*The Astros are 30-18, 6.0 up on the now-2nd place Seattle Mariners.
*A.J. Hinch was playing matchups by sending lefty Sipp in to face Chris Davis. (subscription)
*A.J. Hinch likes what he sees from Evan Gattis' plate approach lately:
His numbers are going to come back to where they're supposed to be. He's a good hitter and he conducts really good at-bats and it's nice to have him warming up.
*Orioles phenom Manny Machado asks Evan Drellich "What's the worst that can happen?" by promoting Carlos Correa.
*Dallas Keuchel is Jayson Stark's 1st Quarter AL Cy Young winner.
*Rob Neyer takes a look at the Astros' front-office approach.
*Here's the Washington Post on the difference between the Astros and Royals.
*The Philadelphia Daily News on the Astros' patience as a franchise.
*The Quad Cities Times on 2014 37th overall pick Derek Fisher.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
