There are currently 38 players on the Astros' 40-Man Roster. The deadline to set the 40-Man roster for Rule 5 purposes is at 7pm Central today.
*FanGraphs: Houston ranks 8th in total guaranteed contracts owed for 2018 and taking on Verlander's contract as well as increases in arbitration for some key players (Keuchel, Springer, McCullers) will mean - obviously - that their payroll will increase.
*Here's Bill James on Aaron Judge, Jose Altuve, Win Shares, WAR, and luck. And here's the follow-up.
*It took me a while, but I wrote about what CoolStandings told us about the 2017 Astros season.
*Joe Musgrove asked for fans' World Series tattoos.
*If you're planning on getting in line for Altuve's autograph at the Academy in Katy (I-10 and Grand Parkway) today...you're about eight hours too late.
*From the NCAA, who took time out of their busy schedule of screwing athletes, Evan Gattis' road to the World Series went through UT-Permian Basin.
*Lance McCullers and Alex Bregman were at Minute Maid Park yesterday for the Shriners Game.
*Here's Justin Verlander standing next to a pre-makeup extra on The Walking Dead:
Wow!!! So badass watching @eminem kill it last night at @nbcsnl #detroit #legend #walkonwater #stan #lovethewayyoulie https://t.co/ii7Ywb4OYN pic.twitter.com/dpWqU6duEq— Justin Verlander (@JustinVerlander) November 19, 2017
*Leeds United beat Boro 2-1.
*Christian Pulisic: Hope of a nation
