MLB Unders & 32 in 32: Houston Texans

Scott Seidenberg recaps an under day in Major League Baseball plus our 32 in 32 NFL team previews continue with the Houston Texans.

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⚾ UNDER DAY: 10 FOR 10

Every Single Game

Thursday's slate: 10 games. All 10 went UNDER.

The parlay: A $100 all-unders parlay would have paid nearly $7,000.

⚾ YANKEES: 1-8 IN EXTRAS

Last night: White Sox 2, Yankees 1 — walk-off in the bottom of the 11th.

The record: 1-8 in extra-inning games — still the worst in Major League Baseball, and now one worse than yesterday.

⚾ Ohtani Rest Day

The scratch: Ohtani sat last night as a precaution, resting the sore left knee. Dodgers won anyway, 6-2 over Seattle.

The update: He's scheduled to be back in the lineup tonight vs Boston.

⚾ DEADLINE WATCH: THE FIRST DOMINO

Mets Trade AJ Minter to the Twins

The Minter file: 23 appearances, 23 innings, 2.35 ERA. Velocity and stuff down from his Braves days after missing most of last season injured — but serviceable for a contender shoring up a bullpen.

The fun part of the return: Infielder Bruno Agbayani — son of former Met Benny Agbayani.

What's next: "Look for Clay Holmes and Freddy Peralta to be dealt in the next few days."

Deadline: Monday.

⚾ Today's Slate

🏈 NFL NOTES

Chris Olave Cashes In

The deal: 4-year extension worth up to $132 million, $90 million guaranteed — the biggest contract the Saints have given a receiver since Michael Thomas in 2019.

Baker Mayfield Feels Disrespected

What happened: No new deal before the self-imposed deadline he set for the start of camp. Mayfield told the media all contract talks stop until after the 2026 season.

Scott: "I don't know what more the Bucs want. Back-to-back division titles. Last year the team was decimated by injuries. He's 31 and has proven he can be a starting quarterback in this league — he's just looking for a team to commit to him longer than the short-term, prove-it deals he keeps getting. Baker feels undervalued, and I totally understand that."

Deebo Back to San Francisco

The deal: 49ers reunite with Deebo Samuel on a one-year deal.

The why: Concern over Ricky Pearsall's right knee recovery, plus Christian Kirk missing camp time with a strained calf.

🏈 32 IN 32: HOUSTON TEXANS

The Market

The division: "With all due respect to Jacksonville and the season Trevor Lawrence had, a Colts team with a healthy Daniel Jones, and a Titans team expected to jump with Robert Saleh and a second year of Cam Ward — the Texans are the class of this division."

THE CJ STROUD YEAR

The Most Important Season of His Career

The context: This is the franchise's 25th anniversary season — and Houston has never made it past the second round, never played in an AFC Championship game. Last year's run ends differently without Stroud's four-interception game in the divisional round.

The contract situation: Houston picked up the fifth-year option, so they can evaluate him this year and next.

Scott: "He's going to want a new contract, but he's got to PLAY his way into one. Regular season accolades are great — you can win rookie of the year and put up incredible numbers. But you throw four picks in a playoff game and don't come through when the team needs you most? How does that make a team commit to you long term and make you one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the NFL? You get paid for winning when it matters most."

The Roster

Offense

Scott: "Montgomery is a sure-fire physical downhill back — that improves the play-action game and short-yardage situations."

Defense

The best defense in the entire NFL — arguably got BETTER with Reed Blankenship in the secondary alongside a roster full of Pro Bowlers, plus the money paid to young talent like Will Anderson.

THE BETTING ANGLE: A MORE BALANCED HOUSTON

Scott: "Houston has been capable of putting up a lot of points, but I think this year they're a lot more balanced, a lot more running. That has me thinking about some CJ Stroud unders and possibly Nico Collins unders — they want to establish the run first, which is why you add Montgomery and why you bring in multiple tight ends."

The Schedule

The opener: A banger at home vs the Buffalo Bills.

London: vs Jacksonville — and it's the Jags' SECOND London game, so they'll already be over there and assimilated.

The bye: Houston elected NOT to take the bye after London. They return home for the Giants first, THEN take the bye.

The Trench Report Verdict

The projection: Houston loses the trench battle exactly ONCE all season — Philadelphia in Week 16.

The one red flag: "Houston's pass protection projects in the bottom 10 in our preseason rankings. If Stroud takes a lot of hits early and they can't protect him, that changes things."

The play: "If they rely more on the ground game with Montgomery and lean on arguably the best defensive front and best overall defense in football — we like the Texans OVER 9.5 wins. And to win the division, obviously. That was my AFC South selection."

📄 TRENCH REPORT SOS PART 2 TODAY

Today's article — Insider & Premium exclusive: The full betting card built off the preseason Trench Report strength of schedule. Will be emailed later today and available on the NFL Articles tab inside the NFL HQ at BettorDay.com and in the Bettor Day mobile app.

(Part 1 — the base strength of schedule — remains free to the public.)

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