HOUSTON – Mauricio Dubón is an unabashed dog lover. Other than his wife, his baby son and other immediate family, Dubón's two dogs are perhaps the most important living beings in his life. He's paid tribute to his dogs previously by putting their names on his cleats and other equipment, so you can only imagine how excited he is about Saturday. The first 10,000 fans who come through the gates prior to Saturday's game between the Astros and Angels at Daikin Park will receive a bobblehead of Dubón holding his two dogs -- Marcelo (a pug) and Cash (a Frenchie). "They surprised me with that one and I said, 'That's pretty cool,'" Dubón said. Sunday is Dog Day at Daikin Park, which means dogs will be allowed into the park for the game. The first 500 dogs to enter the park will receive an Astros dog toy, and Dubón hopes to have Marcelo and Cash there, as well. And if things work out, the pooches could be on the field for the ceremonial first pitch. "We're trying to figure out what we can do, because my wife has the baby now," Dubón said. "We're trying to figure out how we can do it. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity." |
On Father's Day, which was Dubón's first, he honored his son, Luciano, wife, Nancy, and two dogs by wearing a custom belt and cleats. Luciano's name was on the toe of the right shoe and Marcelo and Cash had their names on the toe of the left shoe. What's more, his infield glove has Cash's name on it, and his outfield glove bears Marcelo's name. "I try to put their names on batting gloves, everything," Dubón said. "Everything is Marcelo and Cash. It's a pretty big deal for me, actually. I think this one is better than the Gold Glove [bobblehead] one. I'm excited for this one." Last year, the Astros gave out a bobblehead that depicted a diving Dubón with a Gold Glove. Dubón won the 2023 Gold Glove for a utility player in the American League. The Astros gave away a bobblehead last year of Justin Verlander with his two dogs, and Dubón was a bit jealous. "He had a dog one, and I said, 'That's pretty cool, and hopefully I can do one,'" he said. |
Dubón got Marcelo in 2017, and he and his wife rescued Cash in '22, saving him from being euthanized. The Astros won the World Series in '22 (they also won the World Series in '17, but Dubón wasn't on the team), so perhaps Cash is a good-luck charm and more than just man's best friend. "They've been my partners for a while," Dubón said. Dubón has always been a dog person, even more so after he adopted Marcel. These days, he tries to assist with dog charities when he can. Dubón also has about eight dogs at his home in Honduras. They're all pugs except for an American Cocker Spaniel. "We love them," he said. So how many dog bobbleheads will Dubón take home? "Probably a lot," he said. "Everybody is asking me for it." On Friday, the first 10,000 fans through the gates at Daikin Park will receive a Player Nickname Jersey, including Jose Altuve (Tuve), Yordan Alvarez (Air Yordan), Jake Meyers (Rake Meyers) and Dubon (Dubi). |
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MLB MORNING LINEUP PODCAST |
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The Astros will open the 2026 regular season at home against the Angels on March 26 in the start of a four-game series. The Red Sox will follow the Angels to Daikin Park for three games, before the Astros hit the road for a 10-game road trip to West Sacramento (April 3-5), Colorado (April 6-8) and Seattle (April 10-11). The home schedule features weekends against the Yankees (April 24-26), Brewers (May 29-31), Guardians (June 19-21), Rays (July 3-5), Orioles (July 17-19), Mariners (Aug. 14-16), Diamondbacks (Sept. 4-6), Braves (Sept. 18-20), Athletics (June 5-7 and Aug. 21-23) and Rangers (May 15-17 and July 31-Aug. 2). The Astros will be at home on Father's Day (June 21 vs. Cleveland) and July 4 (vs. Tampa Bay) and will be on the road on Mother's Day (May 10 at Cincinnati) and Memorial Day (May 25 at Texas). The Astros will end the 2026 season with two games in Seattle (Sept. 22-23) and four in West Sacramento against the A's (Sept. 24-27). For information on availability of 2026 Astros tickets, please visit Astros.com/tickets and Astros.com/schedule. |
Outfielder Zach Cole, the Astros' No. 19 prospect, has been promoted to Triple-A Sugar Land, where he will presumably finish out the season. Cole played 82 games at Double-A Corpus Christi and slashed .267/.363/.505 with six triples, 14 homers, 49 RBIs and 15 stolen bases. A 10th-round pick from Ball State in 2022, he hit .342 in August for the Hooks in 17 games, including an 11-game hitting streak from Aug. 3-19. |
THIS WEEK IN ASTROS HISTORY |
Aug. 27, 2006 Willy Taveras became the only player in franchise history to hit safely in 30 consecutive games, breaking Jeff Kent's previous record of 25 games set in 2004. Taveras hit .349 during the streak and remarkably had an 0-for-11 slump during it. How did he achieve that? Taveras singled in his first at-bat in an 8–6, 18-inning loss to the Cubs and went 0-for-8 the rest of the game. The next game he was hitless in his first three at-bats before beating out a bunt single in the seventh inning to extend the streak. |
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