The Astros are 15-5 in their last 20 games. Since getting shut out in back-to-back games at Milwaukee, Houston has scored 5+ runs in six of seven. Houston is seven games through their 17-games-in-17-days stretch.
*Making his first career MLB start, Ronel Blanco threw 5.1IP, 7H/2ER, 5K:3BB. Alex Bregman:
We needed that one. Blanco was huge today, just giving us length, honestly. Not only length, but quality innings. He was attacking and competing. It's huge.
Blanco:
That's one of the reasons I went back down (to Sugar Land), for me to able to come back and pitch in these situations. The transition, I think, for me was a lot more mental than physical. Obviously, it was a great challenge for me but I took it in strike and I think I'm doing well.
Danielle Lerner: On Ronel Blanco's transformation from reliever to starter.
*That was Dusty Baker's 2,126th managerial win, moving him ahead of Joe McCarthy for 8th all-time. He's 263-177 with the Astros, which also puts him 8th all-time in franchise history. Dusty needs 13 wins to tie Bob Lillis for 7th in franchise history, and 14 wins to tie Phil Garner. He's 32 wins away from 7th place on the all-time leaderboard, held by Bucky Harris, who managed between 1924 and 1956.
*In 140 career games vs the Astros, Mike Trout - who went 0x3 with two walks - is hitting .252/.383/.511, the second-lowest OPS against teams he has played at least 15 times.
*Shohei Ohtani was 1x5 with two strikeouts. In 71 career games against the Astros, Ohtani is hitting .220/.314/.404 - the lowest OPS he's recorded against teams he has played at least 10 times.
*Kyle Tucker was 3x4 with two doubles - his first three-hit game since May 5, and the first time he's had a multi-XBH game since May 19. Tucker had posted one extra-base hit, a double, in his previous 10 games. He has struck out once in his last 29 plate appearances.
*Alex Bregman was 1x3 with 2RBI and a walk. On May 7, Bregman was hitting .195/.322/.320. Since then he's hitting .322/.368/.483. In his current eight-game hitting streak, Bregman is hitting .406/.424/.563.
Chandler Rome: Alex Bregman is trying to "do less" to get more.
*Jose Abreu was 1x3 with 2RBI, a double, and a sac fly. He has 5RBI in his last six games.
*Dusty Baker said Michael Brantley hit off a tee yesterday. So we can confirm that Michael Brantley exists. Not so much Lance McCullers Jr.
*Carlos Correa was removed from Minnesota's game after reaggravating the plantar fasciitis that saw him miss time last week. We do not Boo this man.
*National Treasure Sarah Langs reflects on her ALS diagnosis on Lou Gehrig Day.
*Leeds United majority owner Andrea Radrizzani is a piece of crap and needs to get out of Leeds United completely.
*Texas Monthly: 15 illegal votes have thrown Laredo in a state of turmoil.
*A Musical Selection: