The Astros started the final 10% of the season with a 6-0 win at Seattle, the site of Collin McHugh's emergence as a viable starter two seasons ago. On April 22, 2014 - McHugh's first start as an Astro - he threw 6.2IP, 3H/0ER, 12K:0BB. Last night McHugh threw 7IP, 2H/0ER, 6K:2BB to spell the bullpen as the Astros' offense rolled the Mariners at Safeco.
*Mariners manager Scott Servais:
We were playing really good ball, and to come in here and kind of throw a clunker out there, not exactly what we were looking for tonight.
The Astros did all their damage against Felix Hernandez, getting held to one hit and no runs in the final 4.2 innings.
*Who won yesterday: Orioles, Red Sox, Rangers, Blue Jays
*Who lost yesterday: Mariners, Yankees, Tigers,
WC1/2: Toronto/Baltimore
Detroit/Seattle: -3
Houston: -4
There are 15 games left. FanGraphs has it at 9.5%. FiveThirtyEight puts it at 12%. Seems high.
*McHugh to Musgrove:
'These last four starts, you really have to empty the tank. Whatever you have left, you have to treat every one as a must-win grind.' When you're going into a playoff push like this, kind of having a little bit of experience like last year shows you what it takes and how important and crucial every game is.
*Altuve was back in the lineup, but Bregman may be done for the season with his hamstring injury. Hinch:
The diagnosis for [Bregman] is a little disheartening. He's got a hamstring injury that would normally require a DL stint right away...Where we're at on the schedule, that obviously is not a good sign. So he'll be back in Houston and beginning the therapy needed and the treatment needed. He won't be with us.
*Colin Moran was called up to serve as an extra third baseman.
*Dallas Keuchel still hasn't played catch. But how the Astros fare against Seattle over the rest of the weekend will determine if he ramps up his recovery process. Keuchel:
It's tough, but yeah, we're going to take this series and see where we're at and then we go to Oakland. I fully expect if we win this series then I'll be playing catch in Oakland.
*With over 70 walks, Carlos Correa has the most walks by a shortstop since 2009.
*Want a free agent this offseason? Jon Heyman has the Top 30 free agents with a ballpark guess at their contract details.
*Jeff Passan on the Padres and baseball's dirty information wars.
*W.P. Kinsella, author of Shoeless Joe (you may have seen the film version: Field of Dreams) died in British Columbia with a doctor-assisted death.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
