Dodgers @ Astros August 21, 2015: Utley Utley Utley

OMG OMG OMG Chase Utley:

Utley will wear #26 for the #Dodgers as well. Double-play combo back together again. pic.twitter.com/FvLE78bSbN

— AlaNNa Rizzo (@alannarizzo) August 21, 2015

*swoon*. Now, who among you remembered that Sergio Santos had worn No. 26 earlier this season — or that Santos had actually played for the Dodgers earlier this season? If you’re raising your hand, you’re lying. Utley will DH tonight against Houston righty Mike Fiers in his Dodgers debut, though he will hit second, because he’s a second baseman at heart. With the DH in effect all weekend, decisions about how the Utley / Enrique Hernandez / Joc Pederson love triangle will work out can be put off, though it seems likely we’ll see Utley playing second at least once in Houston. (Tomorrow against lefty Scott Kazmir would seem to make sense, pushing Hernandez to center and Pederson to the bench.)

Good news on Yasiel Puig, by the way:

Puig ran hard today. Might be available tonight.

— Dylan Hernandez (@dylanohernandez) August 21, 2015

While everyone understandably is focusing on Utley, who is somehow actually a Dodger, a fact I need to keep reminding myself lest 2008 Mike somehow retroactively die of shock, perhaps a more surprising fact is how good this Astros team is. After a well-publicized run of last-place seasons as they rebuilt from the ground up, the Astros are way ahead of schedule, leading the AL West and seemingly headed to the playoffs. Even without the injured George Springer, this team is full of talent — Dallas Keuchel, Jose Altuve, and Carlos Gomez are all stars, and rookie shortstop-slash-slam-dunk-AL Rookie of the Year Carlos Correa is on his way to the Mike Trout/Bryce Harper stratosphere.

Which is to say: This isn’t the same Astros team that was on their way to losing 107 games as they were the last time the Dodgers saw them, in 2012. This team is exciting, and they’re dangerous. So, respect, and all.