Chandler Rome

Behind Aaron Judge, Team USA scores first WBC victory over Mexico since 2006 HOUSTON — He broke character halfway up the first-base line, before the baseball he bludgeoned found a home within some right field seats. Aaron Judge turned toward his dugout, flipped his bat, fired ...

Behind Aaron Judge, Team USA scores first WBC victory over Mexico since 2006 www.nytimes.com/athletic/710...

Paul Skenes' first World Baseball Classic start is over. He struck out seven across four innings of one-hit ball, bumped 99.7 mph with his fastball and didn't allow a runner to reach third base. Bobby Witt Jr. and Aaron Judge made two wonderful defensive plays behind him.

Tarik Skubal explains why leaving Team USA for Tigers camp became such a tough call Detroit ace expected WBC to have "an All-Star Game type of vibe." When it didn't, he found himself with a difficult decision.

Tarik Skubal said he "totally misread how I would feel” pitching in the WBC, making his decision to leave even more difficult.

“I just assumed it would be an All-Star Game type of vibe and it’s absolutely not. It couldn’t be farther from that." - www.nytimes.com/athletic/710...

Asked if he is at peace with the decision he made, Tarik Skubal said "I’m still not. I think the only way I’ll be at peace with it is in Miami celebrating after we win the whole fucking thing. That’ll give me some peace.”

Tarik Skubal will leave after tonight’s game and return to Tigers camp in Lakeland, Team USA manager Mark DeRosa said. DeRosa said Skubal will not pitch again in the WBC

Could Tarik Skubal alter WBC plan? ‘One of the tougher decisions I’ve made in my career’ The Tigers ace did not definitively say he was done for the WBC after Saturday night's win over Great Britain.

In what he called "one of the tougher decisions I’ve made in my career," Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal is considering continuing to pitch for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic and reversing course from his plan to make only one start. News here - www.nytimes.com/athletic/709...

Tarik Skubal earns respect from Team USA teammates in perhaps his only WBC start The Tigers ace did not definitively say he was done for the WBC during a live television interview on Fox.

Paul Skenes: “If this game were just about Tarik, he’s sitting in Lakeland right now watching the WBC. But it’s not about him. It’s not about me. It’s not about any of us. It’s a whole lot bigger than us. I’m glad he answered the call.” - www.nytimes.com/athletic/709...

Tarik Skubal threw three innings and 41 pitches for Team USA tonight against Great Britain. Nate Eaton hit his first pitch for a home run and then Skubal retired nine of the next 10 batters he faced. It is scheduled to be his only World Baseball Classic appearance.

YouTube video by Crush City Territory Is the Astros' Infield Surplus Solved After Jeremy Peña's Injury? | Crush City Territory

New Crush City Territory episode

- Jeremy Peña broke his finger
- Is the surplus solved?
- Christian Vázquez is back
- WBC takeaways

Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c...

Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/7KUE...

YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Zsk...

Correction: Contreras is not the youngest player in WBC history. He is the youngest player in the tournament since 2013.

Before he faced Aaron Judge, Joseph Contreras had to finish his high school classwork The 17-year-old Team Brazil righty, son of former MLB pitcher Jose Contreras, got out of a huge jam against Team USA's star-studded lineup.

A 17-year-old got Aaron Judge to ground into a bases-loaded double play on Friday night. First, he had to finish his social studies homework. Math homework kept him busy on Thursday. Meet Joseph Contreras, José's son and the youngest player in WBC history - www.nytimes.com/athletic/709...

Jeremy Peña has a fracture in the tip of his right ring finger, according to the Astros. He will be reevaluated in two weeks

As the young guy on Team USA, Roman Anthony was tasked with purchasing a large speaker for the club. They blared Toby Keith’s “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue” on said speaker during the bus ride to Daikin Park, Logan Webb and Mark DeRosa said.

The Astros hope to have an update on shortstop Jeremy Peña tomorrow after he was removed from today’s game in the Dominican Republic with a finger injury. Dana Brown described Peña’s removal as “precautionary.”

YouTube video by Crush City Territory Astros Roster Reality: Ken Rosenthal on Solving the Infield Surplus | Crush City Territory

New Crush City Territory episode

- @ken-rosenthal.bsky.social joins to discuss his Paredes column
- Is there a deadline to get a deal done?
- The X haircut story
- WBC

Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c...

Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/69so...

YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXFf...

Astros mailbag: Solving the infield surplus and keeping veterans happy Plus, why it's not hyperbole to suggest this will be Houston's biggest draft since 2015, when it selected Alex Bregman and Kyle Tucker.

Here’s an Astros mailbag covering their trade talks, the happiness of players with the current arrangement, the 2026 draft, the bullpen and the return to play procedure - www.nytimes.com/athletic/708...

Xavier Neyens, the Astros’ beacon of hope, is also a budding barber The Athletic visited the first-round pick's apartment and watched him work on his hobby: cutting his teammates' hair for free.

Xavier Neyens is a beacon of hope for the Astros. He signed for more money than any Houston draft pick in a decade and may rejuvenate its fallow farm system. He’s also a budding barber, cutting his teammates’ hair and chronicling it on IG. Meet X_blendz - www.nytimes.com/athletic/707...

YouTube video by Crush City Territory Astros Outfield Under Construction — Enter Josh Reddick | Crush City Territory

New Crush City Territory episode

- Josh Reddick's initial observations from being a guest instructor in spring training
- Brice Matthews in CF
- Pitching continues to shine

Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c...

Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/4CGu...

YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=DYz4...

Xavier Neyens, the Astros’ beacon of hope, is also a budding barber The Athletic visited the first-round pick's apartment and watched him work on his hobby: cutting his teammates' hair for free.

Xavier Neyens may go to barber school one offseason, but it's "still a maybe." A few weeks ago, he tried his first high burst fade and "just winged it." Neyens could rejuvenate an Astros farm system in need of a spark — and still bide his time barbering - www.nytimes.com/athletic/707...

Submit your Astros questions for Chandler Rome’s upcoming mailbag With Grapefruit League play underway, post your questions about the Astros as they prepare for the 2026 season.

If you have questions for an upcoming Astros mailbag, you can submit them at this link - www.nytimes.com/athletic/708...

Xavier Neyens, the Astros’ beacon of hope, is also a budding barber The Athletic visited the first-round pick's apartment and watched him work on his hobby: cutting his teammates' hair for free.

Xavier Neyens is a beacon of hope for the Astros. He signed for more money than any Houston draft pick in a decade and may rejuvenate its fallow farm system. He’s also a budding barber, cutting his teammates’ hair and chronicling it on IG. Meet X_blendz - www.nytimes.com/athletic/707...

YouTube video by Crush City Territory AL West War: Ryan Divish on the Astros–Mariners Rivalry | Crush City Territory

New Crush City Territory with a special guest: longtime Mariners writer RyanDivish

- The Astros-Mariners rivalry
- Still hatred?
- Two different offseasons
- 2026 outlook

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Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/7r5Z...

YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhFL...

Episode thumbnail for the Feb. 24th episode of Rates & Barrels featuring Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez. Alvarez photo: aAlex Slitz/Getty Images

🎙️ Rates & Barrels ⚾

@enosarris.bsky.social discussed a few rebound hitters, my mixed LABR squad, and most importantly, we previewed the Astros with @chandlerrome.bsky.social....

Audio: pod.fo/e/3960d4
YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/RatesBarrels

YouTube video by Crush City Territory Who’s In, Who’s Out? Astros Roster Projections + Josh Hader Watch | Crush City Territory

New Crush City Territory episode

- Roster projection 2.0
- A bullpen name standing out
- Is Jake Meyers the CF?
- Yordan Alvarez in LF

Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c...

Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/39Na...

YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=f__w...

Astros roster projection 2.0: Josh Hader’s injury and Isaac Paredes’ predicament With an infield surplus and a closer dealing with biceps inflammation, here's a look at what Houston's roster could look like on Opening Day

Astros roster projection 2.0: Josh Hader’s injury, Isaac Paredes’ predicament and some insight on a few other names impressing early in camp - www.nytimes.com/athletic/706...

Astros roster projection 2.0: Josh Hader’s injury and Isaac Paredes’ predicament With an infield surplus and a closer dealing with biceps inflammation, here's a look at what Houston's roster could look like on Opening Day

Astros roster projection 2.0: Josh Hader’s injury, Isaac Paredes’ predicament and some insight on a few other names impressing early in camp - www.nytimes.com/athletic/706...

Spring results don't matter, but they do carry more weight for Rule 5 picks. Roddery Muñoz allowed four runs in 21 pitches during his inning of work this afternoon. The Cardinals hit three balls off of him 102.9 mph or harder. Jeremy Peña made an error behind him that didn't help.

YouTube video by Crush City Territory From Milwaukee to The Show: AJ Blubaugh’s Rise with the Astros | Crush City Territory

New Crush City Territory episode with a special guest: AJ Blubaugh

- A breakout 2025
- The rise from Bellville to the big leagues
- Starter vs reliever
- His jersey number

Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c...

Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/6ow9...

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In news that will surprise no one, Joe Espada said today that Jeremy Peña will be his leadoff hitter this season.