The Astros beat the Mariners 3-1 last night to extend their winning streak to eight games, and move to 10-5. They are ridiculous right now, and we are all here for it. The Astros scored first Verlander turned in a great performance and Jose Altuve hit a home run in his fifth consecutive game. Everything is awesome. [Saves feelings for a random losing streak]. Houston is 10-5.
Six MLB teams have 10 wins: Tampa Bay, Milwaukee, Seattle, Houston, Oakland, and San Diego. Four of them are in the AL, and three are in the AL West.
*Astros' longest win streaks, by year:
12: 2018, 2004
11: 2017
10: 2015
9: 2006
8: 2019, 2008
7: 2016, 2014, 2010, 2005, 2003, 2002
6: 2013, 2000
5: 2012, 2007, 2001
4: 2011, 2009
*Jose Altuve hit his 6th home run in his last five games. It's his 7th of the season. Jose Altuve home runs/PAs, career:
2011: 1HR / 117 PAs
2012: 1HR / 90 PAs
2013: 1HR / 134.4 PAs
2014: 1HR / 101 PAs
2015: 1HR / 45.9 PAs
2016: 1HR / 29.9 PAs
2017: 1HR / 27.6 PAs
2018: 1HR / 46.1 PAs
2019: 1HR / 9.4 PAs
Morgan Ensberg has the Astros' franchise record for consecutive games with a home run, at six. Altuve could tie it tomorrow. The good news? Altuve says it's not on purpose.
Altuve is the first player in 2019 to homer in five straight games. There are only eight other instances in MLB History since 1908 that a 2B has hit a home run in five straight games. Altuve:
I'm not the power hitter that we're all seeing right now, but I'll take it. If I can keep hitting homers for my team, I'll be happy.
Verlander, on Altuve:
He can carry this ballclub. He was the MVP for a reason. To see him go out there and be healthy, nobody wants to dwell on negatives, but what he was going through behind the scenes last year that nobody was really aware of, it really speaks volumes to his character and the person that he is. But to see him healthy again and performing how we know he can perform, it's a big boost.
*Robinson Chirinos hit his 2nd home run of the season.
*Justin Verlander threw 6IP, 2H/1ER, 11K:0BB. Verlander has made 381 career MLB starts. This was his 10th start with 11K:0BB in his career. Six of them have come with the Astros and Houston is somehow now 3-3 in those games. Verlander's 103rd pitch came in at 99mph. Verlander:
I kind of felt like a couple tempo things, the way I'm going through my windup, the way I'm carrying my hands, a few of the things I've been tinkering with, today it all clicked.
Chandler Rome: JV v King Felix was a throwback game.
*Ryan Pressly has pitched in 32 games for the Astros in his career.
30IP, 14H/2ER, 40K:3BB. That's a 0.60 ERA / 0.57 WHIP and a 13.3333 K:BB ratio. It's okay, I guess.
*Roberto Osuna: 1IP, 0H/0ER, 1K:0BB. He has pitched in six games in the last nine days.
*Seattle has now lost back-to-back games for the first time this season. Houston held the Mariners to a season-low four hits and a season-low one run. Whomstever could have envisioned that playing two games in Japan and then seven games against the White Sox and Royals would result in some wins. Scrubs.
*Felix Hernandez, 2007-2014: 7GS,44IP, 43H/9ER, 49K:12BB, 1.84 ERA / 1.28 WHIP.
Felix Hernandez, 2015-pres.: 7GS, 33.1IP, 48H/29ER, 30K:11BB. 7.83 ERA / 1.77 WHIP.
Wonder what changed.
*Carlos Correa checks his Exit Velocity after each game and is more cognizant of his pre-game and off-day rituals. Read this MLB.com story. Correa:
Every time I get a hit, I come in and ask, 'What was the exit velo?' Last year, it was hard for me to hit balls over 105. I would crush baseballs and I would come in and they were like, '102.' I'm like, 'What?'
*Yordan Alvarez hit a 485-foot home run.
*Framber Valdez will remain in the bullpen for Round Rock for the time being.
*Mike Puma reports that there's a contest to see who is more desperate: Dallas Keuchel, or the Mets.
*FanGraphs: Here's why the Ozzie Albies deal is terrible.
*Leeds United 1 Sheffield Wednesday 0. Leeds are three points clear of automatic promotion to the Premier League with four to play.
*Elsik was down 2-0 at halftime and came back to win 3-2. Next stop: State, to defend their title.
*Wired: How the Boston Marathon messes with runners to slow them down.
*This dude makes about $40,000 a year driving for Uber.
*A Musical Selection:
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
