa will soon be gone, too.

Hall of Famer Greg Maddux threw out the ceremonial first pitch for Sunday night’s Game 5 of the World Series. Maddux, wearing his Braves jersey, tipped his cap in response to an ovation from fans as he walked onto the field. Fittingly, he threw the pitch to Eddie Perez, who was often his designated catcher.

Grinning the whole time, Zack Greinke slipped into his Astros warmup jacket, joked with Freddie Freeman and got a friendly pat from the Atlanta star first baseman. Because after Game 5 of the World Series, they could become almost extinct. There’s a good chance Major League Baseball will bring the designated hitter to the National League next year — likely forever.

Houston's pitching staff will need to adjust quickly after allowing 25 runs and 32 hits to Boston in the first three games of the AL Championship Series, a barrage that made the loss of injured Lance McCullers Jr. seem acute. Kyle Schwarber hit Boston’s third grand slam in an 11-inning span, a drive off starter José Urquidy as part of a six-run second inning in Monday night's 12-3 rout that gave the Red Sox a 2-1 series lead. Boston hit four home runs, raising its total to nine off Astros pitching, which has a 7.96 ERA.

AL batting champion Yuli Gurriel hit a winning RBI single in the ninth inning, and the AL West champion Houston Astros headed to the postseason with a 7-6 win over the Oakland Athletics on Sunday. Gurriel hit .319 and became Houston’s second player to win a batting title after Jose Altuve in 2014, ’16 and ’17.

Matt Olson and Chad Pinder each homered and the Oakland Athletics beat Houston 8-6 Friday night, cutting the Astros’ edge for home-field advantage in the AL playoffs. Houston leads the White Sox by one game for home field in their best-of-five Division Series matchup next week. The AL West champion Astros also own the tiebreaker after going 5-2 against AL Central champion Chicago this season.

The Houston Astros walked off to end a wild ninth-inning rally against the Tampa Bay Rays, moving closer to securing a postseason berth. The party will have to wait one more day at least, with the Seattle Mariners stubbornly sticking around. Rays reliever JT Chargois walked two Houston batters with the bases loaded in the ninth inning, propelling the Astros to a 4-3 win that snapped a four-game skid.

This time, the calls went Shohei Ohtani's way. Ohtani came home on Jack Mayfield's two-run double Thursday night and the Los Angeles Angels defeated the Houston Astros 3-2 to snap a six-game losing streak. The two-way star from Japan tried to score the winning run during Wednesday's 9-5 loss to Houston in 12 innings, but was called out after a perfect throw from right fielder Chas McCormick.

Jose Siri and Chas McCormick hit back-to-back home runs in the eighth inning, rallying the AL West-leading Houston Astros over the Arizona Diamondbacks 7-6 on Sunday. Carlos Correa also homered as the Astros held their comfortable division lead over Oakland. Houston won for the fourth time in five games and cut Tampa Bay’s lead for the best record in the AL to 3 ½ games.

Carlos Correa drove in the winning run in the 10th inning after Alex Bregman tied the game in the ninth, and the Houston Astros rallied past the Seattle Mariners 5-4 on Tuesday night. Correa greeted Yohan Ramirez (1-3) with a ground-rule double to right-center, scoring Yuli Gurriel, who started the inning at second. “It was an important outing for us knowing that they have been playing great baseball,” Correa said.