*Houston is 29-11 in their last 40 games. It's the 13th straight series the Astros have opened with a win.
*The Astros went off for 10+ hits for the 2nd time in their last three games. It's their first 15-hit game since May 12 against the South Denton Rangers and their first 15-run game since...that game to which I just linked.
*Houston's 4-5-6 (Alvarez-Chirinos-Reddick) went 7x13 and 10RBIs. Reminder that Altuve, Springer, and Correa are currently hurt
*Gerrit Cole has allowed two or fewer earned runs in ten of his 15 starts in 2019. They're 8-2 in those starts. Cole:
I got into a better rhythm with the fastball command. I was good at times but fell behind. I was just able to do what I needed to do to get out unscathed.
*Gerrit Cole struck out ten batters in 6IP. It's the 5th time this season he has double-digit strikeouts with six or fewer innings pitched. For your consideration, Gerrit Cole 10+ Ks per start:
2013: 1
2014: 2
2015: 1
2016: 0
2017: 2
[Goes to Houston]
2018: 8
2019: 8
*Rogelio Armenteros made his major league debut and threw 3IP, 2H/0ER, 3K:0BB and is the first player in Astros history to record a save in his debut.
*Robinson Chirinos hit the first grand slam of his career. Houston has hit six grand slams in 2019, one fewer than 2001, 2007, and 2018. You have to go all the way back to September 21, 2018 to find the last game in which the Astros had a player with 6RBI, when Yuli did it. It's the 51st time in franchise history an Astro had 6+ RBI in a game.
*Yordan Alvarez is the 20th player in MLB history to hit his 3rd home run in his first four MLB games. Last night he was 3x4 with a walk. Hinch, on Yordan:
There's just a lot that he's doing right that starts with the right mindset and mental aptitude to be at this level at an early age. So I applaud him for his approach to his at-bats and how he's not letting the third deck get to him, he's not letting hitting in the middle of the order get to him. He's crushing.
Yordan hit the three hardest balls of the night. His home run was too much for this kid to handle.
*Alex Bregman went 1x3 with a 3-run homer, a walk, and 3RBI.
*Tony Kemp hit his 5th home run of the season. Three more than DH Tyler White, who went 1x5 with 3Ks.
*Jesse Sanchez has each AL West team's need as the 2019 season progresses. Unsurprisingly, it's the rotation, which by "rotation" I'm sure he meant "bullpen."
At 6.9 fWAR, the Astros' rotation ranks 8th in MLB, 3rd in the AL. The Astros' bullpen ranks [squints] 6th in MLB, 5th in the AL.
*Jose Altuve began his 2nd attempt at a rehab assignment last night for Round Rock. Collin McHugh joined him. George Springer is not about to begin a rehab assignment. Last night Round Rock was down 3-2 at the end of the 6th and somehow lost 16-3.
Altuve: 0x4, 2K
McHugh: 0.2IP, 1H/2ER, 1K:1BB
Kyle Tucker: 2x4, 2 doubles
*Joe Smith will join the team in Cincinnati next week and prepare to go on a rehab assignment.
*Jake Kaplan: Did you know that Framber is ambidextrous?
*The Biggios are celebrating Father's Day Weekend. Patty Biggio is the secret to the Biggios' success.
*The Astros officially signed 2nd Round pick Grae Kessinger and 4th Round pick Colin Barber. The draft page, with financials, has been updated.
*The Tri-City Valley Cats were held to two hits in their season opener last night, which they lost 4-0.
*The Astros signed Cuban outfielder Roilan Machandy to a $250,000 bonus on a minor-league deal.
*The Athletic: Inside the XFL's first week of tryouts.
*Noted Ass-Clown Darren Rovell's suspicious gambling set off some alarms.
*The first family of counterfeit hunting.
*A Musical Selection:
