Welcome to the Thursday Boil.
I know a loss is disappointing, but we’re still on track for a 142-win season.
The regular season is a novel with 162 pages, and without a few trials and tribulations through the first quarter, it isn’t a very good book. Keep reading. I promise it will pick up soon.
Houston Astros News
Verlander (97 mph) sharp vs. Guardians with 7 strong innings
Alex Bregman Is Powerless (FG)
Is Josh Hader Cursed, Broken, or Both? (FG)
Astros insider: Justin Verlander lends stability to rotation (Houston Chronicle)
Evaluating the Houston Astros: Can They Regain Their World Series Championship Form? (Belly Up Sports)
AL West News
Blarts: Trevor Williams, Nationals zero in on Rangers (The Washington Post)
M’s: Seattle Mariners Pitching Has Been Playing Unreal This Season (YB)
A’s: Confident A’s using Orioles’ bounce-back success as inspiration (NBC)
Halos: Rosenthal: Mr. Angel? Mike Trout’s chance of ever escaping the franchise now seems even less likely (The Athletic)
MLB News
Machado robbed of HR at Petco, and it looked eerily familiar
Matt Waldron and His Knuckleball Are Sticking Around (FG)
‘Filthy since Day 1’: Red-hot Imanaga in elite company
Twins’ 10th straight win comes with cost as Buxton hurts knee
Mets fall to Cubs on disputed play at the plate
Here’s who has the most Player of the Game honors through April (gotta be either Ronel or Altuve, right?)
Houston Astros Birthdays
RHP Penn Murfee (30)
IF Jonathan VIllar (33)
And remember, if Houston can pull out a win tonight…