Tuesday, June 20, 2017

Tuesday Morning Hot Links

*Brad Peacock threw 5.2IP, allowing 4H/1ER, 8K:2BB. The Astros are 4-2 in Peacock's starts this season and he has thrown 28.1IP, 22H/12ER, 44K:14BB in those starts, on a .356 BABIP. The Astros beat the A's 4-1 behind home runs from George Springer, Jake (Roger Maris)nick, and Derek Fisher.

*Hinch, on Peacock:
Peacock had a really good breaking ball tonight, and he could throw it whenever he wanted to...Really only had one inning where he ran into a little bit of traffic and trouble, and Will [Harris] came in and bailed him out. Excellent, excellent start by him. 

Peacock's 13.3 K/9 rate is 2nd on the team, behind only James Hoyt.

*Springer is the first Astro to hit 20 home runs before the All-Star Break since Lance Berkman and Carlos Lee did it in 2008.

*Four of Marisnick's nine home runs have gone 440+ feet.

*Josh Reddick is coming off the DL today and Derek Fisher is headed back to Fresno. Hinch:
I'm proud of him. He's a part of this. It's not an easy send down because he's done nothing wrong. But the way our roster's configured, where we're comfortable right now, we've got to make the move. 

*ESPN's Dan Szymborski: Should you hop on the Astros' bandwagon?

*Alex Bregman had two doubles last night in the #8 spot - his first extra-base hit in 25 plate appearances and his first 2XBH-game since May 24 against the Tigers. Jeff Blogwell wrote that Bregman is, in fact, good and is, in fact, about to get better.

*Lance McCullers is on track to rejoin the rotation this weekend.

*Dallas Keuchel played catch and Charlie Morton threw 50 pitches in a bullpen session before heading to Fresno on a rehab assignment.

*Luhnow, on the injuries to the rotation:
I don't characterize any of these are major injuries because all of these guys are expected to be back and expected to contribute in the second half. But to have them all happen at the same time is a little frustrating and really stresses our organizational depth.

*Tonight's game features Sonny Gray vs. Francis Martes. A preview of a trade to come?

*If Houston is Gray's destination, the A's may wait until next week's series with the Astros is over before dealing him. Click the link and read about how one NL team wants to turn him into a closer. Probably the Mets.

*Martes is totally fine with a Johnny Cueto comp.

*James Hoyt made Dustin Pedroia spit up blood.

*Watch Kyle Tucker hit an opposite-field home run:

*Hooks manager Rodney Linares has been pushing for J.D. Davis to get promoted.

*Rosenthal: A trade deadline guide for the Orioles, A's, and Tigers

*Check the updated 2017 Draft page.