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Welcome to the Tuesday Boil!
Astros’ Yainer Diaz walks off the Rangers with an RBI single (foxsports.com)
Houston Astros: Chas McCormick drives in 6 runs to beat Rangers (houstonchronicle.com)
Astros look for arms to match bats against Rangers (deadspin.com)
MLB fans accuse Astros of cheating after team’s walk-off win vs Rangers: “That was cleary out” (sportskeeda.com)
Editors note: “Wow. It must suck to be a rangers fan.”
Astros: Dusty Baker’s unique Jose Altuve injury return strategy (clutchpoints.com)
‘Real close’: Baker reveals latest on Alvarez, Altuve injuries (chron.com)
AL West News
Shohei Ohtani wouldn’t fix Rangers’ biggest weakness (dallasnews.com)
Rangers’ Chris Young talks balancing ‘emotional attachments’ (dallasnews.com)
Texas Rangers show resilience after Corey Seager’s injury, but rotation concerns are growing (11alive.com)
Twins host the Mariners, look to continue home win streak (kentuckytoday.com)
Seattle Mariners Uncover Potential Hidden Gem in Third-Round Pick Teddy McGraw (bvmsports.com)
Mariners’ Kolten Wong joins club with Ken Griffey Jr. following historic blast (clutchpoints.com)
Giants aim to break 6-game slide, play the Athletics (apnews.com)
A’s Zack Gelof Showing Off His Tools (si.com)
Nevada Legislator, Teacher’s Union fight public funding for A’s stadium (the comeback.com)
Shohei Ohtani, Angels coming to Comerica Park to face Detroit Tigers (detroitfreepress.com)
How the Angels wasted the primes of Trout and Ohtani, two all-time greats (theguardian.com)
How Shohei Ohtani can hit 62 home runs (mlb.com)
MLB News
Will the Angels actually trade Shohei? MLB execs weigh in (mlb.com)
Dodgers could target star third baseman (mlb.com)
5 teams whose playoff destiny lies in their own hands (mlb.com)
De La Cruz blasts no-doubter after being robbed, trolled (mlb.com)
Varsho’s signature moment sparks win over Dodgers (mlb.com)
O’s ‘used to craziness’ — and continue to rise above it (mlb.com)
Winker embraces bench role with key single to set up walk-off win (mlb.com)
Houston Astros Birthdays
C Korey Lee (25) remains with the Triple-A Sugar Land Space Cowboys. In 12 regular season major league games, he was four-for-25 with four RBI.
OF Alex Presley (38) appeared in 97 games for the Astros in 2014 and 2015. He hit .244 with six jacks and 20 RBI.
Billy Wagner (52) pitched his first nine major league seasons with the Astros, going 26-29 with 225 saves in 464 games. He struck out 694 in 504 1⁄3 innings, with a 1.039 WHIP and a 2.81 FIP. Not in the HOF, you say? It’s likely he makes the cut this year.
Doug Drabek (61) pitched in Houston from 1993 through 1996, making 118 starts in the rotation. He was 38-42 with a 4.00 ERA and a 3.78 FIP, along with 558 K’s in 762 2⁄3 innings and a 1.319 WHIP. Most importantly (and vanishingly rare these days), he missed very few starts over his 13-season career, averaging 30 starts per season.
Infielder Mick Kelleher (76) appeared in 19 contests for the 1974 Astros and hit .158. He ended up playing 11 seasons in total between five teams.
Fred Scherman (79) pitched for Houston in 1974 and 1975, putting up a 2-6 record and a 4.29 ERA through 69 relief appearances.
RHP Larry Sherry (1935-2006) split his 11-season MLB career between four teams, with a short stop in Houston in 1967. In 29 trips out of the pen, he was 1-2 with a 4.87 ERA.