With the undermanned Astros’ offense struggling to score runs, the starting pitchers are being left with little margin for error these days. And the only run Astros starter Framber Valdez allowed in M

Michael Shapiro is a sports reporter for Chron, covering the Astros, Rockets, Texans and every team in town. Michael is a Denver native and graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, and a noted fan of pull-up threes, wide-receiver passes and a good hot fudge sundae.

The Houston Astros are eyeing the San Diego Padres' 4.79 ERA starter as a primary trade target at the deadline.

The Houston Astros have had the year from hell when it comes to their rotation. We could list off the array of injuries that their starting pitchers have suffer

Cease, who is eligible for free agency at the end of the season, would be a rental for the current AL West leaders.

To beat the Astros on a night in which Framber Valdez’s curveball was untouchable, the Nationals were going to need an equally effective outing from starter-turned-reliever-turned-starter Brad Lord, just enough offense from a lineup missing James Wood to give themselves a lead and then zeros from their bullpen to close things out.

Its Monday, July 28 and the Nationals (43-62) are in Houston to open a series against a suddenly scuffling Astros team (60-46). Brad Lord is slated to take the mound for Washington against Framber Valdez for Houston.

Framber Valdez pitched seven effective innings for his 10th straight win, Brice Matthews hit his third homer in two games and the Houston Astros rallied to beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 3-1