Welcome to the Thursday Astros Crawfish Boil.
The Houston Astros are two-games above-.500 for the first time this season.
For a little context, last year it took until game number 84 to reach that plateau, fittingly, also against the Blue Jays. Now at 13-11, Houston is just one game behind the Texas Rangers for the AL West division lead.
Houston Astros News
Astros Considering Time In Center Field For Cam Smith (MLBTR)
Astros 2025 – DIY Blog (Chipalatta)
Astros feel early-season mojo coming together after sweep
Houston Astros’ ghosts of an awful April are gone: ‘It’s a great feeling’ (NY Times)
Astros hang on, complete sweep of Blue Jays (Deadspin)
Christian Walker aids a ‘contagious’ offense in Astros’ sweep of Blue Jays (HC)
AL West News
Angels look to avoid series sweep against the Pirates (FOX)
Emerson Hancock strikes out seven batters in outing
Marcus Semien Tries to Shake a Season-Opening Slump (FG)
‘You saw the joy, right?’: Kurtz leaves a mark in MLB debut
MLB News
PCA drives in 4 as Cubs rally back to defeat Dodgers again
The Giants Should Consider A Rotation Change (MLBTR)
The Steals Will Continue Until Success Rates Decline (FG)
Starting Pitcher Power Rankings has a shakeup at the top
Walk-off thriller caps perfect homestand for MLB-best Mets
Spencer Strider’s Return to the IL Complicates Atlanta’s Season (FG)
Trying To Make Sense of Aaron Nola’s Slow Start (FG)
Nearly a month in, Judge still scorching with average over .400
The fastest prospects in the game — one for each team
Ball hits bat twice on single — but not how you think
Here’s every team’s 2025 Draft bonus pool and all pick values
He once wrote ‘Yankees rule’ on the Pesky Pole. Now he’s mashing for them
Houston Astros Birthdays
CF Carlos Beltrán (48)
RHP Todd Jones (57)
LF Iván Murrell (1943—2006)