*The Astros scored three runs with two outs in the 8th, starting with a dropped 3rd strike. Altuve, who was 4x25 on the homestand, isn't worried:
I think it's a good time to be struggling, because the team is playing good and we got the wins anyway.
Who Won Yesterday: The Rangers (sure), Tigers, Red Sox, Blue Jays, Yankees
Who Lost Yesterday: The Orioles, Mariners, Royals
The Astros remain 8.5 GB of the Rangers, 3.0 up on the Mariners
The Astros are 2.0 GB of the Red Sox for WC1; 1.0 GB of the Orioles/Tigers for WC2.
*FanGraphs gives the Astros a 23.7% chance of winning a Wild Card spot.
FiveThirtyEight puts the Astros at 27% to make the playoffs.
*Not long after saying that his body was geared up for the stretch run of September baseball, the Astros are shuffling the rotation to accommodate Dallas Keuchel's fatigue.
*Marwin Gonzalez left the dugout with a trainer after experiencing some significant hamstring discomfort.
*Brian T. Smith, who has on numerous occasions counted the 2016 Astros out, says to not count the 2016 Astros out.
*Fresno's season doesn't end until Tuesday, so it's unlikely that position players will join the Astros before then, but guys like Jandel Gustave and Brady Rodgers (who will need to be placed on the 40-Man roster) could join the Astros before the Rangers season.
*Brady Rodgers was named Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Year after a season in which his 2.91 ERA led the league. It's the 3rd-best ERA in Fresno's team history:
Putting Rodgers' superb 2016 season into further perspective, 2014 World Series MVP Madison Bumgarner sported a 3.16 ERA in his lone season in Fresno, 2010.
*Francis Martes and David Paulino will represent the Astros in the Arizona Fall League along with Garrett Stubbs, Ramon Laureano, Jason Martin, Nick Tanielu, and Jacob Dorris.
*Mike Trout was involved in a serious crash Wednesday night after the Angels game that required one person to be removed via the jaws of life.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
