Astros defeat Guardians 5-2 with strong pitching in Houston

On Friday night, the Houston Astros secured a 5-2 victory over the Cleveland Guardians in a game that showcased both teams as potential postseason contenders. Ronel Blanco delivered an impressive performance, pitching five scoreless innings and allowing only one hit, which contributed to his unbeaten streak in his last nine starts. The Astros' offense was bolstered by rookie Zach Dezenzo, who hit a home run after being recalled from Triple-A earlier that day. The Guardians struggled offensively, managing just one hit through eight innings before scoring two runs in the ninth against Josh Hader. This game was significant as it highlighted the Astros' turnaround after a poor start to the season, going from a 7-19 record in April to an 80-54 record since then. The Astros are now positioned as the third seed in the playoffs, set to host a wild-card series next week. Astros manager Joe Espada praised Blanco's contributions, noting his impressive 0.75 ERA in September. Meanwhile, rookie Spencer Arrighetti faced challenges in his first relief appearance, leading to his ejection after spiking the resin bag on the mound. The Guardians are still in contention for the top seed in the playoffs, chasing the New York Yankees for home-field advantage. In terms of player health, the Astros are monitoring Yordan Alvarez's recovery from a knee sprain, while the Guardians are hopeful for Alex Cobb's return from a finger blister injury. Both teams are gearing up for the postseason, making this matchup a preview of potential playoff battles.