The Homestros struck again. After almost literally destroying the Rangers' will earlier in the week, the Astros reminded the fans to not get too excited. I'd like them to figure it out. Houston is 80-62 in 2023 - 35-35 at home. More on that in a minute. The Mariners and Rangers also lost. Toronto won.
*AL Playoff Picture:
1. Baltimore (89-51)
2. Houston (80-62)
3. Minnesota (74-67)
4. Tampa (86-56)
5. Seattle (79-62)
6. Toronto (78-63)
-
7. Balch Springs (76-64): +1.5
*AL West Odds (and Change from Yesterday)
Houston: 62.7% (+0.5%)
Seattle: 34.0% (-0.6%)
Balch Springs: 3.3% (+0.1%)
Houston: 62.2%
Seattle: 32.0%
Balch Springs: 5.8%
NL Wild Card Update:
1. Philadelphia (77-63): +4.0
2. Chicago (76-66): +2.0
3. Arizona (74-68): -
4. Miami (73-68): -0.5
5. Cincinnati (73-70): -1.5
6. San Francisco (71-70): -2.5
The Game
I know how good they are and I know how I've done against them in the past and I knew what I needed to do today. Definitely happy with how I pitched today.
Houston at home, All-Star Break to August 13: 7-4
August 14-since, Houston, at Minue Maid Park: 2-9.
Houston has lost six straight games at home. Last 11 games at home:
Yainer Diaz: .395/.409/.698
Alex Bregman: .333/.429/.500
Mauricio Dubon: .321/.345/.536
Yordan Alvarez: .296/.474/.296
Jeremy Pena: .282/.333/.410
Jose Altuve: .237/.275/.263
Chas McCormick: .222/.243/.389
Jose Abreu: .167/.250/.444
Martin Maldonado: .160/.160/.320
Kyle Tucker: .156/.194/.281
Yordan, Altuve, and Tucker have combined for three extra-base hits in their last 11 home games.
*Houston Astros, Away, 2023: .268/.339/.462, 118 home runs.
Houston Astros, Home, 2023: .251/.325/.407, 78 home runs.
*Astros home runs at Balch Springs, September 4-6, 2023: 16
Astros home runs at Minute Maid, August 1-present: 16
*Chandler Rome: What's up with the home record? The batter's eye may be to blame.
*Kyle Tucker was 0x4. Since his 3HR game on July 21, Tucker: .253/.359/.474. He has one home run in his last 73 PAs, last night was his 10th straight game without a home run, and six straight without an extra-base hit.
*Hunter Brown: 4.1IP, 6H/6ER, 5K:2BB. Outs recorded, starts, 2023:
6: 1
8: 1
9: 1
12: 2
13: 3
14: 3
15: 1
16: 1
17: 2
18: 7
21: 5
So that's 12 starts of 15 outs or fewer (and each of his last five starts) and 15 starts of 16 outs or more. Maldonado:
I think he threw a couple good innings. I feel like maybe he was rushing a little bit with men on base, trying to be quicker to the plate. I feel like that's when he lost kind of the strike zone. A couple unlucky hits that they got, especially in the second inning.
Expected Batting Average, base hits, Padres, 2nd Inning:
Machado: .600 (109.1mph single)
Campusano: .960 (91.2mph single)
Grisham: .460 (61.5mph single)
Kim: .170 (79.5mph single)
Obviously, it's really frustrating. I thought I made some good pitches there...To Grisham, I thought I made a pretty good pitch. It was probably two inches away from falling in Pena's glove. I think all that kind of stuff compounded and they were able to put four runs up.
Other Stuff
DUSTY BAKER: Chas! McCormick! Get your ass in here.
CHAS MCCORMICK: [trots in on the hop] Yeah, skip?
BAKER: If anyone asks, I never said you're fat.
MCCORMICK: Huh?
BAKER: God dang it, kid, I said [stubs out cigar] if anyone asks any questions regarding your weight, it didn't come from me.
MCCORMICK: But you're the first one to even bring this up?
BAKER: GET THE HELL OUT OF MY OFFICE, MCCORMICK
MCCORMICK: [backs out, confused. He slowly turns toward the door]
BAKER: [under his breath] fatass.
MCCORMICK: [spins around] what?!
BAKER: [screaming] I BRING YOU BANANA PUDDING EVERY WEEK! GET OUT!
*Here's a good article from The Athletic's Cody Stavenhagen, who spent a series embedded with the Mariners. Also: George Kirby is a PAB.
*Adolis Garcia has a strained patellar tendon, and may be out for the season. He's hitting .244/.322/.494 with 34HR/100RBI for the Rangers.
What To Read, September 9
*More than 1,000 people have been killed after an earthquake in Morocco.
*Marcelo Bielsa is making it easy again in Uruguay.
*"Stop Making Sense" is back.
*Texas Monthly: My brief career as a paid pro-Paxton propagandist.
*Ben Kweller is playing through the pain.
What To Watch, September 9
England @ Ukraine: 11am Central
Utah @ Baylor: 11am
Nebraska @ Colorado: 11am (Fox)
Diamondbacks @ Cubs: 1:20pm
Texas A&M @ Miami
Mariners @ Rays: 3:05pm
USMNT vs Uzbekistan: 4:30pm (TNT)
SMU @ OU: 5pm
Marlins @ Phillies: 5:05pm
Cardinals @ Reds: 5:40pm
Texas @ Alabama: 6pm
Houston @ Rice: 6pm (NFL Network)
A's @ Rangers: 6:05pm
Padres @ Astros: 6:10pm
*A Musical Selection:
