* The Astros won their eighth straight game last night, completing a two-city, four-game sweep of the Rockies, 10-8. They scored five runs in two different innings and Josh Reddick made a great catch to end the game.
* The key to all the winning? Playing well, says Brian McTaggart. They're averaging six runs per game during the win streak and their starters have a 1.64 ERA.
* Kyle Tucker, like most people his age, has made loving Coors part of his identity. Four of his five career triples have come in Denver, including three over the last two days. His OPS+ his inched back up to 96 (100 being average). He's still a year younger than George Springer was when he made his debut.
* Alex Bregman has been put on the 10-day IL with a hamstring strain. If I were you, I would be very careful around the house today because you've got at least a 70 percent chance of hurting yourself if you're reading this.
* Fangraphs completed its annual Trade Value Rankings. Here are the relevant bits, although it is always a fun read:
- Bregman, #5
- Alvarez, #34
- Altuve, Honorable Mention
- Whitley, Honorable Mention
* The second-highest trade value, by the way, is one Fernando Tatis Jr. He and the Padres are what the kids are calling Hella Fun and this weekend series is going to be great. They just hit a grand slam in four straight games against the Rangers.
* ESPN's Sam Miller on the 20 ways MLB in 2020 is different than normal.
* The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal has a very good piece ($) about a weird rash of PED suspensions that players swear they did not knowingly take. It includes Astros prospect Kent Emanuel who vehemently denies taking PEDs but is currently serving an 80-game suspension.
* I have an Altuve piece locked-and-loaded and it will be published on Some Website at Some Time.
* A Musical Selection:
