Monday Morning Hot Links

*The Astros completed yet another successful road trip (won six out of seven) after beating Seattle 8-2 yesterday. Francis Martes was pulled after two innings thanks to the stress of throwing 30+ pitches in each of them. George Springer, Yuli Gurriel, and Evan Gattis each hit home runs.

So the bullpen was forced to throw 7IP to get to the end of the game and a merciful off-day today. Over the past 30 days the Astros' bullpen ranks 5th in the Majors with 105.2IP thrown. Their 4.85 ERA is belied by a 3.43 FIP and a 3.25 xFIP. Will Harris:

I think we kind of had an idea with having an off-day tomorrow, we knew it was kind of all-hands-on-deck. If one guy struggles, the leash may be shorter than normal. Obviously, with Martes, it happens to everybody. 

*Hinch, on Martes:

I thought he was off from the beginning. You could tell by his mannerisms he was very disappointed in himself. He was carrying a big burden of trying to be perfect.

*Note

Today is the first time since Sept. 21, 2012 the Astros won a game when their starter went two or fewer innings. Here's who pitched it: pic.twitter.com/QwvuMKIbRg

— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) June 26, 2017

*The Astros have decided to be overly-cautious with Dallas Keuchel's neck injury, and he's likely out until the All-Star Break, which is another three weeks or so (the Astros open a series with the Twins on Friday, July 14). Hinch:

He's continuing to progress. We're going a little bit slower than maybe we could or he could, just being conservative. We've worked so hard to get him to continue to progress with no setbacks. We want to just keep methodically putting a few more challenges in front of him and making him feel a little bit better.

Would you rather Dallas Keuchel start the All-Star Game, or Game 1 of the World Series? 

*At 52-25 and with a 13-game lead, here are the Off-Day Playoff Odds:

FanGraphs: 99.6% to win the division, 99.9% to make the postseason.

Baseball Prospectus: 99.1% to win the division, 100.0% to make the postseason.

FiveThirtyEight: 96% to win the division, >99% to make the postseason.

*Lance McCullers is making a case for an All-Star nod.

*Richard Justice says it's not too early to start thinking about an Astros/Dodgers World Series. 

*Collin McHugh could head out for a rehab start this week.

*Jordan Jankowski didn't pitch yesterday, and was sent back to Fresno.

*J.D. Davis hit his league-leading 18th home run yesterday for Corpus.

*Down at Tri-City, pitcher Diogenes Almengo threw 2.2IP of no-hit baseball. But walked eight batters. 

PreStros Morning Report: July 4

Fresno (48-35, 7.0 up)

Brett Oberholtzer gave up three first inning runs, but Fresno rattled off all the unanswered runs in a 10-3 win. Oberholtzer went 6IP, 6H/3ER, 4K:2BB; Jose Veras, James Hoyt (3K), and Tyson Perez (2K) combined for three scoreless innings of relief.

Tyler Heineman (3RBI), L.J. Hoes (2B, RBI) and Tyler White (2B) had three hits each; Tony Kemp was 2x5 with a three-run homer, Jonathan Villar was 2x5 with an RBI; Robbie Grossman was 1x3 with two walks.

Man of the Match: Tyler Heineman

Corpus (53-26, clinched playoff berth)

Corpus never trailed at Tulsa, holding the Drillers to three hits in a 5-1 win. Michael Feliz threw 5IP, 2H/1ER, 2K:1BB; Chris Cotton struck out two in 2IP and Travis Ballew retired the final six batters of the game.

Colin Moran was 2x4 with a double, triple, and 2RBI; Chan Moon was 2x2 with a walk and a stolen base; Conrad Gregor and Danry Vasquez each had an RBI; Brett Phillips was 1x4. Jon Kemmer was 1x2 with 2BB.

Man of the Match: Colin Moran

Lancaster (42-37; 5-4 in 2nd Half, tied)

Lancaster and Lake Elsinore went back and forth all game and headed into the 9th tied 4-4 before Lancaster plated a run in the top of the 9th to go ahead 5-4, only to give up two runs in the bottom of the 9th for a walk-off 6-5 loss. Bryan Radziewski threw 4.2IP, 7H/4R (3ER), 4K:5BB; Akeem Bostick went 3.2IP, 3H/2R (1ER), 4K:0BB. Yep, two unearned runs in a one-run loss.

Derek Fisher was 2x5 with a double and a solo homer; Jacob Nottingham was 2x5 with a double and 2RBI; Jack Mayfield was 2x3 with two walks and an RBI; A.J. Reed was 2x4 with a walk. Marc Wik was 2x3 with a double, walk, and an outfield assist.

Man of the Match: Jack Mayfield

Quad Cities (52-26 overall, clinched playoff berth)

Quad Cities had a 5-4 lead heading into the bottom of the 8th before Peoria tied it up to send the game to extra-innings. Then Quad Cities put up three in the top of the 11th and held on for an 8-5 win. Christian Powell threw 5IP, 7H/4ER, 5K:2BB; Jorge Perez gave up 4H/1ER, 2K:0BB in 2.1IP; Angel Heredia threw 3.2IP, 0H/0ER, 4K:1BB for the win.

Alex Bregman was 3x5 with a double, walk, and 2RBI, Nick Tanielu was 3x6. Ramon Laureano hit the go-ahead three run homer in the 11th to finish the day 2x6 with 3RBI. Trent Woodward was 2x5 with a walk. Bobby Boyd was 1x2 with a double, three walks, and 2RBI.

Man of the Match: Angel Heredia

Tri-City (7-9, 5.0 GB)

Ti-City gave up four runs in the 2nd and two more in the 3rd and rallied, but just couldn't overcome that 2nd inning in a 6-5 loss to division-leading Lowell. Rogelio Armenteros allowed 6H/6ER, 5K:0BB in 4IP; Elieser Hernandez struck out 10 and allowed just one hit in 4IP; Zac Grotz recorded the final three outs of the game. In 15.2IP in 2015, Hernandez has allowed 12H/3ER with 28K:0BB.

Pat Porter was 3x5 with two doubles, a homer, and 4RBI on the day; Drew Ferguson was 1x2 with three walks; Johnny Sewald was 0x2 with 2BB and 2SB. Bobby Wernes was 1x3 with a walk.

Man of the Match: Elieser Hernandez

Greeneville (7-4, 1.0 up)

Greeneville scored ten runs on Elizabethton by the end of the 4th, cruising to a 10-3 win. Junior Garcia threw 4IP, 1H/0ER, 4K:1BB; Jose Montero retired the side in the 5th; Ryan Deemes allowed 4H/1ER, 6K:0BB in 3IP; Brandon Culbreth allowed 3H/2ER, 1K:2BB in 0.2IP; and Joselo Pinales got the final out of the game.

Connor Goedert was 4x5 with a double and 2RBI; Osvaldo Duarte (2B, 3B, BB, 3RBI), Myles Straw (BB, RBI), Aaron Mizell (BB), Randy Cesar (2B, RBI), Brauly Mejia (RBI), and Ford Stainback (2BB, 2RBI) had two hits each.

Man of the Match: Connor Goedert

GCL Astros (1-11, 7.0 GB)

The 1-10 GCL Astros had a 6-0 lead and somehow ended up losing 7-6 to the GCL Blue Jays to slide to 1-11. Enrique Chavez threw 3.1IP, 5H/1ER, 3K:1BB; Junior Garcia struck out two in 0.2IP; Gerald Benzant allowed 1H/3ER, 0K:2BB, Balk in 0.0IP; Starlyng Sanchez allowed 4H/3ER, 1K:0BB and two of Benzant's runs in 1IP; and Diogenes Almengo struck out three in three scoreless, hitless innings.

Vicente Sanchez was 2x4 with a walk; Kyle Tucker was 1x4 with a triple and an RBI; Nestor Muriel, Reiny Beltre (3B), and Joan Muricio had your other hits.

Man of the Match: Diogenes Almengo

PreStros Morning Report: June 30

TL;DR

*Astros affiliates go 3-5 on the day
*Brady Rodgers throws a strong start and Nolan Fontana gets three hits in a 10-5 Fresno win.
*Corpus is at the Texas League All-Star Break
*Lancaster rallied back from 7-0 down only to lose 9-8
*Quad Cities won the completion of Monday's game but dropped the 7-inning Tuesday game
*Tri-City lost 2-1 at Connecticut
*Connor Goedert went 3x4 with 4RBI and three runs scored in a Greeneville win
*The GCL Astros extended their season-opening losing skid to eight games.

Fresno (45-34, 6.0 up)

Fresno stopped a four-game losing streak by going up 8-0 with the help of a 5-run 6th inning and then holding off El Paso for a 10-5 win. Brady Rodgers threw 6.2IP, 5H/3ER, 5K:0BB; Mitch Lambson hit a batter in 1.1 scoreless/hitless IP; and Tyson Perez allowed 3H/2ER, 0K:1BB in 1IP.

Nolan Fontana was 3x4 with a walk and and RBI; Robbie Grossman was 2x3 with three walks and a stolen base; Tony Kemp (2B, RBI),  Matt Duffy (RBI), Jonathan Villar, Tyler Heineman (2RBI), and Andrew Aplin (BB, 2RBI) all had two hits each.

Man of the Match: Robbie Grossman

Corpus (51-25, clinched playoff berth)

Texas League All-Star Game. Conrad Gregor was 0x3, Tyler White was 0x2, and Roberto Pena was 0x1 as the North defeated the South 9-4. Chris Devenski threw 2IP, 0H/0ER, 2K:0BB; Travis Ballew allowed 2H/0ER in 0.2IP, Jandel Gustave struck out one and walked three, allowing 3ER; and Aaron West got the final two outs of the game.

Lancaster (40-35 overall, 3-2 in 2nd Half, 1.0 GB)

Down 7-0 by the middle of the 3rd inning, Lancaster started a comeback that would result in a 7-7 tie heading into the 9th, but allowing two runs in the top of the 9th, the rally fell short as the JetHawks fell to Inland Empire 9-8. Troy Scribner allowed 9H/7ER, 5K:5BB in 6IP; Andrew Walter allowed 1H/0ER, 1K:0BB in the 7th, and Reymin Guduan allowed 3H/2ER, 1K:1BB in 2IP.

Chase McDonald was 2x5 with a double and a 9th inning solo homer; James Ramsay also had two hits, a stolen base, and an RBI. Derek Fisher and J.D. Davis drove in two runs each. Mott Hyde and Jack Mayfield had a hit and a walk; A.J. Reed was 0x3 with 2BB.

Man of the Match: Chase McDonald

Quad Cities (49-25, clinched playoff berth)

Game 1: Quad Cities and Beloit finished Game 1 due to Monday's cancellation, but Game 1 went 12 innings with Quad Cities prevailing, 2-1. Brandon McNitt threw 3.1IP, 2H/0ER, 1K:2BB; Michael Freeman threw 2.2IP, 0H/0ER, 1K:0BB; Riley Ferrell made his professional debut, allowing two hits and the tying run with 1K:0BB in the 7th to send it to extras; Angel Heredia threw 4IP, 0H/0ER, 5K:2BB and Jordan Mills got the win with a perfect 12th.

Nick Tanielu was 3x6; Ramon Laureano was 2x5; Ryan Bottger was 1x4 with two walks and your lone RBI; Jamie Ritchie, Alex Bregman, Alex Hernandez, and Bobby Boyd each had a hit and drew a walk.

Man of the Match: Angel Heredia

Game 2: Beloit put up three runs in the 2nd, which was all they'd need in what would be a 4-1 Quad Cities loss. David Paulino allowed 7H/3R (2ER), 4K:1BB in 4IP; Eric Peterson threw 2IP, 3H/1ER, 1K:2BB; Ryan Thompson allowed 1H/0ER, 2K:0BB in 1IP.

Ramon Laureano was 2x3 with the only run scored and two stolen bases; Sean McMullen was 0x0 with two walks and an RBI sac fly scoring Laureano. Other than that it was a big buncha nothin.

Man of the Match: Ramon Laureano

Tri-City (5-7, 5.0 GB)

Tri-City struck first with a run in the 2nd, but Connecticut got it done with a 2-1 win. Trent Thornton threw 4IP, 6H/1ER, 6K:0BB; Scott Weatherby allowed 4H/1ER, 1K:1BB in 2.1IP, and Steve Naemark retired all five batters he faced.

Bobby Wernes was 2x3 with a walk and an RBI; Dexture McCall was 1x3 with a walk; Cesar Carrasco and Antonio Nunez had your other hits.

Man of the Match: Trent Thornton

Greeneville (5-3, tied for 1st)

Princeton took a 2-0 lead in the first, but Greeneville responded with six unanswered runs on their way to a 10-6 win. Yhoan Acosta allowed 4H/5R (3ER), 3K:1BB in 3.1IP; Juan Delis allowed 2H/0ER, 2K:2BB in 1IP; Cristhopher (not a typo) Santamaria faced one batter and got two out; Zac Grotz threw 2IP, 0H/0ER, 1K:1BB and Jacob Dorris allowed 0H/1ER, 3K:2BB.

Connor Goedert had a weird day, going 3x4 with a homer, 4RBI, three runs scored, a stolen base, and an error. Randy Cesar was 2x5 with a grand slam in the 3rd. Kevin Martir went 3x4 with a walk and 2RBI; Aaron Mizell was 2x4 with a walk, and Luis Payano was 2x4 with a double.

Man of the Match: Connor Goedert

GCL Astros (0-8)

Game 1: The GCL Astros lost 2-1 to the GCL Phillies. Jose Rosario allowed 5H/2ER, 3K:0BB; Edgardo Sandoval allowed 1H/0ER, 1K:0BB in 4IP; Carlos Hiraldo threw two hitless/scoreless innings, and Adonis Pena allowed a hit in 1IP. Bryan De La Cruz was 2x4; Frankeny Fernandez was 1x3 with a triple and a walk; Reiny Beltre was 1x3 with a walk; Vicente Sanchez was 0x1 with three walks. Kyle Tucker went 0x4 with 3K.

Man of the Match: Edgardo Sandoval

Game 2: The GCL Phillies extended the GCL Astros' losing streak to open the season to eight games with a walk-off 1-0 win. Diogenes Almengo threw 5IP, 3H/0ER, 3K:0BB and Enrique Chavez allowed 3H/1ER, 2K:2BB in 2.1IP. Wander Franco was 2x3, Ruben Castro (SB) and Jared Cruz had your other hits.

Man of the Match: Diogenes Almengo