No, we shouldn't expect Brice Matthews to win ALCS and World Series MVP awards like Houston shortstop and 2022 playoff hero Jeremy Peña. But Monday's 6-3 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks has highlighted an emerging truth about the 2025 Astros: they currently lack a solid starting second baseman. Matthews has the talent to change that.

Brice Matthews hits his first two major league home runs, driving in five runs, as the Houston Astros beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-3.

A half-inning later, Brice Matthews blasted his second home run off Arizona starter Zac Gallen, capping a memorable night for the rookie infielder and giving his club breathing room. Houston rode the sequence to a 6-3 win over the Diamondbacks in the opener of a three-game series at Chase Field.

Christian Walker hit a tiebreaking home run in the sixth inning and the Houston Astros went on to rout the host Seattle Mariners 11-3 Sunday afternoon.

Seattle has closed Houston's lead in the AL West to three games with consecutive wins. Hunter Brown pitches for Astros in finale.

The Mariners gained ground against their American League West rivals and kept their momentum going from prior to the All-Star Break.