Chas McCormick swept the Cleveland Guardians 3-2. Houston is 62-47, and sit 0.5 games back in the AL West. Since losing five straight games from June 15-19, the Astros are 23-13. That is the best record in the American League by 1.5 games.
*The win improves the Astros' record against the AL Central to 11-11, mainly thanks to going 3-7 against the Tigers and Twins.
*Cleveland scored five runs in the three-game series, the fewest number of runs allowed in a three-game series since May 26-28, 2023, when Oakland scored three runs in three games.
*Chas McCormick hit two home runs in a game for the third time in his career and the second time since July 16. How two fixes turned Chas McCormick's career around.
*Yordan Alvarez was 2x4 with a double. In the six games since his return from an oblique injury, Yordan is hitting .409/.480/.773.
*Alex Bregman was 2x2 with two walks, getting on base four times for the 7th time in 2023.
*Yainer Diaz also went 2x4, enjoying a 2-hit game for the third time in his last four games. Since the All-Star Break, Diaz is hitting .326/.360/.587.
*After going 0x3 yesterday, Corey Julks is now hitless in his last 36 PAs.
*Ronel Blanco: 4IP, 5H/2ER, 3K:4BB. Blanco has made seven starts for the Astros in 2023, and allowed three or fewer earned runs in six of them. The Astros are 3-4 in those starts. Blanco was optioned to Sugar Land after the game for the fourth time this season. One more option before he has to be placed on waivers first.
*Parker Mushinski, since the All-Star Break: 4 appearances, 5.1IP, 4H/1ER, 5K:1BB.
*Hector Neris has appeared in 48 games for the 2023 Astros, and hasn't allowed a hit in 23 of them. He hasn't allowed a baserunner in 14 of those games.
*Dusty Baker won his 2,155th game as a manager in 3,993rd game. He's three wins shy of tying Hall of Famer Bucky Harris for 7th all-time, and 39 wins short of passing Sparky Anderson for 6th all-time.
*Houston's rotation this weekend is a little up in the air with the arrivals of Justin Verlander and Jose Urquidy.
*How ESPN went from Disney's financial engine to its main problem.
*A Musical Selection: