*The Astros tied the Marlins 6-6, with all six Astros runs coming in the 9th, helped along by a grand slam from Anibal Sierra and 2RBI from Kyle Tucker.
-Charlie Morton threw 4.2IP, 3H/4R (1ER), 4K:3BB, 2HBP.
*Charlie Morton is working on a changeup. Hinch:
He doesn't like using it because his other pitches are so dominant. It's a force feed for him, it'll be effective and it'll get on some scouting reports. He'll get more comfortable as he uses it more. It's an extra pitch for him, it's something we're trying to develop. Game on the line, he's not going to get beat by it.
*A week after optioning lefties Reymin Guduan and Buddy Boshers, Hinch said it's possible Tony Sipp won't make the Opening Day squad. Hinch:
If the situation comes up to where we feel like it's a better option for us to have other guys, right now out current internal options are all right-handed. It's not ideal and it would be somewhat unusual just given how teams like to put their teams together. I guess that's an option.
*FanGraphs' Craig Edwards writes that Altuve's extension isn't a gift from the front office - it's a fair deal.
*The New York Times' Billy Witz wrote about the relationship between Morton and McCann.
*The Yankees and Manny Machado? The New York Daily News' John Harper would rather the Yankees come get Dallas Keuchel.
*The Athletic's Pedro Moura wonders if Shohei Ohtani could start the season in Triple-A. Jeff Fletcher says nah.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
