Let's do this, huh?
*Playoff Odds:
| Site | Proj. Rec. | % to win ALW | % to win AL | % to win WS |
| B-Ref | 103-59 | 99.1% | 32.1% | 16.8% |
| FanGraphs | 105-57 | 99.9% | 41.0% | 27.5% |
| 538 | 105-57 | 99.0% | - | 24.0% |
| BPro | 104-58 | 99.5% | - | 22.8% |
Related, here's the playoff schedule. The ALDS will start on October 4 or October 5. Whichever time slot is more convenient for the Yankees, the Astros would get the other one.
— MattressMack (@MattressMack) August 5, 2019
*This catalog of Zack Greinke stories is absolutely worth the price of a subscription to The Athletic. They run specials all the time, what the heck. And more from The Athletic: Eno Sarris breaks down the trade deadline winners by projection systems. And Jake Kaplan on the incredible rise of Yordan Alvarez.
This catalog of Zack Greinke stories from @ZHBuchanan is hilarious, touching and amazing. So, so good. https://t.co/aPBKx5m38x pic.twitter.com/KpIixXPFnC— Andrew Baggarly (@extrabaggs) August 5, 2019
*Get the No-Hit Squad shirt from Breaking T (and when you use this link, I get a cut).
*Jenny Dial Creech: Greinke's first start comes with anticipation, expectations.
*Justin Verlander (and Mike Trout) are having remarkable seasons, in case you didn't know.
*Chandler Rome: Josh Reddick is sinking, while Chris Devenski is looking more like his former self.
*FanGraphs: The Astros may have salvaged another pitcher's career.
*Cubs GM Jed Hoyer basically said the Cubs traded Maldonado to the Astros because of "player happiness."
*Former Astros Great Tony Sipp rejected an outright assignment to the minors and the Nationals have requested release waivers, meaning he's headed to the open market. If they already brought back Machete, and could use another reliever since Reymin Guduan is apparently an idiot, might they try to get the whole damn band back together?
*Framber threw 6IP, 5H/2ER, 8K:1BB in a 6-3 Round Rock win over Sacramento. Nick Tanielu was 2x3 with a home run and a walk. Kyle Tucker was 1x3 with an RBI.
*Corpus managed only two runs but it was enough to shut out Frisco. Bryan Abreu (5IP) and Cristian Javier (4IP) threw 9IP, 3H/0ER, 13K:5BB - and four of those walks were Abreu's.
Cristian Javier's last ten appearances: 42.1IP, 16H/11ER, 69K:24BB, 2.34 ERA / 0.94 WHIP.
*Fayetteville pitchers walked nine batters but limited the damage in a 13-4 whoopin of Myrtle Beach. Scott Manea was 4x5 with two doubles, a home run, and 3RBI. Corey Julks was 3x4 with four runs scored and 2RBI.
*Quad Cities have scored two runs in the first three games of the series against Kane County, losing last night 3-0. 1-7 in the lineup went 0x22 with 8K.
*Joe Perez (2nd Round - 2017) hit a walkoff home run against Jenrry Mejia - yes, that Jenrry Mejia - as Tri-City beat Lowell. 2017 10th Round pick Kyle Serrano is back after basically two years of injuries, and he's happy the Astros stuck with him (this article is from, like, a month ago, but it's still applicable).
*I have some issues with Jeff Pearlman, but his podcast with Houston Chronicle reporter Keri Blakinger is absolutely fantastic.
*MLB team officials from the Dodgers, Braves, and Padres are under investigation from the Justice Department for their ties to Cuban smugglers.
*Pedro Martinez says some members of the 2009 Phillies had got dang Swine Flu during the World Series.
*Over 4,000 British boy/girl scouts went to the Orioles game on Sunday and it was freaking delightful. Former Astros Great Jonathan Villar switch-hit for the cycle last night.
*Evan P. Grant, with a quote from a fan who was a racist tirade at Globe Life Park about what transpired on Saturday, hours after the racist mass shooting in El Paso:
He made it perfectly clear during the second inning that he is not a fan of Hispanics. And he just so happened to have a Hispanic family [us] sitting in front of him and another one sitting directly behind him. During the second inning the little boy behind him who looked to be about [her son's] age kicked the back of his chair. And for the next three innings I had to hear him complain about all the illegal immigrants that were surrounding him at the game. That he should kick little Speedy Gonzalez all the way back to Mexico for kicking his seat. That Trump needs to hurry and build the wall and send all these illegals back so they won't be kicking his seat.
This isn't a joke about Dallas. Racists who get triggered by a kid at a baseball game are the joke.
*A Musical Selection: