Wednesday, May 31, 2017

Wednesday Morning Hot Links

*Mike Fiers threw very well - he didn't give up a home run in a start for the first time all season (last night was his 10th start of the year). Fiers, 1st inning: 3H/2ER, 1K:2BB, WP. Fiers, 2nd-6th innings: 2H/0ER, 7K:1BB. Astros win 7-2.

*A.J. Hinch:
It was a great performance by Fiers. He came into the game having been told he's out of the rotation. He gets back in the rotation and comes out and puts up a performance like that. He controlled the first inning, which was key, and really dialed it in from then on to the end of his outing. Really proud of him. 

*The Astros have 21 wins in May. It's the fifth time in franchise history they've had at least 21 wins, and a win today would tie the franchise record of 22 (twice). These 21 May wins are equal to or greater than the total number of wins for the Marlins, Phillies, and Padres.

*On this six-game winning streak, the Astros have 71 hits.

*Jose Altuve was 4x5 with 2RBI. While he's hitting .320/.383/.510 in 2017, his home/road splits are striking:
Home: .237/.278/.364
Road: .439/.521/.720

Altuve:
I realize that I'm playing better on the road. I don't know why, but I think it's just coincidence. It's not a reason why I'm doing that. I'm just trying to be the same player...and help my team.

*Josh Reddick, who drew five walks in all of April, drew three walks last night. It's the 2nd time this season he's had a 3BB game (May 4 vs. Arlington), and the 4th time in his 835-game career.

*Alex Bregman batted 9th for the third time in his career and went 2x3 with a home run and 2RBI.

*Joe Musgrove was placed on the DL with a sore shoulder. Given that it's retroactive to Saturday, it's possible he only misses his start today. David Paulino will start today against the Twins, instead. Musgrove:
For now, we expect to make that start. It doesn't feel like anything too serious. But it's enough to where I can't throw comfortably and I can't go through a normal delivery.

25 minutes ago the rotation was Keuchel/McCullers/Morton/Musgrove/Fiers. Now it's Keuchel/McCullers/Fiers/Paulino/Peacock. Life comes at you fast.

*FanGraphs: The Mostly-Legit Marwin Gonzalez

*Lefty reliever Reymin Guduan was promoted to Houston from Fresno and will join the bullpen.

*Kyle Tucker and Jason Martin were promoted from Buies Creek to Double-A Corpus Christi yesterday. Tucker was hitting .288/.379/.554 as a 20-year old in High-A. AC Favorite Dean Deetz and Alejandro Garcia were promoted to Fresno.

*Houston Press: Don't celebrate anything yet

*The preservation/revitalization of the Astrodome can move forward.

*Read this article from the New Yorker about Kip Litton: Marathon Man