No, we shouldn't expect Brice Matthews to win ALCS and World Series MVP awards like Houston shortstop and 2022 playoff hero Jeremy Peña. But Monday's 6-3 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks has highlighted an emerging truth about the 2025 Astros: they currently lack a solid starting second baseman. Matthews has the talent to change that.

Brice Matthews hits his first two major league home runs, driving in five runs, as the Houston Astros beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-3.

Gallen allowed a one-out single to Taylor Trammell in the second inning, then walked Mauricio Dubón. He struck out Chas McCormick and started Matthews with a curveball for a called strike. Gallen came back with a 94.2 mph fastball up in the zone. Matthews drove it 397 feet over the left-center field wall, giving the Astros an early 3-1 lead.