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NBA Preview: New Orleans Pelicans (26-26) at Dallas Mavericks (27-25)

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The New Orleans Pelicans might be getting tired of playing against elite players on their three-game road trip.

Giannis Antetokounmpo had 50 points and 15 rebounds Sunday as the Pelicans began their trip with a 135-110 loss at Milwaukee. Then Nikola Jokic had 26 points, 18 rebounds and 15 assists to lead the Denver Nuggets to a 122-113 victory Tuesday for New Orleans’ ninth consecutive defeat.

Now the Pelicans will take a crack at slowing down Luka Doncic, who scored 53 points against the Detroit Pistons on Monday in his most recent game, when they visit the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday.

Doncic scored 14 points in the first quarter Jan. 7 as the Mavericks raced to a 19-point lead against the Pelicans. Doncic finished with 34 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists as Dallas won 127-117.

That was New Orleans’ fourth loss in five games, but that stretch is nothing compared to what the team is going through now.

New Orleans hoped the return of forward Brandon Ingram from a 29-game absence due to a bruised toe would be a boost. But he didn’t shoot as well as 40 percent from the floor in the three games he has played.

Ingram had 16 points against the Nuggets, making just five of 17 shots, but he did contribute nine assists.

The Mavericks haven’t struggled as much as the Pelicans have, but they’re just 4-8 since the last meeting between the two teams.

Dallas finally shook off the lowly Pistons on Monday for a 111-105 victory as Doncic had his fourth 50-point game of the season.

He made 17 of 24 field-goal attempts, 5 of 11 3-pointers and 14 of 18 free throws in his return from a one-game absence due to an ankle injury.

Doncic had 45 points through three quarters, but the Mavericks trailed much of the game and faced a one-point deficit entering the fourth quarter. Doncic got some help as Spencer Dinwiddie scored 10 points during the first seven minutes of the fourth quarter and Dallas surged in front.

NBA Preview: Charlotte Hornets (15-37) at Chicago Bulls (23-27)

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It’s a good time for the Charlotte Hornets and Chicago Bulls to meet because one of them will come away with a victory when they clash Thursday in Chicago.

Both teams had solid stretches in January, but they’re still struggling.

Charlotte had two sets of two-game winning streaks in the latter half of January. The last of those ended with Tuesday’s 124-115 road loss against the Milwaukee Bucks.

Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball set the franchise record for career triple-doubles by posting his eighth on the strength of 27 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists.

The Hornets topped the Bulls 111-96 on Jan. 26 at home behind Terry Rozier’s 28 points. Chicago was 4 of 25 on triples in that game.

After matching their best three-game stretch of the season with three wins in a row in mid-January, the Bulls have dropped three of their last four games. That includes Tuesday’s 108-103 setback to the Los Angeles Clippers that opened a four-game homestand.

The Bulls committed untimely turnovers and totaled 20 in the game.

The Bulls won seven times in January, nearly a third of their 23 total wins. With seven of 12 February games at home, Chicago has reached a critical part of its schedule.

Chicago beat Charlotte at home 106-88 on Nov. 2.

There could be a good battle on the boards between the teams. Charlotte’s Mason Plumlee averaged 11.3 rebounds per game in January. Chicago’s Nikola Vucevic has double-digit rebounding totals in 13 of the Bulls’ last 15 games, and he averaged 13.1 rebounds per game last month. He had only nine boards against the Hornets last week.

Vucevic led the Bulls in scoring for just the fourth time with 23 points against the Clippers.

Clifford said the Hornets didn’t make good decisions in the lane in the loss to Milwaukee. That accounted for the Bucks blocking eight shots and Charlotte going 20 of 38 inside.

The Hornets are just 8-21 in road games, although those eight wins account for more than half of their 15 total victories. The Bulls are 13-11 in home games.

NBA Preview: Miami Heat (29-23) at New York Knicks (27-25)

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The Miami Heat look to continue their recent good fortune and add to the Knicks’ woes Thursday when the Eastern Conference foes meet in New York, their first meeting of the season.

The Heat have won four of their last five games to move into sixth place in the conference, the final guaranteed playoff spot.

In turn, the seventh-place Knicks have lost two in a row and six of their last eight to give the New York tabloids plenty of negative headlines.

Jimmy Butler scored 23 points to fuel Miami in a 100-97 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday.

Butler did most of his damage at the foul line, sinking 10 of 15 free-throw attempts to offset a 6-for-16 performance from the floor. His off-night from the field came on the heels of a three-game stretch in which he made 26 of 38 attempts.

Bam Adebayo collected 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Heat on Tuesday and Caleb Martin added 18 points and 10 rebounds.

The Heat turned up the temperature on defense against the Cavs. They limited Cleveland to just 27.5 percent shooting from 3-point range (11 of 40), with star Donovan Mitchell making just 3 of his 13 attempts.

Herro scored 25 points and Butler added 23 to pace the Heat to a 115-110 victory over the Knicks in their lone meeting in New York last season. RJ Barrett drained six 3-pointers and finished with a career-high 46 points in that game for the Knicks.

Barrett failed to convert from beyond the arc in New York’s last contest, however. He went 0-for-3 from 3-point range and 5-for-13 overall from the floor in a 129-123 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday.

The Knicks shot 7-for-34 from beyond the arc as a team against the Lakers. They didn’t make a 3-pointer in either the fourth quarter or overtime and saw their season-long percentage from beyond the arc drop to 34.2, which was 25th in the NBA entering Wednesday’s play.

That’s true. New York has allowed an average of 121.8 points over its last eight games.

By comparison, it yielded 103.6 points per game over its previous eight contests. The Knicks posted a 7-1 record in that stretch.

NBA Preview: Memphis Grizzlies (32-19) at Cleveland Cavaliers (31-22)

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Cavaliers hope to get back on track at home when Grizzlies visit

The Cleveland Cavaliers look to bounce back from a rare home loss when they host the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday.

Cleveland fell to 21-6 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse with Tuesday’s 100-97 loss to the Miami Heat. Evan Mobley led the Cavaliers with 19 points, Donovan Mitchell had 16, and Jarrett Allen added 14 points and 11 rebounds.

The loss was a frustrating one for the Cavaliers, whose inconsistent play remains a concern. The team finished January with an 8-8 record for the month.

Mitchell is averaging 27.6 points while shooting 39.1 percent from 3-point range to lead the Cavaliers, who are allowing a league-low 106.8 points per game.

Cleveland is eager to avenge a 115-114 loss in Memphis on Jan. 18, when Grizzlies center Steven Adams tipped in the game-winner with 16 seconds left.

Memphis is playing the second game of a home-road back-to-back after losing to the Portland Trail Blazers 122-112 on Wednesday.

Ja Morant had 32 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds for Memphis, which has lost six of its last seven. The Grizzlies struggled to contain Portland star Damian Lillard (42 points) on Wednesday.

Lillard outdueled Morant, who came within one rebound of recording his third straight triple-double.

The game marked the season debut of Memphis wing Danny Green, who has been out while recovering from left knee surgery. The 14-year veteran had three points in 10 minutes against the Trail Blazers.

Memphis guard Desmond Bane returned after missing two games due to right knee soreness and scored 17 points.

With Adams (right knee) out for the next 3-5 weeks, the Grizzlies are giving third-year pro Xavier Tillman Sr. additional playing time. The 6-foot-8 forward is averaging 10.5 rebounds in his last two games.

Memphis could use another productive outing from Tillman against Cleveland’s formidable frontline, which includes Mobley and Allen.

Mobley is averaging 19.6 points and 9.4 rebounds over his last eight games for the Cavaliers, who are 31-22 but have not won two straight games since early January.

NBA Preview: Los Angeles Lakers (24-28) at Indiana Pacers (24-28)

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The Los Angeles Lakers continue a five-game Eastern Conference road trip Thursday when they visit Indianapolis and the sputtering Indiana Pacers.

Indiana dropped its third straight and 10th in the last 11 games when it lost 112-100 in Memphis on Sunday. On the bright side for the Pacers, Bennedict Mathurin scored 27 points for his fifth consecutive game with at least 21 points, and he has posted at least 19 points in all six games since resuming coming off the bench.

Mathurin started four games through mid-January, during which he averaged 14.3 points per game — 3.6 points fewer than his overall season average.

While the 6-foot-5 first-round draft pick from Arizona has regained his scoring spark, the Pacers continue to seek answers for the absence of Tyrese Haliburton from the lineup.

Haliburton — Indiana’s leading scorer at 20.2 points per game and the NBA leader in assists at 10.2 per game — has been sidelined with elbow and knee injuries for 10 games. T.J. McConnell moved into Haliburton’s vacated starting point guard position Jan. 21 against Phoenix and has averaged more than nine assists per game in his five starts, including an 18-point, 12-assist, 10-rebound triple-double against the Suns.

However, McConnell went scoreless on 0-of-5 shooting in Sunday’s loss to Memphis.

Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said Tuesday that Haliburton was a full participant in practice.

Theis, acquired from Boston in the offseason, has yet to play for the Pacers because of a knee injury.

Los Angeles comes into Thursday’s contest, the fourth in its five-game swing through the East, off a 129-123 overtime win at New York on Tuesday. It was the Lakers’ first victory on the trip. LeBron James posted a 28-point, 11-assist, 10-rebound triple-double in the win and Anthony Davis scored 27 points.

Tuesday also marked a big night for newly acquired Rui Hachimura, playing his fourth game as a Laker since being traded from Washington last week. Hachimura scored 19 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the floor, grabbed nine rebounds and blocked a shot that proved pivotal in overtime.

Hachimura has scored in double figures in three of his four games with Los Angeles, with Tuesday marking both his scoring and rebounding highs since the move. He posted 30 points in his final game with the Wizards on Jan. 21.

Los Angeles can use the addition of another forward alongside Davis to improve its interior defense and rebounding. The Lakers are -0.7 in rebounding margin for the season despite boasting one of the highest rebounds-per-game averages in the league at 45.

Opponents are shooting 44.3% from the field against the Lakers per game, second-most in the NBA.

Boxing Preview: Erik Bazinyan (28-0-0, 21KO’s) vs Alantez Fox (28-3-1, 13 KO’s)

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Undefeated super middleweight contender Erik Bazinyan, ranked in the top 10 by all four major sanctioning organizations, returns in a 10-round main event this Thursday, Feb. 2, against American veteran Alantez Fox at Casino de Montréal in Montreal, Canada.

Bazinyan, a 10-year-pro, hopes a victory over the 6-foot-4 Fox moves him closer to a world title opportunity.

Bazinyan-Fox and undercard bouts will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+ starting at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT.

Bazinyan (28-0, 21 KOs) has spent his entire pro career in Canada after moving from Armenia at 16. Promoted by Camille Estephan’s Eye of the Tiger, Bazinyan returns to action following last June’s unanimous decision over former world title challenger Marcelo Esteban Coceres. Bazinyan rose the ranks by defeating a host of seasoned veterans, including Alan Campa, Saul Roman and Scott Sigmon. Fox (28-3-1, 13 KOs) has more experience fighting world-level talent, as he is coming off a fourth-round TKO defeat in December 2021 to David Morrell for a secondary world title. Before the Morrell loss, he had a three-bout unbeaten streak.

In other streaming action from Montreal:

In a battle of slick boxing versus unrelenting pressure, Yves Ulysse Jr. (22-2, 12 KOs) steps up against Mexico’s Gabriel Gollaz Valenzuela (25-3-1, 15 KOs). Ulysse, from Montreal, has won four bouts since a close loss to Ismael Barroso. Valenzuela impressed last May on the Canelo Alvarez-Dmitry Bivol undercard, trading knockdowns with then-unbeaten contender Montana Love before dropping a razor-thin decision.

Canadian middleweight prospect Alexandre Gaumont (6-0, 4 KOs) aims to extend his knockout streak to three against Carlos Gallego Montijo (8-4, 6 KOs).

Raphael Courchesne (9-1, 4 KOs) returns from a nearly 19-month layoff to fight Diego Garduno Reyes (10-1-1, 4 KOs) in a six-round welterweight tilt.

Welterweight prospect Christopher Guerrero (5-0, 1 KOs) makes his 2023 debut in a six-rounder against fellow unbeaten Edwin Villarreal Flores (3-0-1, 3 KOs).

In a six-round junior lightweight bout, Avery Martin Duval (8-0-1, 4 KOs) looks to extend his winning streak to five against Eduardo Mota Garcia (7-1-1, 2 KOs), who has defeated two undefeated prospects in his last three outings.

NFL: Rosters Finalized For 2023 Pro Bowl Games Presented By Verizon

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PRO BOWL GAMES SELECTION SHOW FOR FLAG & SKILLS EVENTS

ON NFL NETWORK TONIGHT AT 8:00 PM ET 

The NFL today announced the final AFC and NFC rosters for the 2023 Pro Bowl Games presented by Verizon. Players from each conference will compete in a series of exciting Pro Bowl Skills competitions throughout the week and the first-ever AFC vs. NFC Flag Football Games on Sunday, February 5, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

Find out who will participate in each of the skills competitions at the 2023 Pro Bowl Games presented by Verizon tonight (Wednesday, February 1) at 8:00 PM ET on NFL Network. Kyle Brandt hosts the Pro Bowl Games Selection Show along with Peyton Manning (AFC head coach) and Eli Manning (NFC head coach), revealing which Pro Bowl players will compete in each of the eight skills competitions. In addition, Snoop Dogg (AFC captain) will join the 30-minute show.

The 2023 Pro Bowl Games will begin with both new and fan-favorite skills live on ESPN from 7:00-8:30 PM ET on Thursday, February 2, and continue on Sunday with skills and Flag games from 3:00-6:00 PM ET on ESPN and ABC. Visit probowl.com/tickets to buy tickets and watch the NFL’s best players in person.

Roster selections were determined by the consensus votes of fans, players and coaches. Each group’s vote counts one-third toward determining the 88 All-Star players. The NFL is the only sports league that combines voting by fans, coaches and players to determine its All-Stars. It was also the first professional sports league to offer online All-Star voting in 1995.

There are 24 players competing in the 2023 Pro Bowl Games who were not named to the initial roster, 15 of which are from the two teams participating in Super Bowl LVII, the KANSAS CITY CHIEFS and PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (nine non-Super Bowl replacements). Compared to the 2022 Pro Bowl, this represents half the number of non-Super Bowl replacement players (18 in 2022). The 24 replacement players this year marks the fewest number of replacement players since the NFL returned to the AFC vs. NFC format in the 2017 Pro Bowl.

The players appearing in Super Bowl LVII are tackle ORLANDO BROWN, center CREED HUMPHREY, interior lineman CHRIS JONES, tight end TRAVIS KELCE, quarterback PATRICK MAHOMES, guard JOE THUNEY and punter TOMMY TOWNSEND of the Chiefs and wide receiver A.J. BROWN, guard LANDON DICKERSON, quarterback JALEN HURTS, tackle LANE JOHNSON, center JASON KELCE, outside linebacker HAASON REDDICK, running back MILES SANDERS and cornerback DARIUS SLAY of the Eagles.

2023 PRO BOWL GAMES PLAYERS BY CLUB

PLAYERPOSITIONPRO BOWLS 
    
ARIZONA (1)   
Budda BakerStrong Safety5 
   
ATLANTA (1)   
Chris LindstromGuard1 
 
BALTIMORE (6)   
Mark AndrewsTight End3 
Marlon HumphreyCornerback3 
Tyler HuntleyQuarterback1 
Patrick RicardFullback4 
Roquan SmithInside/Middle Linebacker1 
Justin TuckerPlacekicker6 
    
BUFFALO (7)   
Dion DawkinsTackle2 
Stefon DiggsWide Receiver3 
Dawson KnoxTight End1 
Matt MilanoOutside Linebacker1 
Mitch MorseCenter1 
Jordan PoyerStrong Safety1 
Rodger SaffoldGuard2 
    
CAROLINA (1)   
Brian BurnsDefensive End2 
    
CINCINNATI (2)   
Ja’Marr ChaseWide Receiver2 
Trey HendricksonDefensive End2 
    
CLEVELAND (4)   
Joel BitonioGuard5 
Nick ChubbRunning Back4 
Myles GarrettDefensive End4 
Wyatt TellerGuard2 
   
DALLAS (7)   
Tyler BiadaszCenter1 
Trevon DiggsCornerback2 
CeeDee LambWide Receiver2 
Demarcus LawrenceDefensive End3 
Zack MartinGuard8 
Micah ParsonsOutside Linebacker2 
KaVontae TurpinReturn Specialist1 
   
DENVER (1)   
Pat Surtain IICornerback1 
    
DETROIT (4)   
Jared GoffQuarterback3 
Frank RagnowCenter2 
Penei SewellTackle1 
Amon-Ra St. BrownWide Receiver1 
   
GREEN BAY (2)   
Jaire AlexanderCornerback2 
Elgton JenkinsGuard2 
    
HOUSTON (1)   
Laremy TunsilTackle3 
    
JACKSONVILLE (2)   
Jamal AgnewReturn Specialist1 
Trevor LawrenceQuarterback1 
    
LAS VEGAS (5)   
Davante AdamsWide Receiver6 
Derek CarrQuarterback4 
AJ ColePunter2 
Maxx CrosbyDefensive End2 
Josh JacobsRunning Back2 
    
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (1)   
Derwin JamesStrong Safety3 
    
LOS ANGELES RAMS (1)   
Jalen RamseyCornerback6 
    
MIAMI (4)   
Terron ArmsteadTackle4 
Bradley ChubbOutside Linebacker2 
Tyreek HillWide Receiver7 
Xavien HowardCornerback4 
    
MINNESOTA (7)   
Dalvin CookRunning Back4 
Kirk CousinsQuarterback4 
Andrew DePaolaLong Snapper1 
T.J. HockensonTight End2 
Danielle HunterOutside Linebacker3 
Justin JeffersonWide Receiver3 
Za’Darius SmithOutside Linebacker3 
    
NEW ENGLAND (1)   
Matthew JudonOutside Linebacker4 
   
NEW ORLEANS (2)   
Demario DavisInside/Middle Linebacker1 
Cameron JordanDefensive End8 
    
NEW YORK GIANTS (2)   
Saquon BarkleyRunning Back2 
Dexter LawrenceInterior Lineman1 
   
NEW YORK JETS (4)   
Sauce GardnerCornerback1 
Justin HardeeSpecial Teamer1 
C.J. MosleyInside/Middle Linebacker5 
Quinnen WilliamsInterior Lineman1 
    
PITTSBURGH (2)   
Minkah FitzpatrickFree Safety3 
Cameron HeywardInterior Lineman6 
    
SAN FRANCISCO (6)   
Talanoa HufangaStrong Safety1 
Kyle JuszczykFullback7 
George KittleTight End4 
Christian McCaffreyRunning Back2 
Fred WarnerInside/Middle Linebacker2 
Trent WilliamsTackle10 
   
SEATTLE (4)   
Quandre DiggsFree Safety3 
Jason MyersKicker2 
Geno SmithQuarterback1 
Tariq WoolenCornerback1 
    
TAMPA BAY (1)   
Tristan WirfsTackle2 
    
TENNESSEE (4)   
Morgan CoxLong Snapper5 
Derrick HenryRunning Back3 
Ben JonesCenter1 
Jeffery SimmonsInterior Lineman2 
   
WASHINGTON (5)   
Jonathan AllenInterior Lineman2 
Terry McLaurinWide Receiver1 
Daron PayneInterior Lineman1 
Jeremy ReavesSpecial Teamer1 
Tress WayPunter2

NFL: Super Bowl Bye Week Injury Report — Wednesday

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KANSAS CITY CHIEFS vs. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
 The Chiefs did not practice Wednesday. The Wednesday practice report is an estimation.
Practice Report
    DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
 WednesdayWR Mecole Hardman (pelvis), WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (knee), CB L’Jarius Sneed (concussion), WR Kadarius Toney (ankle, hamstring)
 
    LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
 WednesdayLB Willie Gay (shoulder), G Trey Smith (ankle)
 
    FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
 WednesdayQB Patrick Mahomes (ankle), RB Jerick McKinnon (ankle, ankle), RB Isiah Pacheco (wrist), WR Justin Watson (illness)
 
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
 The Eagles did not practice Wednesday. The Wednesday practice report is an estimation.
Practice Report
    DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
 WednesdayG Landon Dickerson (elbow, not injury related – resting player), T Lane Johnson (groin, not injury related – resting player), C Cam Jurgens (hip, not injury related – resting player), CB Avonte Maddox (toe, not injury related – resting player), DE Robert Quinn (foot, not injury related – resting player)

Nia Coffey and AD Re-Sign with Atlanta

Two foundational players re-commit to the Dream in the first day of WNBA Free Agency

ATLANTA, Ga. – The WNBA’s Atlanta Dream is bringing back forward Nia Coffey and guard AD Durr, the organization announced today.

“Both Nia and AD have shown their commitment to their craft and to this organization, and we know the work they’ve been putting in is going to pay off in a major way this season,” said head coach Tanisha Wright. “Nia was the first individual that took a chance on what we believed we could do with this team, and AD is a young talent that we identified would fit well with what we’re building in the A. The amount of time each of them has put in with our staff is remarkable and has shown us how committed they are to their craft and to this franchise, and we’re excited that they have the opportunity to showcase what they can do for our team this season.”

Coffey and AD re-join the team that added guards Allisha Gray and Danielle Robinson in the past month, and will be looking to make a Playoff push after recording the most wins in five seasons in 2022. After missing parts of last season with knee and hip injuries, respectively, both players spent the 2022-23 offseason training with the Dream’s development staff and rehabbing with the organization’s medical team.

“We are thrilled that both Nia and AD will continue to be a part of this organization,” said general manager Dan Padover. “They both showed us how much they can help this team last season, and we believe their best is yet to come on the court. They are both proud to call Atlanta home, which shows in their passion for this city and this franchise, and we are glad they are going to be here to keep building with us.” 

Coffey enters her third year in Atlanta after spending the 2019 and 2022 seasons with the Dream. Last year she signed with the Dream as a free agent and went on to average a career-best 5.2 rebounds per game while putting up 6.4 points per game. AD joined the Dream via trade in 2022, returning to their hometown after two seasons with the New York Liberty, where they played with teammate Tanisha Wright. In 25 games this season they shot a career-best 40.4% from the three-point line, and in 15 games with the Dream averaged 10.7 points per game.

Astros sign RHP Ty Buttrey to Minor League contract

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Reliever will be one of 22 non-roster invites at Major League Spring Training

HOUSTON, TX – The Houston Astros have signed RHP Ty Buttrey to a minor league contract with an invitation to Major League Spring Training. Including Buttrey, the Astros will have 61 players at Major League Spring Training, which includes 39 players on their 40-man roster and 22 non-roster invitees. The full roster is attached to this release.

Buttrey, 29, spent his 2022 season with the Angels Triple A affiliate at Salt Lake, making 34 relief appearances, while posting a 5.94 ERA (24ER/36.1IP). Buttrey has three years of Major League experience, making a total of 115 relief appearances with the Angels, all coming over the 2018-20 seasons. He had a standout 2019 season, making 72 appearances, posting a 3.98 ERA (32ER/72.1IP) with 84 strikeouts over his 72.1 innings pitched.

The Astros will hold their first official Spring Training workout for pitchers and catchers at the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches complex in West Palm Beach, FL, on Thursday, Feb. 16. The first official workout for the entire squad is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 21.