Justin Verlander, struggling this season, faces a crucial start against the Cleveland Guardians, aiming for a spot on the Houston Astros postseason roster. With a disappointing September performance, he seeks redemption in what could be his final game.

The Guardians, led by Ben Lively, also have playoff implications riding on this matchup. Both teams are set for an exciting showdown as they vie for postseason positioning.

The Houston Astros are gearing up for the 2024 postseason, starting a crucial three-game series against the Cleveland Guardians. The Astros will feature Ronel Blanco, who has been exceptional in September, boasting a 0.95 ERA in his last four starts.

Cleveland counters with rookie Joey Cantillo, who has recently found his form with a 1.10 ERA in his last three outings. Both teams are aiming for a strong finish as they prepare for the playoffs.

In a tightly contested game, the Houston Astros triumphed over the San Diego Padres 4-3, but not without controversy surrounding umpiring. Geoff Blum, the Space City Home Network analyst, criticized the officials for their performance, especially Brennan Miller, who ejected Jose Altuve amidst further disputes over calls.

The game featured chaotic moments, including a lengthy rules check and the contentious ruling on Jurickson Profar being hit by a pitch, which both teams contested. Ultimately, the Astros managed to secure the win despite the officiating issues.

In an intense game, Jose Altuve was ejected for removing his cleat and sock to demonstrate a foul ball off his foot. Grae Kessinger replaced him and scored the winning run in the 10th inning for the Houston Astros, contributing with a crucial defensive play to seal a 4-3 victory against the San Diego Padres.

Despite Altuve's protests about the call, manager Joe Espada expressed his frustration with the umpires' decision, labeling it a missed call. The Padres made two comebacks but failed to capitalize and lost ground in the wild-card race.