Astros (12-22) update: Houston, which was swept by the Yankees in a four-game season-opening series at Minute Maid Park, escaped the American League West basement when the Angels (12-23) lost Monday night.

The Astros trail Seattle by 6½ games currently. Today marks the first of 29 games in a 30-day span for the Astros. …

After failing to drive in a run over his first 16 games, Jonathan Singleton has three homers and eight RBIs in his last six. …

In his first week in the major leagues, Joey Loperfido hit.267 (4-for-15) with two RBIs.

He’s still looking for his first extra-base hit after earning his promotion with a minor league-best 13 home runs in 25 games for Class AAA Sugar Land. …

Included in Alex Bregman’s unsightly .His on-base percentage is higher than his slash line of 202/.284/.269, which is a slugging percentage.

In his last four 150-game seasons, Bregman has averaged 99 walks, drawing a minimum of 87. He’s on pace for 67 this year. …

With 3,355 career strikeouts, Verlander is 12 shy of active leader Max Scherzer, whose latest rehab start for the Rangers was postponed because of thumb soreness.

Verlander needs 16 strikeouts to catch Greg Maddux, whose 3,371 are 10th all-time.

Yankees (23-13)  update: New York barely misses being the third consecutive first-place opponent for the Astros (after the Guardians and Mariners). The Yanks, who lost three of four at Baltimore last week before sweeping a three-game home set vs.

Detroit, stand a game behind the Orioles in the AL East. …

New York, which leads MLB in pitches per plate appearance, tops the AL in on-base percentage (.331) and walks (148). … On the pitching side, the Yankees’ 2.99 ERA is No. 3 in the the majors. …

Juan Soto’s first season in pinstripes is going well. He’s reached base in 32 of 36 games and sports a slash line of .316/.421/.559 with eight home runs.

His 28 RBIs rank second in the AL. … Aaron Judge is hitting only .220 but has seven home runs and is tied with Soto for second in the majors with 26 walks. …

In 21 career at-bats against Verlander, Judge is hitting .190 (4-for-21) with two solo home runs. … Clay Holmes has been the epitome of a lockdown closer.

He shares the MLB lead with 11 saves, and his 16⅓ innings are the most among major league pitchers who have yet to allow an earned run.