​ST. PETERSBURG, FL – SEPTEMBER 12: Peter Lambert #38 of the Houston Astros pitches during the game between the Houston Astros and the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on Saturday, September 12, 2026 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images TONIGHT’S GAME: With just nine games remaining on their schedule, the first-place Houston Astros will welcome in the Atlanta Braves for their final home series of the 2026 regular season.RHP Peter Lambert (8-9, 3.71 ERA) will make his penultimate start of the season for the Astros tonight opposite RHP Tyler Mahle (6-10, 3.91 ERA) and the Braves. THE POSTSEASON CHASE: The Astros and Rangers are locked in a tight race down the stretch for the AL West with the two teams entering play today separated by just one game. The Astros own the tiebreaker over the Rangers with a season series victory (9-4 record).AL WEST NEXT GAME 1. Houston: 77-76 vs. ATL (89-64) 2. Texas: 76-77 1.0 GB vs. TOR (76-77) 3. Seattle: 71-82 6.0 GB at COL (56-97)CHALLENGING STRETCH: The Astros are within a stretch of playing 13 of 16 games against opponents with winning records (CWS, ARI, PHI, TB, ATL), going 6-7 so far in those contests. On the season, the Astros are 28-21 against teams with .500 or better records, the third-best mark in the Majors, immediately ahead of the Braves (35-28). OLD RIVALS: The Astros and Braves are longtime rivals, having played each other 720 times in the regular season and another 25 times in the postseason. The Braves dominated the Astros early in their playoff matchups, in 1997, 1999 and 2001, before the Astros broke through in 2004 and 2005. The two teams matched up again in the 2021 Fall Classic, won by the Braves in six games. DUBIE!: The Astros are happy to welcome back Braves IF/OF Mauricio Dubón, who’ll be recognized with a pregame video tonight. Dubón, a 2022 World Series Champion, played parts of four seasons (2022-25) with the Astros, appearing in 485 regular season games with Houston. HISPANIC HERITAGE WEEKEND: The Astros are celebrating Hispanic Heritage Weekend starting tonight. The ballpark will come alive with Latin music, vibrant festivities, and cultural pride all weekend long. As part of the celebration, 10,000 fans in attendance will receive a Jeremy Peña Retro Los Astros JerseyLAST NIGHT’S BIG WIN: The Astros hammered a season-high five home runs in their 6-2 win in the rubber game of their three-game series with the Royals last night. SS Jeremy Peña started the home run barrage with a leadoff homer and was later joined by CF Daulton Varsho, 1B LaMonte Wade Jr., DH Yordan Alvarez and RF Taylor Trammell, who all hit solo shots. RHP Ethan Pecko (1ER/5.2IP) pitched great as the bulk reliever, allowing just three hits in his outing.GOIN’ DEEP: The Astros have hit 206 homers as a