Well. The Astros destroyed CFM and the Rays in the first-game of the series with a 15-1 win. Houston is 86-47, and won their 50th home game of the year. Houston is 17-2 at home since the All-Star Break.
*Oakland got by Kansas City, 2-1.
New York whooped Seattle.
Los Angeles whooped San Diego.
*You can watch the 1-minute long tribute to Charlie Morton here. The greatest gift Charlie F. Morton gave to Houston was a World Series. Last night's game was the 2nd-greatest.
*Verlander's double-digit strikeout streak came to an end in the 6th when he got ejected by home plate umpire Pat Hoberg (Verlander had four strikeouts in the 6th - it was coming to an end last night regardless). Verlander:
I probably could have had better language when I said that, but in my history with umpires, I think turning my back to the situation, I'm trying to just vent at this point. I never called him a name. I never said anything egregious toward him. I just expressed my displeasure with the call on the field, and unfortunately he made the decision to run me.
The good news about the umpires and their conduct is that no one holds them accountable for their actions, and nothing will come of trying to make them explain themselves.
You can see Jomboy's recap of the Verlander ejection here, and it's well worth your time.
*Yordan 2HR game. Astros rookies with 20+ homers:
1. Carlos Correa: 22 (2015)
2. Yordan Alvarez: 21 (2019)
2. Lance Berkman: 21 (2000)
4. George Springer: 20 (2014)
4. Glenn Davis: 20 (1985)
Jake Kaplan lists the MLB players with 40+ extra-base hits in their first 60 games: Joe Dimaggio (46), Yordan Alvarez (40).
MLB.com notes how Yordan could be one of the few "Small Sample Size ROYs."
Notably, last night Aaron Judge became the 3rd-fastest player to hit 100 home runs, doing it in 371 games (1608 PAs). Ryan Howard did it in 325 games, Gary Sanchez did it in 355 games. Yordan Alvarez is #onpaceto do it in 286 games (1224 PAs).
*Is Josh Reddick back? He has five hits - three for extra-bases - in his last two games. He had five hits in his previous 39 PAs, and had 127 PAs (July 11-Aug 24) before he racked up three extra-base hits.
Chandler Rome notes how Reddick's resurgence could just be traced to a towel.
*In McTaggart's Notebook, we find that Myles Straw was optioned to Round Rock instead of Abraham Toro (and why) when Aledmys Diaz was activated. We also see that Correa did some sprints and rotational exercises, certainly good news, and that Josh James could be activated as soon as Saturday.
*Mark Feinsand writes about how Wade Miley bet on himself last offseason.
*Forrest Whitley will pitch in the Arizona Fall League, not the postseason.
*Kyle Tucker is among MLB.com's most interesting potential September Call-Ups.
*Deadspin: What's the matter with baseball?
*Awful news in the minors: Rays' Double-A pitcher Blake Bivens' wife and child were allegedly killed by his wife's brother.
*The Forgotten History of New York's Bagel Famines.
*Seattle Met: An Inmate Turn Millionaire Turned Lone Survivor.
*A Musical Selection:
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith