Welcome to the Thursday Boil.
The Houston Astros finally get a day off.
With 21 games played in the past 22 days, and the pitching staff reduced by one for the second half of it, the Astros have sort of earned a day of rest and reflection. They’ll need that break too. By my calculations, they’ll need to go 67-45 for the rest of the campaign to play in baseball’s second season.
Houston Astros News
Hunter Brown added a ‘game-changer’ pitch. Is it enough to stay in the Astros’ rotation? (NY Times)
Bringing Jose Abreu back could cost their Astros the season if they aren’t careful (CTH)
Injured Houston Astros Ace Makes Important Strides In Recovery (SI)
Jon Singleton gets major playing-time endorsement from Astros GM (Chron)
AL West News
Oakland: Oakland will sell its half of Coliseum to Black-led group looking to redevelop complex (ABC)
Los Angeles: Angels News: Young LA Batters Make MLB History Against Astros (Athlon Sports)
Seattle: What the Mariners said about the Yankees tipping pitches in Tuesday’s win (The Seattle Times)
Texas: Phillies batter sloppy Rangers for fifth straight win (The Mercury)
MLB News
O’s regular-season sweepless streak comes to an end at 106 series
Bogaerts to miss significant time with shoulder fracture
Ragans outduels Skubal in 12-K gem as Royals win 6th straight
Five years later: Here’s each team’s best Draft pick from 2019 tl;dr it’s Hunter Brown.
The Yankees Rotation Has Stepped Up in Gerrit Cole’s Absence (FG)
The Cardinals Look Cooked (FG)
Houston Astros Birthdays
RHP Kirk Saarloos (45) went 8-8 with a 5.61 ERA in 53 appearances for the 2002 and 2003 Houston Astros. He struck out 97 in 134 2⁄3 innings, with a 1.478 WHIP and a 4.27 FIP.
RHP Chris Sampson (46) appeared in 174 games between 2006 and 2010 for Houston, going 20-15 with a 4.42 ERA. In 358 2⁄3 innings, he struck out 176 batters, and racked up a 4.46 FIP with a 1.330 WHIP.
IF Ricky Gutiérrez (54) played in 469 games for Houston between 1995 and 1999. He hit .266/.337/.340 with seven home runs and 132 RBI.
RHP Juan Ogando (20) struck out three over 1 2⁄3 innings to open the minor league season with the FSL Astros.