Inside the Astros

Houston Astros Not Intimidated by League Leader Rays

The Houston Astros are about to face their toughest challenge yet in the Tampa Bay Rays. But they are not intimidated by the juggernaut ahead.
Kade Kistner|
Houston Astros Not Intimidated by League Leader Rays
Houston Astros Not Intimidated by League Leader Rays

In this story:

Houston AstrosTampa Bay Rays

The Tampa Bay Rays have received most of the headlines thus far in 2023.

Rightfully so.

The Rays are off to a sizzling 19-3 start, including a 13-0 mark at home.

The Houston Astros open a huge three-game series at Tampa Bay Monday night.

Guess what?

The Astros aren’t intimidated.

They shouldn't be, either. They’re the defending World Series champions, not the Rays.

"They're a very good ballclub. You can obviously see it by their record," Astros third baseman Alex Bregman told reporters after the club swept a three-game series against the Atlanta Braves. "It's going to be two good teams playing against each other. We've got a good stretch of really good teams that we've been playing, starting with Toronto and a really good Braves team. We're looking forward to getting to Tampa and getting it going."

Following a 106-win regular season, the Astros went through a dominant postseason and defeated the Philadelphia Phillies in six games in the World Series.

Houston will hardly be fazed by traveling to Tampa.

"I can't give them the championship yet," Astros manager Dusty Baker said of the Rays.

The Rays have ripped a Major League-leading 48 home runs compared to 22 for the Astros.

The Astros are scheduled to send Jose Urquidy, Luis Garcia and Hunter Brown to the mound against the Rays. Tampa’s scheduled starters are Taj Bradley (2-0, 2.61) and Drew Rasmussen (3-1, 2.01) with Wednesday's starter still to be determined.

Get ready for a tremendous series.

More From SI's Inside The Astros:

  1. Could Mike Trout Request a Trade to the Houston Astros?
  2. Mariners Fans Inexplicably Outraged Following Houston Astros' Social Media Post About Sweep
  3. Report: Former Astros Pitcher Fiers' Contract Terminated By CPBL Club
  4. Six Houston Astros Declared Free Agents
  5. Watch: Yordan Álvarez's Home Run Wins Astros World Series
  6. Lucas Giolito Claims All Teams Were Cheating in 2017
  7. Dusty Baker Makes His Thoughts Known on Bonds and Judge Records
  8. Is it Time to Move on From the Houston Astros Cheating Scandal?
  9. Is There Any Hope for an Aging Yuli Gurriel?
  10. Astros' Álvarez Stopped Striking Out and Became the Best Hitter in Baseball

Make sure to follow Inside the Astros on Twitter @InsideAstrosSI!

Published
Kade Kistner
KADE KISTNER

Kade Kistner is the publisher and beat writer for Sports Illustrated's Inside the Phillies. An alumnus of Tulane University, Kade graduated in 2017 with a degree in Latin American Studies and a minor in Spanish. Upon graduation, Kade commissioned into the United States Navy and attended Naval Flight School in Pensacola, Fl. He served as a Naval Aviator and was stationed in Jacksonville, Fl. During his time in school and the Navy, Kade began covering the MLB and NFL with USA Today, SB Nation, and Sports Illustrated. Kade covered the New Orleans Saints, Texas Rangers, and numerous other teams within the Sports Illustrated network before launching Inside the Phillies, Inside the Astros, and Inside the Cubs. You can follow him on Twitter at @KadeKistner, or if you have any questions or comments he can be reached via email at kwkistner@gmail.com.

Home/News