Quinn Harris/Getty Images

13mBradford Doolittle and David Schoenfield

MLB Awards Watch: An epic MVP race, Cy Young picks and more

Cody Bellinger and Christian Yelich are in an NL MVP battle for the ages. Who do we favor? Plus, the aces and rookies most likely to raise the hardware in 2019.

Brantley's 2-run blast gives Astros the lead (0:19)

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Reds rally for 2 in 9th, win 3-2 for rare sweep of Astros

Nick Senzel singled home the tying run with two outs in the ninth inning, and Jesse Winker followed with an RBI single Wednesday afternoon as the Cincinnati Reds rallied for a 3-2 victory and a rare sweep of the Houston Astros.

Reds hit 3 homers off Justin Verlander, beat Astros 4-3

Jesse Winker and Derek Dietrich homered off Justin Verlander in the first inning Tuesday night, and the Cincinnati Reds held on for a 4-3 victory over the Houston Astros that clinched their first series win in nearly a month.

Reds hit three homers off Verlander (0:59)

Erik Williams/USA TODAY Sports

Astros 2B Altuve to be activated Wednesday

Manager A.J. Hinch also said George Springer will begin a rehab assignment Thursday with Houston's Double-A affiliate in Corpus Christi and is hopeful the outfielder will make his return to the lineup next week.

Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire

2dDan Szymborski

MLB pitching tiers: Ranking every staff from 1-30

Who's getting the most from their entire pitching crew to shut down 2019's homer-happy hitters?

Castillo pitches two-hit ball into 7th, Reds beat Astros 3-2

Nick Senzel returned from an eye injury and drove in a pair of runs Monday night, Luis Castillo pitched two-hit ball into the seventh inning, and the Cincinnati Reds held on for a 3-2 victory over the Houston Astros.

Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire

3dESPN.com

MLB All-Star voting update: Bellinger holds slim overall lead on Yelich

A breakthrough first half has the Dodgers slugger in front of the reigning NL MVP for top vote-getter honors. Where does your favorite star rank?

Elaine Thompson/AP Photo

3dJay Jaffe

MLB lineup tiers: Which teams are in their own league?

Looking at which teams have delivered and what you can project for them, there's a huge difference between MLB's elite and the pack in pursuit.

ESPN.com Illustration

3dESPN.com

Power Rankings: NL rivals ready to challenge Dodgers for No. 1

L.A. has been on top for much of the season, but the Braves, Cubs and Brewers are in hot pursuit.

Ross: Astros have MVPs all over their lineup (1:05)

Thornton shuts down former team, Blue Jays rout Astros 12-0

Trent Thornton shut down his former team into the seventh inning, Teoscar Hernandez hit two of Toronto's five home runs and the Blue Jays hammered the Houston Astros 12-0 on Sunday.

Rookie Alvarez homers again, Astros top Blue Jays 7-2

Yordan Alvarez homered again and Jack Mayfield hit three doubles as Houston's rookies delivered in a big way, leading the Astros over the Toronto Blue Jays 7-2 on Saturday.

Chirinos hits slam, drives in 6 runs, Astros beat Blue Jays

Robinson Chirinos hit his first grand slam and finished with a career-high six RBI, Gerrit Cole struck out 10 and the Houston Astros routed the Toronto Blue Jays 15-2 on Friday night.

Marly Rivera ESPN Writer

Blue Jays announce that Vlad Guerrero Jr. suffered a left hand contusion; X-rays were negative for fracture. The Blue Jays' third baseman was hit on the left hand by a Gerrit Cole fastball in the first inning of the game in Houston. He was taken out of the game in the second inning; replaced at third base by Eric Sogard.

Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports

6dESPN.com

MLB Weekend Watch: Aces, races and who we're picking in the biggest games

Will Lucas Giolito and Hyun-Jin Ryu keep their amazing runs going? Are the Rangers for real? And what else are we looking forward to this weekend?

Verlander K's career-best 15 but Astros lose

Mike Moustakas hit a two-run homer during Milwaukee's three-run 14th inning, and the Brewers struck out 15 times against Houston ace Justin Verlander before rallying for a 6-3 victory over the Astros on Wednesday night.

David Schoenfield ESPN Senior Writer

Justin Verlander's weird, crazy, awesome season continues as he strikes out a career-high 15 batters in seven innings. But he also gives up three more home runs and gets a no-decision. He's allowed 17 home runs ... but somehow only 28 runs, as batters are hitting just .152 off him. The lowest mark by a starter over a full season: Pedro Martinez's .167 average in 2000.

BBTN: Seager Injured, Braves' Anthopoulos, Power 10

Before talking to Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos (24:16), Buster and Boog Sciambi discuss Boston's struggles, Corey Seager's injury and more (10:49). Plus, "Hembo Knows" (34:52) and the latest Power 10 (41:16).

Rookie Alvarez homers again as Astros beat Brewers 10-8

Rookie Yordan Alvarez hit one of Houston's four home runs to become the first player in franchise history to homer in his first two major league games and lead the Astros to a 10-8 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night.

David Schoenfield ESPN Senior Writer

I believe the Astros have found their solution at DH. Yordan Alvarez homered again in his second game, making him the first player in Astros history to homer in his first two games. The 21-year-old Cuban had hit .343/.443/.772 at Triple-A with 23 home runs in 56 games. I don't think he needs to worry returning to Round Rock.