The Masked Marvel has the recap of last night's way-too-close win over the Angels. The Mariners lost, the Rangers won yet another one-run game, the A's didn't play. So your division looks like this:
*Grapevine Mills: -
*Seattle: -9.5
*Houston: -11.0
*Anaheim: -14.5
*Oakland: -17
*1st WC: -5
*2nd WC: -4
*FanGraphs gives the Astros an 11.9% chance of winning the division and a 22.4% chance of winning a Wild Card spot.
*Last night's win was the kind of offensive surge the Astros thought they'd have all year. Rasmus:
Early on, we were kind of snake bit. We hit a lot of balls hard at guys and ran into some good pitching when we need those hits, it would be a line drive right at somebody or somebody would make a great play. Tonight we were able to push those through.
*Carlos Correa's homer was his 31st, tying him for 2nd with Dickie Thon, four behind Adam Everett for the franchise record for homers by an Astros SS. (And, if you're like me you thought, "Wait what about Tejada?" He only hit 27 homers in two seasons with Houston.)
*If the Astros win Fister's next start, it will tie the franchise record for most consecutive wins by a starter: 11, set last year by Collin McHugh.
*Luhnow is "optimistic" about signing 1-17 pick Forrest Whitley, but they're in no rush:
We're excited about the selection and we're optimistic about getting it done. We want to get it done as soon as possible. We don't want to go up against the deadline. There's no reason to, anyway...He's got a nice option to go to Fresno State and pitch in Division 1 baseball for three years, but also three years from now he could be in the big leagues. That's what we're trying to convince him.
*Lima Time Time Episode 14 records tonight. Throw your questions/talking points here.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
