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00:00:03We welcome you back to Friday Night Baseball on Apple TV on this, the first Friday of the 2026 baseball
00:00:09season.
00:00:10The Angels and the Astros. Alex Faust, Ryan Spielberg's here with you.
00:00:14Down to the field, Tricia Whitaker with Christian Walker.
00:00:18All right, Christian Walker, opening weekend. Does it ever get old and do you take a moment, even as a
00:00:25veteran, to soak up that magic?
00:00:26Yeah, it's the best. I mean, all offseason, this is what you're thinking about. The energy. Be back on the
00:00:31field with the guys. This is what it's about.
00:00:33Speaking of back on the field, Jeremy Pena is back in that lineup. What does he add to the top
00:00:37of the lineup?
00:00:38Yeah, he's the guy you want. He's our anchor. Everything about his game is great. I love playing behind him.
00:00:44Guys.
00:00:45All right, Tricia. The Astros and the Angels in this AL West matchup.
00:00:51Take a look at the starting lineup for the Halos with Zach Netto in the leadoff spot. Nine leadoff home
00:00:57runs in 2025.
00:00:59That's a franchise record for the Angels. A career season for him with 26 homers and 29 doubles on the
00:01:08year.
00:01:08And towing the rubber for the Astros is Mike Burrows, who will make his 20th career start and his first
00:01:14for the Astros.
00:01:15I'm really looking forward to watching this guy pitch because last year I saw him in Pittsburgh and I was
00:01:20like, whoa, angry fastball, really good changeup.
00:01:23And what stood out was Joe Espada saw the same thing last year.
00:01:27The Astros locked horns at the Pirates and they watched Burrows pitch.
00:01:31They said, we should get this guy if we get the chance. Let's spill the beans on him.
00:01:35Ready for liftoff.
00:01:36We've seen several Pirates getting traded over to the Astros and they took off.
00:01:41Garrett Cole, Charlie Morton, and long live and prosper.
00:01:45He throws the Vulcan changeup, which if this is your first time as an Astros fan watching Mike Burrows pitch,
00:01:51this changeup is ridiculous.
00:01:54Stackass is powered by Google Cloud. Here's a look at his stuff.
00:01:58He's added a two-seam fastball.
00:02:00They're going to try to change him into a Hunter Brown type, four-seam, two-seam.
00:02:04That sinker usage increased in spring training by 10%.
00:02:08The changeup is his best weapon.
00:02:10He can use it to righties, to lefties, and I think that Astros fans are going to love Mike Burrows
00:02:18in their starting rotation.
00:02:20Burrows coming over to three-team trade this offseason to Houston.
00:02:26As we welcome those of you watching live on X, we'll have this live stream up for the first inning.
00:02:34The Astros' eight-year playoff streak was the fourth longest in baseball history, but they missed the postseason last year.
00:02:41Can they bounce back this season?
00:02:43Game two of the 2026 season underway, and a fly ball from Neto jumping on the first pitch in front
00:02:49of the wall.
00:02:50It'll bounce off the scoreboard at the Crawford Boxes for Zach Neto, and he's got a leadoff double on the
00:02:58first pitch.
00:02:59That's a nice introduction.
00:03:00Zach gives Mike Burrows to the Astros.
00:03:03He's like, first pitch fastball.
00:03:04I'm not waiting for him to establish the changeup.
00:03:07And he's...
00:03:10...kindly off homers just out of the glove of Jordan and left.
00:03:16Man, Angels are looking to win the first two games of the season, which has not happened for them in
00:03:22a long time.
00:03:232007, the last time they started the season 2-0.
00:03:27There is some serious jump in that Angels clubhouse as Mike Trout taps this one foul off a check swing.
00:03:35And, of course, he is going to be the centerpiece.
00:03:39Mike Trout, a future Hall of Famer.
00:03:42Did he look the part or what yesterday?
00:03:46One for two, three walks, and a Titanic home run.
00:03:53Ball and a strike here from Burrows.
00:03:59Walked with Mike Trout, but he didn't physically to take on the tolls of playing center field again.
00:04:11Breaks his bat here on a flare-to-center field.
00:04:14Bryce Matthews comes in, doesn't have a play on it.
00:04:17Neto has to hold up at third.
00:04:19Timeout!
00:04:20And ball hit just softly enough in front of Matthews, who has never played in the outfield before in his
00:04:28short Major League career.
00:04:30And the Angels have met in the corners.
00:04:32Well, when you're in the outfield and you haven't done it before, one of the things you have to listen
00:04:36to is the crack of the bat.
00:04:37You can hear it.
00:04:38You can hear the bat break.
00:04:40And that is your first indicator, even though you saw the big swing from Trout, to come running in.
00:04:46But they do say that Bryce Matthews has a lot of opportunity to get better.
00:04:50And they think physically he's capable of playing center field.
00:04:53Sean Ouell here.
00:04:55The check swing strike.
00:05:02Pretty good against the Astros in his career.
00:05:07He's shown glimpses of pop in his time with the Halos.
00:05:14But can he make that more consistent feature at the plate?
00:05:24One for five yesterday.
00:05:26Belted a ninth inning home run.
00:05:28The cap off a 3-0 win for the Halos on opening day.
00:05:32And he's ahead in the count.
00:05:32Two balls and a strike.
00:05:33He's one of those amazing stories that the Angels have with their college players.
00:05:38They drafted college guys, and they get them to the big leagues fast.
00:05:48First and third.
00:05:49Nobody out.
00:05:51Sean Ouell with a big cut.
00:05:52Count levels of two balls and two strikes.
00:05:56Yesterday, a couple strikeouts against Hunter Brown, and then he leaned into it.
00:06:01You know, we saw him today, and he was talking about the homer today.
00:06:04He was like, I just was just trying to hit the ball.
00:06:06Like, I couldn't hit the ball at all early on.
00:06:09I was just trying to hit it.
00:06:10He was like, oh, we'll run into it.
00:06:10He was like, I don't know.
00:06:132-64 last year.
00:06:1612 homers.
00:06:19Big spot early in this game.
00:06:21And on one hop, he hits this to second.
00:06:24He'll get two out of it, but a run will score.
00:06:28and the Angels scratch across the opening run
00:06:31here in the first
00:06:35the Astros will always trade in
00:06:37a run for two outs
00:06:39especially the first thing
00:06:40Zaburo's little slider inside
00:06:41Altuve backhand
00:06:43and then we get to see Jeremy Pena
00:06:45it's good to see Pena back
00:06:47suffered an injury during the World Baseball Classic
00:06:55it's going to be an early challenge here
00:06:58on a breaking ball
00:07:00that Yiner Diaz thought caught the inside corner
00:07:04the catcher is down
00:07:10and an unsuccessful challenge here in the first inning
00:07:12that could be a big problem for the Astros
00:07:16ideally you're trying to save those
00:07:18challenges for later on in the game
00:07:21this is a non-scoring situation early in a count
00:07:28challenge powered by T-Mobile
00:07:33and it's one and one here to Jorge Soler
00:07:39there's one of a guy
00:07:40there's a consistent theme around this group
00:07:42for the Angels this year
00:07:45they're hoping guys can
00:07:47have comeback seasons in a variety of ways
00:07:50the nickname of spring training was almost like camp comeback
00:07:54between Josh Lowe, Jamer Candelario
00:07:57a bunch of the veteran relievers they brought in
00:08:00and I think you can lump Jorge Soler in that group as well
00:08:04injury troubles have plagued him
00:08:12to be chief among them for the injuries for sure
00:08:17take a look at the Astros defense a lot of gold gloves around the horn
00:08:22and Solaire stays alive here
00:08:28so many layers to the storylines for both of these teams and as you and I were talking about as
00:08:33well
00:08:33there's opportunity in this AL West this year
00:08:42Matthews one two and Solaire strikes out on a slider low and away
00:08:48but the Angels saw back-to-back hits to begin the night at the opening run
00:09:22it's over and I'm going to see the story
00:09:22so many of you have noticed that this is the challenge of being used to a longitude
00:10:58Ball hit right at him.
00:11:02Hit right at Altuve, I should say.
00:11:04Peña turning the double play.
00:11:06Take a look at the Astros' starting lineup.
00:11:09And Peña in the leadoff spot making his season debut coming off that broken finger.
00:11:13And then Isak Paredes.
00:11:15Career OPS over 1,000 against the Angels.
00:11:19But a lot of question marks and a lot of dominoes that fall with Peña being ready to play on
00:11:27opening day.
00:11:28We'll get to all of that as we go.
00:11:29As you see Yusei Kikuchi towing the rubber for the Angels.
00:11:34The former Astros here for a brief time in 2024.
00:11:39Yeah about two months with the Astros and they kind of tweaked his pitch mix.
00:11:46They really told him hey man your slider is really good.
00:11:50Why don't you throw that pitch.
00:11:52And for Kikuchi he was like okay.
00:11:55Had a lot of success and even had even more last year with it.
00:12:00Fly ball here from Peña.
00:12:02That will drift foul.
00:12:05Peña who earned his first All-Star nod last year.
00:12:08Of course the former World Series MVP.
00:12:12Hit 3 51 at home a career high 3 0 4 top 10 in the American League and average and
00:12:17on base last year.
00:12:20Not to mention the 20 stolen bases.
00:12:29But the knock on effect from him being healthy to start the year is a lot of the decisions that
00:12:35the Astros thought well maybe we could kick the can down the road on.
00:12:38Well now they're going to have to think about right away.
00:12:40Who's going to play where in the infield on what day.
00:12:48Peña strokes this one to left.
00:12:49Will it hang up for Josh Lowe.
00:12:51It'll drop.
00:12:52And a lead off single for Peña in his season debut.
00:12:57It's always what you want to do when your first at bat of the season is get a knock.
00:13:01You want to get those numbers up on the scoreboard.
00:13:04Because there's times when you don't get a hit right away.
00:13:07It feels like you're never going to get a hit.
00:13:09Let's spill the beans on.
00:13:10You say Kikuchi follow the leader yesterday.
00:13:12Soriano was unbelievable for the Angels.
00:13:15He has a chance to just be a frontline starter.
00:13:18In all baseball and then slip and slide that slider last year through to about 38 percent of the time.
00:13:24And it's a good one.
00:13:25Dr. Sch �ington.
00:13:26To you.
00:13:27To you the veteran on this staff.
00:13:31As he faces your non Alvarez.
00:13:34We talked about right off the top.
00:13:38Lowest career.
00:13:40O.P.S.
00:13:40Last season.
00:13:41But of course.
00:13:42His year marred by injuries.
00:13:46and I think you have to take that
00:13:47number with a grain of salt
00:13:49because even when he was in the
00:13:51lineup I doubt he was a hundred
00:13:53percent now and even when he was
00:13:55in the lineup he's still better
00:13:57than virtually anybody Alvarez
00:14:03with a fly ball the left low
00:14:07drifting over makes the catch
00:14:10Alvarez was robbed of a home run
00:14:12Astros fans believe yesterday this
00:14:15caught up along the support beams on
00:14:18the roof a skyscraping fly ball that
00:14:21landed in foul territory I got
00:14:23clarification on this yesterday
00:14:25because a lot of folks were confused
00:14:26about the call on the field is
00:14:28confirmed after replay and it's
00:14:32universal ground rules here it's
00:14:34where the ball lands after hitting a
00:14:36piece of the structure that determines
00:14:39whether it's fair or foul well and
00:14:42then I heard people talking about
00:14:44well why don't they put a paint
00:14:46mark to designate where foul
00:14:49territory is and the reason why
00:14:50they can't with this stadium is
00:14:53when they open the roof or close
00:14:55it it doesn't go to the exact same
00:14:56spot
00:15:04so it is what it is it is what it
00:15:06is I mean so in in Tampa with the
00:15:10with with the trap they have it
00:15:12in the in the rafters on the on
00:15:15the catwalk they have it marked
00:15:16but that roof doesn't retract on a
00:15:23strike here to Alvarez as he takes
00:15:25it's upstairs two and one he saw
00:15:36Brady's at the plate here two
00:15:39balls and a strike you're talking
00:15:44about all the different moving
00:15:45parts for Joe Espada trying to
00:15:47figure out you know in today's
00:15:48lineup you have your on and left
00:15:49field they really want to make
00:15:52sure they keep his socks back in
00:15:54the lineup he just presents a
00:16:00professional bat that's a little
00:16:01bit different than some of the
00:16:03hitters that the Astros have it's
00:16:04a very aggressive hitting team and
00:16:06then you have a sock in your Don
00:16:07who will take their walks that
00:16:09though they'll work a count pain
00:16:15you all first and parade he's jacks
00:16:18one five
00:16:22but the east sock is he's a pull
00:16:25hitter and if you're a pull hitter in
00:16:27this ballpark center field is where
00:16:29fly balls go to die but the edges are
00:16:33where the homers are at so the
00:16:36Crawford boxes if he's healthy the
00:16:38first season they might rename it
00:16:41the parade's boxes yeah I mean he
00:16:43does have the chance he could hit
00:16:45forty homers here
00:16:52they can have to rename the street
00:16:54too might be a little early for
00:16:57that well if he hits fifty yeah
00:17:01fine
00:17:04there you go
00:17:08a hundred percent
00:17:09of his home runs there goes painting
00:17:13a parade his fouls another one
00:17:14off
00:17:16and again we're talking about
00:17:17Pena and where he fits and one of
00:17:20the knock-on effects is what
00:17:22happens with Paredes opening day
00:17:26started at third base went to
00:17:28first after Christian Walker was
00:17:29removed from the game yesterday
00:17:31Joe Espada said he wants to play
00:17:33Paredes as much as he possibly can
00:17:36a wrinkle to that is the injury he
00:17:38had last year
00:17:43significant hamstring strength and
00:17:46Paredes strikes out
00:17:48throw down a second with a lot of
00:17:49going out in time
00:17:51so Pena swipes the bag
00:17:56to go take a look at this slide
00:17:58from Jeremy Pena notice where the
00:18:00oven mitt is the left hand it folds
00:18:02underneath him and I'm watching him
00:18:04at second base he's kind of looking
00:18:05at his hand
00:18:08I don't know if he heard it
00:18:10I mean he's taking off his pad
00:18:11really quick he's readjusting his
00:18:14his pants and stuff but I mean that
00:18:16look dangerous you see this with
00:18:18outfielders when when they start
00:18:19diving for a baseball
00:18:25in theory that device should help
00:18:28prevent that
00:18:31yeah it almost it almost injured
00:18:34I was gonna say almost worked in the
00:18:36opposite way there so here's Jose
00:18:38Altuve batting cleanup hit in the
00:18:41leadoff spot yesterday
00:18:44oh man that that was really really
00:18:47close to being awful
00:19:00Altuve looks in a strike
00:19:0926 homers last year 7th season with
00:19:1320 or more homers as Altuve
00:19:16begins his 16th major league
00:19:18season 14th as the Astros starting
00:19:24second baseman that's funny
00:19:28Julia Morales who does such a great
00:19:30job for Space City she was doing
00:19:33her social media posts and asking
00:19:35all the players you know what
00:19:37opening day was this and Altuve
00:19:38told her it was his first
00:19:55two balls and two strikes to Altuve
00:20:00only his 17th career start at cleanup
00:20:03and this gets away from Logan O'Hoppe
00:20:06paying it a third and the ball is
00:20:08thrown away
00:20:10Pena will jog home to tie the game
00:20:19Logan O'Hoppe couldn't secure the
00:20:22loose ball and then threw it right
00:20:26right in the left field yeah he makes
00:20:27a bad decision after he feels the
00:20:29baseball you just you're you're
00:20:31probably screaming eat it don't
00:20:32throw it and he goes for the
00:20:34side arm it gets to the side of
00:20:36Mokata
00:20:46and that's now ball for the all to
00:20:49be to prolong the inning take a
00:20:56look at the Eagles defensively
00:20:59Mike Trout back in his usual
00:21:01center field he said that's where
00:21:04he wants to play he feels good
00:21:06enough to do that as an everyday
00:21:08center fielder once again was
00:21:18Korea swings through that off speed
00:21:20pitch that's very encouraging for
00:21:23the Angels and for Kurt Suzuki
00:21:25first year manager that Mike Trout
00:21:28feels like Mike Trout again
00:21:41and he said so much yesterday he
00:21:44was like wow I felt like myself
00:21:46imagine being a player with that
00:21:48skill set and then have three years
00:21:51where you just you're binged up
00:21:58ground ball base hit right side and
00:22:02Korea keeps the line moving
00:22:07second hit of the inning for the
00:22:09Astros
00:22:15yesterday the Astros they were shut
00:22:17out and for them today just taking
00:22:20a little bit more quality at bat so
00:22:22far it's early in the game but I
00:22:24love when a hitter especially
00:22:26against a guy that you're familiar
00:22:27with it Kikuchi's grass great
00:22:29numbers off of them but he wasn't
00:22:31trying to pull the ball in the air
00:22:33he's gonna shoot it opposite field
00:22:40now pitch upstairs and inside to
00:22:43Cam Smith got some love and a rookie
00:22:49of the year voting last year Smith
00:22:58pops this into foul ground that'll
00:23:00reach the seats Smith was of
00:23:03course the key return of the Kyle
00:23:05Tucker trade with the Cubs and
00:23:08he's emerged as one of the top
00:23:10run prevention outfielders in
00:23:12baseball the last year I mean he
00:23:14just ran into the first year wall
00:23:17I mean this guy was a year removed
00:23:19from college
00:23:30definitely looks bigger stronger this
00:23:32offseason I know he was trying to
00:23:35figure that part out about making
00:23:37sure his physical conditioning was
00:23:38better because the season's so
00:23:40much longer
00:23:45Gucci behind another hitter as the
00:23:48count levels of two and two
00:23:54twenty seven pitches in this
00:23:56first inning for you say Kikuchi
00:24:00last year's opening day starter for
00:24:03the Angels we've had nine different
00:24:07ones in a ten year span foul ball
00:24:12here Jose Soriano yesterday was
00:24:15brilliant struck out seven
00:24:17Astros one through four hitters
00:24:19went over thirteen Soriano he said
00:24:23in spring training that he wants to be a
00:24:25Cy Young candidate and I think with
00:24:27his stuff I mean there's there's no
00:24:29question he has a chance of being a
00:24:32conversation
00:24:37and that bad here for Cam Smith
00:24:4530 pitches in the first setting is a
00:24:47lot and we've seen this with Kikuchi
00:24:49he was a teammate of mine when I
00:24:51played in the MPB in Japan with the
00:24:54Sabu Lions he's once he establishes his pitches he could start ripping through the strike zone but he's always had
00:25:00the walk in his game
00:25:09and he's able to get Smith the top rail fastball for those of you watching on X switch over to
00:25:15Apple TV for more action the Angels and the Astros tied at one
00:25:19on X 가자
00:25:48with the ball Mazum
00:28:52Well he's always had a good fastball that carries through the zone they slight adjustment to his release point and
00:29:00once he did that the ball started firing out of his hand this happened in Pittsburgh and the changeup has
00:29:06always been there for him.
00:29:13There's Joe Adele career highs in homers and runs batted in last year both top ten of the American League.
00:29:26And it wasn't just that he set career highs he smashed them previous career high and homers was 20 finished
00:29:32with 37 previous career high and runs badly in 62.
00:29:35He had 98 a player that has been the center of attention for Angels fans and wondering OK when's this
00:29:47next wave of young guys going to come through for them.
00:29:50And Adele seems to have finally found it he made his debut in 2020 and for a young player when
00:29:57you make your debut you want to have success early on and he didn't have it.
00:30:06But for me when I start thinking about a player coming into his own you know average exit velocity going
00:30:11up the hard hit percentages going up he's starting to figure out the strike zone he's starting to understand how
00:30:17pitchers are pitching to him.
00:30:18And then last year he had a great mentor Taylor Ward Ward is now with Baltimore.
00:30:24But Ward and Joe Adele were always together and he had that mentorship which I think had a lot to
00:30:31do with the success he had this last year.
00:30:38Two balls and two strikes from Burroughs.
00:30:41With Moncada at first and Adele with a flare to right dying fast Smith charging and it drops.
00:30:50Moncada only able to get to second not knowing if Christian Walker or Jose Altuve could come out to maybe
00:30:57make a play on that ball but for the Angels first and second nobody out threatening again.
00:31:04Well the Angels yesterday they had a lot of infield singles and today he had Mike Trout with a jam
00:31:09shot that landed in front of center field Bryce Matthews this time little check swing.
00:31:15You're living right if you're Joe Adele.
00:31:21You're living right if you're Joe Adele.
00:31:22Now Josh Lowe with a fly ball on the left and Alvarez will turn and watch it leave the yard.
00:31:30Josh Lowe cranks a three run homer to left.
00:31:34He says hello to the Crawford boxes and he has his first homer as an angel for one Los Angeles.
00:31:44That's an unbelievable swing for Josh Lowe.
00:31:47We know he has a bit of a heavy heart his mom passed away a couple weeks ago and we
00:31:51know that first one that you get you think about your parent.
00:31:55And I can only imagine what that feels like for him right now.
00:31:58He's giving love to friends and family that are here.
00:32:00You can see it's a little bit stoic just because he knows there's something more to this homerun for him.
00:32:05But first angels home run and a three run shot.
00:32:14He knew it right off the bat.
00:32:17Ninety five miles an hour clips right to the right spot.
00:32:19You want to hit to left field if you are left here into the Crawford boxes.
00:32:26He's another guy that's looking for a bounce back off of injury trouble.
00:32:34He had 20 homers stole 32 bases his best season with the Tampa Bay Rays.
00:32:38But just 21 combined home runs the last two seasons sidelined for long stretches with different oblique injuries.
00:32:48Logan Ohapi strikes out here for the first out of the second.
00:32:53But you start to ask all these questions Spilly as we talked about to begin the day.
00:32:58And among them for the Angels if they could get some of their guys to have bounce back seasons up
00:33:05and down the lineup.
00:33:06All right this team is going to be competitive.
00:33:11Oswald Peraza here takes a strike at ninety five.
00:33:14He did point out this this American League West feels open.
00:33:17We know how good Seattle is.
00:33:19They got all the way to American League Championship and they feel like they're on a path to the World
00:33:24Series.
00:33:26Oswald Peraza with a line drive right at Bryce Matthews who makes the catch.
00:33:30Trisha.
00:33:31Guys you just could not be happier for a guy like Josh Lowe to see that ball leave the yard
00:33:37because you have to assume he had a certain someone on his mind.
00:33:40Josh lost his mother Wendy Lowe of brain cancer this offseason and I spoke with Josh before the game and
00:33:46he said I know she's in a better place.
00:33:48But every time I take the field I think of her I take a moment and I think of her
00:33:53and it does hit you pretty heavy.
00:33:55So you know guys that when he saw his first home run in an Angels uniform after being traded over
00:34:00here from the Rays you know that he had to be thinking of his mom Wendy guys.
00:34:05No doubt.
00:34:06No doubt.
00:34:07No doubt.
00:34:07And we've gotten to know.
00:34:08Both brothers.
00:34:09Over the last.
00:34:11Several years.
00:34:13What a stand up guy.
00:34:16It's going to be a good teammate.
00:34:18You have to figure.
00:34:20A good fit in this Angels clubhouse as the lineup turns over here to Neto.
00:34:24No doubt.
00:34:29Human side of baseball.
00:34:31I mean that's.
00:34:32That's the stuff that gives you goosebumps.
00:34:49Balls in a strike to Neto doubled.
00:34:51The lead off the game.
00:35:01Now Mike Burroughs.
00:35:03Up to thirty five pitches.
00:35:11To two.
00:35:13Going away.
00:35:30Bases empty in a four one lead for the Halos.
00:35:33Payoff pitch swung on and missed strike three.
00:35:36Two K's in the inning for Burroughs but a three run homer from Josh Lowe.
00:35:57All right.
00:35:58See you later.
00:36:02You would not see the people in the afternoon.
00:36:02Go on.
00:36:02That's right.
00:36:03I'm not sure.
00:36:11I'm not right.
00:36:12I'm not sure.
00:36:12Yeah, I'm not sure.
00:36:12But there's a lot of people in the room.
00:36:13You know, you may not see anything.
00:36:52with just the 12.3.
00:36:54Now, right, he is not going to be clear.
00:36:57Game 60, three minutes this season,
00:36:59losing my 18, 347, which runs third,
00:37:02and the catcher's goal.
00:37:05And the two guys are losing on the net,
00:37:07and the 11 of the 60 people,
00:37:09with a stretch line by 23,
00:37:11and running 400 and 135.
00:37:14And the lower, now, 33.
00:37:16High on this ball, there,
00:37:18and they can be in control,
00:38:07It's still March and they need the roof closed and the air conditioning.
00:38:11It was a muggy one today.
00:38:13I chopped a third.
00:38:14Nice stop by Moncada on his backhand across the diamond.
00:38:17In time to retire Christian Walker.
00:38:22Johan Moncada flashing the leather.
00:38:24Yeah, this is a really nice play just because it's an in-between hop backhand.
00:38:28That's where you really have to have soft hands.
00:38:31Usually when you think about the hot corner, you think about the hot shots
00:38:34that you're blocking like a goalie, but this one, I mean, that's like a shortstop.
00:38:41Beautiful play.
00:38:48Moncada, who hasn't played a full major league season.
00:38:51It's called the ball since 2021.
00:38:55Challenge here.
00:38:57You better get this right.
00:39:00Angels challenge.
00:39:01It's called overturned.
00:39:03Two pages remaining.
00:39:08A.B.S. system being put to the test here.
00:39:15It's going to be one of the more fascinating aspects of this season
00:39:17is to see how teams use it.
00:39:20Bouncing ball up the middle.
00:39:21Neto to his left.
00:39:23What a play!
00:39:26Back-to-back defensive gems from the Angels.
00:39:30And there are two gone.
00:39:31This is an unbelievable play from Neto up the middle.
00:39:36Check this out with his glove.
00:39:39Look how bright and shiny it is.
00:39:40Spins and throws.
00:39:41By the way, he went to Perry Manassian, the general manager of the Angels,
00:39:45and he asked, hey, I want to use this very colorful glove.
00:39:49Is it all right?
00:39:50And he said, of course.
00:39:50As long as you feel everything, Zach does.
00:39:53Of course I feel everything.
00:39:55Wow.
00:39:57Yeah, he's got that Neapolitan, almost rainbow sherbet glove,
00:40:02and it is a vacuum.
00:40:12High strike to Bryce Matthews.
00:40:23First career major league start in the outfield,
00:40:27and only the ninth of his professional career.
00:40:31And he's already had to be active out there.
00:40:38Did not play yesterday.
00:40:47Matthews was the final position player selected by the Astros out of spring training.
00:40:55And the first draft selection of Dana Brown
00:41:00in his tenure as general manager.
00:41:04No.
00:41:06And what's amazing, too, is he was part of the Astros youth program.
00:41:10He moved from North Carolina to Houston,
00:41:12and as a nine-year-old, he started in the program,
00:41:15and he played through it through his high school years.
00:41:18And he's the first Astros youth program player
00:41:21to make it to the big leagues.
00:41:22And he laces this one to left.
00:41:24It's going to bounce in front of Lowe and skip behind him.
00:41:28Trout backing him up, throws into second.
00:41:31But Matthews is there easily.
00:41:33He has a lot of speed on the base pass.
00:41:36And a two-out knock for Bryce Matthews to turn the lineup over.
00:41:40Yeah, not bad for a product of your own youth program,
00:41:44and I love it, two-strike approach, gets a pitch, gets inside,
00:41:48so it falls right in front of Josh Lowe,
00:41:50and you see that in-between hop, eats him up.
00:41:53And then Matthews, good baseball IQ.
00:41:56Keep your eyes up.
00:41:57You don't start celebrating your single until the game.
00:41:59The play is over.
00:42:01That 90 extra feet.
00:42:09We'll keep the inning going for Pena.
00:42:21He had a nice debut already.
00:42:23Helped turn a double play.
00:42:26Singled and scored in the first.
00:42:27He's tied up.
00:42:29On a cutter inside here.
00:42:46Pena, bouncing ball up the middle.
00:42:49It'll be flagged down by Peraza, but he has no play.
00:42:53An infield single for Pena,
00:42:56and back-to-back two-out hits for the Astros.
00:42:58I'll tell you what, good to see Jeremy Pena back in the lineup.
00:43:01Two knocks for him already,
00:43:02but this play from the Angels flashing leather in the infield already,
00:43:07Peraza saves a run.
00:43:10That should be a run.
00:43:12That should be in center field,
00:43:13and we're looking at a 4-2 baseball game,
00:43:15but instead, Peraza keeps it in play.
00:43:29Here's Jordan Alvarez with a chance to tie the game.
00:43:360 for 3 with a walk yesterday.
00:43:40This is blocked by O'Hoppy.
00:43:46There's Bryce Matthews.
00:43:47He's thinking this ball's going into the center field,
00:43:49and they have to throw on the late stop sign from Tony Perez-Chica.
00:44:02This is laced to right, knocked down by Peraza,
00:44:05who got back up and fired in time for the outs.
00:44:11The Angels flashing the leather in the infield.
00:44:30And the motrices are off for the field.
00:44:33I hope we made it easy for you.
00:46:29In Houston.
00:46:30Big opportunity for the Astros to respond in the bottom half of the second but the Angels defense suffocating.
00:46:39It'll be two three and four for the Halos here in the third trout shall well Soler.
00:46:47And it's strike one to trout.
00:46:52Now all those plays defensively that's a momentum shifter for the Angels.
00:47:00And it's always funny when you talk about momentum because it's so fickle.
00:47:03You know run score for for the Astros you feel like you get a shutdown and come right back.
00:47:08But when you throw defense like that it's.
00:47:11No.
00:47:12It's energizing to a ballclub because.
00:47:15You know flashing the leather in defensive plays a team.
00:47:18You know when you hit your you're on your own.
00:47:25You know.
00:47:27You know.
00:47:31You know one to trout.
00:47:54You know one to trout.
00:48:01Help keep him on the field a little more to.
00:48:05Payoff pitch on one hop in the left.
00:48:09And trout has his second hit.
00:48:11Of the night.
00:48:13During the commercial break.
00:48:14Trisha caught up with Joe Espada.
00:48:16Our manager interview is presented by Sage.
00:48:20All right.
00:48:20We've got to talk about Jeremy Pena.
00:48:22His impact being felt immediately.
00:48:24What are you seeing from him that's encouraging you.
00:48:26You can just feel the energy right.
00:48:28He's back in there.
00:48:28Two hits already.
00:48:30It's just a sparse plug for our for our offense.
00:48:32And we you know we missed him.
00:48:34But we excited to have him back.
00:48:35What makes him that spark plug.
00:48:36We see it from the outside.
00:48:37But from your vantage point what is it.
00:48:39He brings it every day.
00:48:39He just plays the game hard.
00:48:41He plays the game the right way.
00:48:42And it's contagious throughout our team.
00:48:44Contagious.
00:48:44We love it.
00:48:44Thank you so much.
00:48:45Yeah.
00:48:46Guys back to you.
00:48:46All right.
00:48:47Trisha.
00:48:56It is a little bit of an older Astros team.
00:48:59Should be noted.
00:49:00And Joe Espada was very upfront with us about that as well.
00:49:05In talking about how he's having to manage.
00:49:07A little bit differently this year.
00:49:20The thing that stood out when he was talking about managing.
00:49:23The position players usually.
00:49:25Players want to know the night before.
00:49:27What the lineup is.
00:49:28Just so you can prepare.
00:49:29Go to sleep.
00:49:30You know if you're in that lineup the next day.
00:49:31It helps not being surprised when he come to the field.
00:49:35But he's managing it three days out.
00:49:39In the left center.
00:49:41And down for a base hit for Sean Ouell.
00:49:46Trout stops at second.
00:49:50And the Angels racking up the hits.
00:49:53Probably not the debut you want if you're Mike Burroughs.
00:49:56You want to show off your skill set.
00:49:58Because I'm telling you.
00:49:59Astros fans are going to love him.
00:50:02But Nolan inside out swing.
00:50:06Every inning the Angels have had the lead off guy on.
00:50:09And they've.
00:50:10They've just continued to put more pressure.
00:50:12On Mike Burroughs.
00:50:18Bring up Solaire.
00:50:32Six hits.
00:50:34For the Angels.
00:50:37And again they have two on.
00:50:39And nobody out.
00:50:40To begin an inning and Solaire with a fly ball.
00:50:43To left field.
00:50:44This will stay in the yard.
00:50:45For Alvarez.
00:50:46Trout back to second attack.
00:50:47And he blocks.
00:50:49The ball in front of him.
00:51:03Here's Moncada.
00:51:10Last year for Yon Moncada.
00:51:13The second highest OPS of his career.
00:51:17But he again battled through multiple injury sticks.
00:51:24Back with the Angels once again.
00:51:27He was one of seven players to start at third base for the Angels last season.
00:51:32Which of course has been a black hole.
00:51:33Oh yeah.
00:51:34Given the Anthony Rendon situation.
00:51:36But.
00:51:37They finally have a resolution to that.
00:51:40As they restructured his contract.
00:51:43He will no.
00:51:44Longer.
00:51:44Play with the Angels.
00:51:46Yeah.
00:51:46I mean no.
00:51:46No team in baseballs had more third baseman.
00:51:48During that time frame from.
00:51:502020 to now.
00:51:52Than the Angels.
00:51:54And that was with Rendon with a huge contract.
00:51:58The other one that stands out with the Angels is second base.
00:52:01They have.
00:52:02They haven't had an opening day second baseman have back to back.
00:52:05Opening day starts since Tommy La Stella.
00:52:08So.
00:52:11There's two positions that they're trying to figure out.
00:52:13Third and second.
00:52:19Moncada.
00:52:20Towards the gap.
00:52:21And a running catch made by Cam Smith.
00:52:26As he takes an extra base hit away from Moncada.
00:52:32Now you're talking about how good of a defender Cam Smith is in right field.
00:52:36And this is a great example of it.
00:52:37This is a really scary play for a corner outfielder.
00:52:40Just because you're running a long distance.
00:52:42And you're not sure if you're going to run into the center field.
00:52:45We know Bryce Matthews.
00:52:47He's an infielder that's transitioning into center field.
00:52:50So you want.
00:52:51Your corner guys to feel confident that if I'm running after a ball.
00:52:55That center fielder gets out of my way.
00:53:01That center field.
00:53:07Joe Adele now.
00:53:09Singled and scored in the second.
00:53:18And he pops this straight up.
00:53:21That might scrape the roof.
00:53:22And it comes pretty close.
00:53:23Who wants it.
00:53:24All two of a waves everybody off.
00:53:27And makes the catch.
00:53:28And the threat passes.
00:53:29How big might that be for Burroughs in a 4-1 game.
00:53:35We're on a 4-1 game.
00:56:30As Paredes looks in ball one.
00:56:31So he still has a little player in him.
00:56:35This is line to center.
00:56:38Trout barely has to move and Paredes is retired.
00:56:42During the break, Trisha caught up with Kurt Suzuki.
00:56:44Our manager interview is presented by Sage.
00:56:48All right, you guys are cruising right now, but let's talk last night.
00:56:51Your first win as a major league manager.
00:56:53Tell me about it.
00:56:54Yeah, it was exciting.
00:56:55You know, definitely a special moment.
00:56:56Opening day, first game as a manager.
00:56:59It was an exciting time.
00:57:00The boys played well, and it was good.
00:57:03Off to a good start, much thanks to that Josh Lowe three-run home run.
00:57:07You know what he's been through, being traded.
00:57:09He's talked a lot about his mom losing her this offseason.
00:57:13Is that a special moment to see Josh connect?
00:57:15100%.
00:57:16He's been such a pro.
00:57:18He's been such a joy to be around.
00:57:20And, you know, like you say, you know, everything that he's been going through
00:57:22and, you know, comes to the field every day with such a positive vibe, positive energy.
00:57:27We're so excited, and we're so happy for him, and he couldn't have it to a better guy.
00:57:31That's Josh.
00:57:32Thank you so much.
00:57:33All right, thank you.
00:57:33Guys, back to you.
00:57:34Another tough play that Zack Neto makes look easy.
00:57:38Yeah, with the flashy glove, too.
00:57:40I mean, there's going to be a lot of kids rocking the Zack Neto ice cream glove.
00:57:46That thing, I'm telling you, that's a vacuum.
00:57:49And notice how he gets behind the baseball, trying to keep his eyes.
00:57:51Guys, usually you want to try to keep your eyes behind your glove.
00:57:55So in a way that ball caught him.
00:57:58Have we determined whether it's ice cream or sherbet or Spamoni or something?
00:58:04Could be caught in candy.
00:58:06I mean, it's sticky, right?
00:58:10So it might just be caught in candy.
00:58:12I'll buy that.
00:58:18Already using that glove to great effect.
00:58:21Tonight.
00:58:24Here's Correa.
00:58:30Talking about him.
00:58:33Opening our show tonight.
00:58:35Started it short on opening day.
00:58:39Joe Spamoni was incredibly direct with the media when asked about the situation with the Astros infield.
00:58:46He said, oh, it's Pena's position.
00:58:48There's no question about this.
00:58:50But it's nice to have this guy in your back pocket.
00:58:53And going to think about this guy.
00:59:05And if you go back here, you think about when the Astros drafted him first overall.
00:59:10And, you know, you just see him and understand the physical tools.
00:59:16He's turned into such a pro's pro.
00:59:21You've dealt with plantar fasciitis.
00:59:23How hard is it to manage that and try to be a baseball player through that?
00:59:28It's impossible.
00:59:29I mean, the guys that go through it, we saw it with Albert Pujols for years with the Angels.
00:59:34It ruined the numbers.
00:59:39Because one day you might feel good.
00:59:41The next day it's off and you can barely walk.
00:59:47And it's one of those conversations that's so frustrating because with plantar fasciitis,
00:59:53it's not like you have a broken bone.
00:59:56They'll tell you it's a pain threshold.
00:59:58Well, how do you...
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