*On the road, Houston is 40-18 with a +154 run differential. Two teams - the Orioles and the Royals (who were both in the ALCS in 2015!) - don't have 40 wins total this season. Their road run differential (322 road runs scored, 168 road runs against) by itself would be the 2nd-highest run differential in baseball.
*Houston has won five of their last six since losing five straight.
*When Correa and Altuve were both healthy and available, from the start of the season until June 25:
-Houston was 52-28, with a .771 team OPS, scoring 5.15 runs/game.
*Since Correa last played on June 25:
-Houston is 20-14, with a .732 team OPS, scoring 4.56 runs/game.
Since Correa and Altuve have both been out:
Houston is 5-5 with a .735 team OPS, scoring 4.2 runs/game.
*Hector Rondon:
I know that we miss those guys, but these guys who are here, they are good too. We come here every day trying to win the game.
*Marwin had two of the Astros' four hits. When recording four or fewer hits, the Astros are now 3-9. Four of those four-or-fewer-hit games have come since the All-Star Break.
*Giants SP Dereck Rodriguez threw a start with a 78 Game Score, the highest Game Score by an opposing pitcher in a game in which the Astros won all season, and the highest since the Astros beat Toronto 2-1 after Marcus Stroman had a 79 Game Score on August 1, 2016.
*Houston's Win Expectancy% when Josh Reddick flied out for the 2nd out in the 9th: 7.6%.
Marwin Gonzalez destroyed a ball in the ninth inning. pic.twitter.com/SBeGhL6fHk— Christian Boutwell (@byCBoutwell) August 7, 2018
*Marwin's resurgence can be traced back to July 13. Over the 18 games since July 13, Marwin is hitting .298/.403/.561 with four home runs. He has three 2-hit games in his last five. Prior to July 13 Marwin was hitting .224/.302/.350. He had four home runs in his previous 60 games.
Marwin's home run was the first home run that Giants reliever Will Smith had allowed since July 30, 2016.
*Charlie Morton: 7IP, 3H/1ER, 8K:3BB. It's his 5th start of 7IP, 0-1ER this season. In his last three starts he's thrown 19IP, 13H/4ER, 21K:8BB. 16 of his 22 starts have been Quality.
Alex Bregman interrupted Charlie Morton's postgame interview.— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) August 7, 2018
Bregman: "You look great, Chuck."
Morton: "Aw, thanks pal, you too."
Bregman: "I'm talking physically. Handsome."
Morton: "OK"
*Roberto Osuna threw five pitches, and got the win. Osuna is now on pace to win every game in which he appears. Osuna:
Especially like being in such a great team with great teammates, it's easy to forget about the stuff that's going on off the field, and being able to play and help the team win is unbelievable. I really like my teammates. They've been treating me with a lot of respect, and I'm really comfortable.
Hinch:
It was a quick look obviously with five pitches. He's got a good arm. First game back is always important, it's the next step for him to get incorporated into our games, coming away with the win. A good first impression on the field.
*Hector Rondon has made 43 appearances this season, 21 at home and 22 on the road.
-Home: 19.1IP, 23H/10ER, 24K:8BB, .805 OPS-against, 4.66 ERA / 1.60 WHIP
-Away: 21.1IP, 10H/0ER, 27K:3BB, .340 OPS-against, 0.00 ERA / 0.61 WHIP
*Meat Wagon Update:
-George Springer sprained his thumb but did not sprain his UCL in his thumb, so he's expected to miss two weeks.
-Lance McCullers has a strained forearm muscle, and isn't expected back until September. But it's not Tommy John surgery!
-Carlos Correa took last night off and is expected to play full games for Corpus tonight and tomorrow.
-Altuve is scheduled for more baseball activities this weekend.
-Chris Devenski has begun a throwing program.
-McCann caught a Verlander bullpen session.
Whomever takes McCullers' spot in the rotation will be the 6th SP to start a game for the Astros this season. It's August. That's insane.
*From Our Boy Tyler Stafford: How Dallas Keuchel got his groove back.
*Check the Masked Marvel's Minor-League Recap.
*Seth Beer was named the Astros Minor-League Player of the Month. Framber Valdez is your Minor-League Pitcher of the Month.
*When the Astros swept Oakland on the road from June 12-14, Oakland was 34-36. Since then, however, Oakland is 33-10 and has the best record in baseball. And Oakland just traded for Mike F. Fiers.
*The Hardball Times' Stephanie Springer has an update on wearable technology in MLB, and the ethics that go with it.
*Will Leitch looks at the players who will be on the same team in 2025.
*Did Stephen King's son solve a 44-year old mystery?
