Sunday Morning Hot Links

*The Masked Marvel has the recap of yesterday's extra-innings walk-off win over the A's. The Angels, Twins, and Mariners all lost, with Seattle's loss coming at the hands of West Dallas. That puts the AL West as such:
Rangers: -
Mariners: -2
Astros: -7
Angels: -8
A's: -8.5

*The Astros are 27-30. Since getting swept by the Rangers they are 10-2. The Astros now have a 41% chance to make the playoffs via FanGraphs, a 31% chance to make the playoffs via Baseball Prospectus, and FiveThirtyEight still isn't as sold as the other two with a 24% chance to make the playoffs.

*Still, Gregerson blew yet another save opportunity in the 9th - his 5th of the season in 18 attempts, most in baseball - and all since May 11. It was his second consecutive blown save, and he has allowed at least one run in three of his last four outings. Gregerson:
A lot of times I'm putting the ball almost right where I want it - down in the zone and good locations. Sometimes, you're just getting beat and I'm just trying not to get too frustrated with myself because I know that I'm making the pitch I want and right now, it's just not coming my way. 

*Baseball America's John Manuel told the Chronicle that it's a good year to not have high draft picks, and zeroed in on Virginia's Matt Thaiss as a player that would fit Luhnow's M.O. and would fill a catching need in the organization. Lots of good quotes in this one.

*The Astros put Tyler White's car in center field during batting practice as a prank. Tyler White was not happy, especially when he couldn't find the keys and Carlos Gomez bunted into it hit it with a towering fly ball. Keuchel:
As long as you don't take it out of context, it's all fun and games and it makes you a little bit stronger. So (White) is one of the guys we like and we'll continue to get on him a little bit, and it will make him tougher.

*Sonny Gray will come off the DL and pitch today against the Astros.

*Chad Qualls is the active leader for most wins in relief.

*Noted terrible person and Marlins team president David Samson explained how they broke the news of Muhammad Ali's passing.

*Jerry Izenberg: I called Ali my friend.

*Jose de Jesus Ortiz writes that Baylor should have been more like Uncle Drayton.

*Jurgen Klinsmann's optimism from the Colombia game might screw the US over against Costa Rica.

*The Little League team with Kevin Love and Klay Thompson.