Convenience Big Store: AL West showdown: Bring on the Rangers

Today's starting lineup

The Astros trail the Rangers by three games in the AL West. Texas is coming to Houston for a three-game series. You can do the math: it's a big one.

The Astros have Brandon Bielak, J.P. France and Framber Valdez lined up for the series. The Rangers are having their top starter Nathan Eovaldi skip the series to get some rest.

But before Houston could start thinking about Texas, it had to take care of the A's. Mauricio Dubón homered in the ninth for a 3-2 win, and Hunter Brown found another way to be effective.

The Texans open training camp this week. Jonathan M. Alexander looks at 11 pressing questions, and quarterback may not be one.

The Titans picked an interesting time to announce some 'Luv Ya Blue' jersey plans for the season. We may get a Titans-Texans rivalry yet.

It's one week until high school football practice kicks off. A look at the top 50 recruits in the Houston area.

Stat of the day: 54.4. Hunter Brown leads AL starters with a 54.4 percent groundball rate. Framber Valdez is second at 53.6 among qualified starters.

Reid Laymance
Sports editor
reid.laymance@houstonchronicle.com

Astros / MLB

Houston Astros pitcher Hunter Brown (58) works against the Oakland Athletics during the first inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, July 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Photo by: Jeff Chiu/Associated Press

Hunter Brown shows how he can be more efficient

Astros starter Hunter Brown sees the ability to induce grounders as a key to a more efficient second half of the season.

Astros 3, A's 2: The Astros took three of four games from the last-place A's thanks to Mauricio Dubón's homer.
Lined up: The Astros will start Brandon Bielak, J.P. France and Valdez against the Rangers.
On deck: A big three-game series between the Rangers and Astros at Minute Maid Park opens with Houston trailing its intrastate rival by three games in the AL West.
Pitching change: Parker Mushinski is called up and gives Houston a lefthanded bullpen option in Sunday's series finale against the A's.

Texans / NFL

Houston Texans Head Coach DeMeco Ryans is photographed at rookie camp Friday, May 12, 2023, at NRG in Houston.

Photo by: Yi-Chin Lee, Staff Photographer

11 pressing Texans questions as training camp begins

The DeMeco Ryans era is upon us, and it dawns with some position battles. But is quarterback really one of them?

Feeling blue: The Houston Oilers left town in 1997, but now fans in Tennessee, who wanted the franchise's name changed to Titans, are co-opting Luv Ya Blue history.

High School Football

Photo by: Jon Poorman

Houston's top 50 high school football recruits for 2024 class

We break down the top high school football recruits in Houston for the 2024 class.

Women's World Cup

United States' Lindsey Horan (10), Megan Rapinoe (15) and Sophia Smith top, celebrate after Horan scored their third goal during the second half of the Women's World Cup Group E soccer match between the United States and Vietnam at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand, Saturday, July 22, 2023. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Photo by: Abbie Parr/Associated Press

An opening World Cup win, but USWNT will need to improve

The United States wasn't seriously threatened as it opened Women's World Cup play, but improvement will be needed as the pursuit of a third straight title continues.