It's a done deal. Red Sox get Garrett Cooper from the Cubs for cash.

With colleagues Christopher Smith and Sean McAdam:

masslive.com/redsox/2024/04…

The Astros play 35 games in 37 days starting on May 7.

Forrest Whitley is on the minor-league IL with what the Astros described as “right elbow discomfort.”

Alex Bregman started 2-for-38 as a major leaguer. Kyle Tucker went 9 for his first 64. The game is hard.

How can the Astros try to solve first base? - theathletic.com/5443866/2024/0…

Alex Bregman on another slow start and whether there’s more pressure:

“I find zero pressure in regards to playing in a contract year. I play the game to be an elite player in the game. I could give a shit about anything but playing at a high level.” - theathletic.com/5446685/2024/0…

Alex Bregman on another slow start and whether there’s more pressure:

“I find zero pressure in regards to playing in a contract year. I play the game to be an elite player in the game. I could give a shit about anything but playing at a high level.” - theathletic.com/5446685/2024/0…

Source: the Astros are optioning right-hander J.P. France to Triple-A Sugar Land ahead of their trip to Mexico City. That will clear a roster spot for Framber Valdez, but does prompt some questions about how their rotation lines up going forward.

Joe Espada: 'No one is going to hand us anything. We have to fight through this. If there’s a team that can do it, it’s this club. I know we can turn things around, but there has to be a little more urgency. There has to be more fire in the middle of the game.'

Joe Espada said he got ejected because 'I didn't agree with his strike zone today.' Asked why he chose that moment, Espada said 'I just got tired of watching.'

Mauricio Dubón: 'It's a slap in the face. If you'd have told me we were going to be like this after we broke camp, I probably would've called bullshit. Things are not going our way right now. We just have to battle through, stay positive and keep playing baseball.'

The Astros lost 3-1. They are 7-19.

Houston has lost five in a row, 12 of its past 15 and just got swept for the fourth time this season. This is the Astros' worst start since 1969.

Joe Espada has been ejected.

Handed a tie game with a runner on first base, Bryan Abreu threw a first-pitch wild pitch to a hitter trying to sacrifice bunt the runner to second. Pete Crow-Armstrong then hit his next pitch into the right field seats.

Yainer Diaz is now 6-for-27 with runners in scoring position this season - theathletic.com/5433553/2024/0…

Alex Bregman's 1,000th major-league hit is a bloop single into shallow right field off Javier Assad. They saved the baseball.

Justin Verlander is back out for the fifth. Rafael Montero is warming.

Interesting decision forthcoming for Joe Espada. Justin Verlander has thrown 84 pitches through four scoreless innings. 9-1-2 due up for the Cubs in the fifth. Tayler Scott was warming at the end of the fourth.

Tayler Scott is warming

Miguel Amaya just worked a 13-pitch at-bat against Justin Verlander. Fouled seven two-strike pitches before Verlander blew 95 mph by him.