Convenience Big Store: Justin Verlander misses his start and Astros take a big loss

Today's starting lineup

Let's put the Astros aside for a moment and talk about another baseball team: Texas A&M.

The Aggies, in a game that ended in the early hours of Sunday morning because of a four-hour rain delay, beat Florida 3-2 in their opener in the College World Series.

Three Texas A&M pitchers combined for 16 strikeouts and right-fielder Jace LaViolette reached over the wall in the top of the ninth to take a way a two-run homer from the Gators.

Up next, another SEC team in Kentucky on Monday.

Now, the Astros. When Justin Verlander was scratched from his start a few hours before Saturday's game with what described as neck discomfort, the Astros had to move Spencer Arrighetti up a day to start. It didn't go well in a 13-5 loss to the Tigers.

Arrighetti says his problems had nothing to do with a change in his schedule.

Moving back to colleges, UH just wrapped up its first year in the Big 12. While some of the Cougars' top programs fared well, others struggled in the new league. But the bottom line is still money and keeping up in the arms race. Joseph Duarte explains.

Charles Barkley says next season will be his last on TV as TNT's "Inside the NBA" appears to be on its way out as the NBA negotiates its next TV deal with other networks. Jonathan Feigen looks back on what has always made Barkley must-see TV.

A pair of familiar names on the local football season will go for a championship today in the UFL: Wade Phillips as coach of San Antonio and former Episcopal star Marvin Wilson with Birmingham.

And Saturday was a good day for the SaberCats, who beat Seattle for their eighth win in a row and clinched the top seed in the Major League Rugby playoffs. The Dash, thanks to a shutout by goalkeeper Jane Campbell, and the Dynamo, with a late goal from Latif Blessing, each earned draws in soccer action.

Stat of the day: 4. Olympic teams for Katie Ledecky, who opened the U.S. swimming trials with a win in the 400-meter freestyle.

Reid Laymance, Sports Editor

reid.laymance@houstonchronicle.com

Astros / MLB

Houston Astros starting pitcher Spencer Arrighetti (41) reacts after Detroit Tigers Riley Greene's three-run home run during the second inning of an MLB baseball game at Minute Maid Park on Saturday, June 15, 2024, in Houston.

Photo by: Karen Warren, Staff Photographer

Spencer Arrighetti's reason for bad start has nothing to do with schedule change

Astros rookie Spencer Arrighetti talked about the bad pitches he made that cost him in a blowout Tigers win.

Tigers 13, Astros 5: Spencer Arrighetti didn't make it out of the second inning and the Tigers jumped out to an 11-0 lead in a rout.
Scratch: Justin Verlander missed his start because of 'neck discomfort.'