Next Up with Stan Norfleet & Chris Gordy SportsTalk 790 (KBME-AM)

Stan Norfleet and Chris Gordy of Next Up recap the Houston Astros losing 4-2 against the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday at Minute Maid Park. The Astros took the series 2-1 and will go on the road to take on the Los Angeles Angels for a weekend series starting Friday. Brian Bogusevic, former Astros outfielder and Space City Home Network analyst, joins to discuss the effect injured starting pitching will have on the rest of the rotation. Stan and Chris preview game one of the NBA Finals with Brendan Haywood, NBA TV analyst and champion with the Dallas Mavericks in 2011, break down Kamari Lassiter's performance at Texans mandatory minicamp, react to the Lakers preparing to offer UConn head coach Dan Hurley and more.

Brendan Haywood, NBA TV analyst and champion with the Dallas Mavericks in 2011, joins Next Up to preview the finals matchup between the Mavericks and Boston Celtics. "I got Dallas in six [games]," Haywood said. Jason Kidd, who is also a NBA champion with the Mavericks and has been the organization's head coach since 2021, "has been doing a great job" with a dominant backcourt in Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving. "You have two incredible wizards with the ball." Haywood says Dončić's "game is way different than Dirk [Nowitzki]," but "the similarity is the mentality." Haywood anticipates the Mavericks will target Celtics forward Kristaps Porziņģis. "The Celtics have scorers," but "the Mavericks have playmakers." Haywood also comments on the Houston Rockets having the No. 3 overall pick in the draft. "This team has a bunch of young talent" and could add to it by drafting Reed Sheppard or Donovan Clingan, but the Rockets should look to trade their pick for an established player, such as Jerami Grant, Zach LaVine or Mikal Bridges.

Brian Bogusevic, former Astros outfielder and Space City Home Network analyst, joins Next Up to discuss Astros starting pitchers Cristian Javier and Jose Urquidy who will be out for the remainder of this season and part of next season as both are scheduled to have right elbow surgery. The Astros starting rotation has dealt with injuries all year, including Luis Garcia and Lance McCullers who are not expected to return until after the All-Star break and J.P. France who has yet to resume a rehab program after being optioned to Sugar Land. "The depth has been stressed to its max," Bogusevic said. "It's a cause for concern" as the Astros are operating with five healthy starters on the 40-man roster: Justin Verlander, Framber Valdez, Hunter Brown, Spencer Arrighetti and Ronel Blanco. "They all have to be good every time." On whether the Astros could have better prepared for this scenario by adding pitching insurance in the offseason, Bogusevic says the Astros had a healthy rotation heading into spring training. "What else could you have done?" The Astros could not complete the series sweep against the St. Louis Cardinals, losing 4-2 on Wednesday. Third baseman Alex Bregman was scratched due to a sore left hand after being hit by a pitch the night before. Right fielder Kyle Tucker missed his second straight game after fouling a ball off his right shin Monday. The Astros currently sit at a 28-35 record, seven games back from the lead in the AL West. Bogusevic says this Astros lineup is "good enough to get their selves back in" the postseason race, but are also "incentivized to be early movers" in the trade market if players do not perform.

Stan Norfleet and Chris Gordy of Next Up react to breaking news that Houston Astros starting pitchers Cristian Javier and Jose Urquidy are both scheduled to have right elbow surgery and will be out for the remainder of this season and a part of next season. The Astros have dealt with injuries to their starting rotation all year, including Luis Garcia and Lance McCullers who are not expected to return until after the All-Star break. Will the Astros trade for another starter, and was it a mistake to not get more pitching insurance last offseason? The Astros won the second of a three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday at Minute Maid Park. Yainer Diaz homered in back-to-back games to help the Astros win 8-5. Ronel Blanco will start on the mound Wednesday as the Astros attempt to complete the series sweep over the Cardinals and earn a winning record at home. Stan and Chris also review the latest comments from Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans, quarterback C.J. Stroud and wide receivers Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell as mandatory minicamp continues.

Stan Norfleet and Chris Gordy of Next Up recap the Houston Astros defeating the St. Louis Cardinals 7-4 Monday at Minute Maid Park. Starting pitcher Justin Verlander struggled in the first inning, giving up two home runs, but with bullpen help and home runs from Yordan Alvarez, Alex Bregman and Yainer Diaz, the Astros earned the victory and moved to seven games back from the lead in the AL West. Stan and Chris also discuss the Texans beginning mandatory minicamp and review the latest comments from quarterback C.J. Stroud and wide receiver Tank Dell.

Stan Norfleet and Chris Gordy of Next Up react to breaking news that former Houston Astros prospect Michael Kelly was suspended by Major League Baseball "for violating MLB's sports betting rules and policies," per an MLB investigation. Kelly, who was pitching for the Oakland Athletics, received a one-year suspension for wagers made during his time with the Astros Triple-A affiliate in Sugar Land. Three of the nine games Kelly placed wagers on involved the Astros, betting a total of $99.22 on MLB games. The league announced suspensions for five players Tuesday, including San Diego Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano who received a lifetime ban from baseball. Stan and Chris debate whether the gambling policies in sports and their consequences for athletes are warranted.