Sunday Morning Hot Links

No one will decide to take the family to Minute Maid (or literally any of the other 29 stadiums) simply because Brad Peacock is pitching. Justin Verlander? Sure. Gerrit Cole? Maybe. But Brad Peacock has been a completely different pitcher since throwing out of the stretch. The Astros and Red Sox were scoreless until the bottom of the 6th and went back-and-forth before Carlos Correa walked it off in the bottom of the 9th. Houston is 35-18.

*The Astros have matched their April win total with 17. There are five games remaining in May.

Most wins, calendar month:
22: May 2017, July 2005, August 1998
21: September 2018, August 2008, August 2001
20: September 2017, September 2004, June 1979, July 1976, May 1969,

*Houston has won 17 of their last 21 games. They are 8-5 in 1-run games. Last night was the Astros' first win of the season in a game in which they did not hit a home run.

*The Astros officially won the season series with the Red Sox with last night's win. Three of the five games played were decided by one run, four of them by two runs.

*Brad Peacock threw 6IP, 4H/0ER, 8K:1BB. Since moving to a full wind-up, Peacock: 23IP, 12H/1ER, 32K:6BB. That's an 0.39 ERA / 0.78 WHIP.

*Roberto Osuna's 25-game consecutive game save streak came to an end. Osuna:
This was one of those days. They attacked me early, but I was able to make the adjustments late in the inning and keep the leading run at third...I was able to keep the game close for the guys to win.

*Houston was 4x13 w/RISP and Boston was 3x12. The Astros left 12 men on base.

*Carlos Correa got the walkoff hit in the bottom of the 9th to complete a 3x4 day. Correa, on his approach to the walkoff PA:
I didn't really want to give the at-bat to Yuli. A walk or a sac fly would get the job done. I'm not trying to do too much, I'm just trying to put the ball in play to right-center field and it happened to fall for a hit. Once I hit it, I knew it was going to stay fair. It was on a line over the first baseman. That's why I started celebrating right when I hit it.

"We got guys who can get the job done." @Ken_Rosenthal talks with @TeamCJCorrea after his walk-off hit. pic.twitter.com/OnkWFXr17L

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) May 26, 2019

*Aledmys Diaz had hit three doubles all season long, then got two last night. It's his first multi-extra-base hit game of the season.

*George Springer, the Astros, and all of us got a mixed bag of news related to Springer's hamstring today: It's a Grade 2 strain. Altuve's is considered a Grade 1 strain. Hinch:
It's not as dramatic as we had feared. He's going to be out a little while and is going to exceed the 10 days. But (the doctors) were encouraged by their findings and their observation. He's really sore. He's not going to do anything for the foreseeable future. But hopefully, if the initial diagnosis is right, then we've avoided the catastrophe that it looked like on the field.

I think the most interesting thing about this quote is the emotion that is clear in Hinch's words. Hinch is not an emotional guy, at least outwardly. He might cry at Verizon commercials at home, I don't know, but he doesn't use "dramatic" and "catastrophe" in his comments to the media. So he's relieved, as we all are.

Yordan Alvarez Kyle Tucker Derek Fisher was called up to take Springer's spot, proving that the Astros - who care not for your tweets to them - are sticking to the "methodical plan" they have outlined for Yordan Alvarez to join the Astros. McTaggart straight up says that they're waiting until after the Super Two deadline passes, in which the Astros get one less year of arbitration with Alvarez before free agency. Jake Kaplan with the fire:
There is no performance-based argument for Fisher to be called up ahead of Alvarez, only ones related to service time and cost-cutting. By delaying the start of Alvarez's service time clock and ensuring he won't qualify for the Super Two designation during the 2021-22 offseason, the Astros stand to save a few million dollars down the road.

Our Own Brian Arbour asks if we fans should even care about the Super Two deadline. It's extremely good.

At any rate, in the Hinch-quote link, Kaplan outlines how the Astros have to replace Springer (team leader on offense, leadoff hitter, etc.) and why 2017 World Series Game 5 Hero Derek Fisher got the call. Hinch has already said he plans to go Bregman-Brantley-Correa in Spots 2-4, so presumably Altuve will take over the leadoff role until Springer gets back, which I'm estimating (with no knowledge of the situation) will be between the end of June and the All-Star Break. Luhnow, on Fisher:
We really felt like Fisher, given his ability to play center field and his speed and the fact he's been hitting well for a while now and can steal a base, it's a good combination for us.

Also, the Springer injury probably accelerated Jose Altuve's return, with which I suspect the Astros were being overly conservative. Altuve will join Round Rock today in Nashville (jealous) play today and tomorrow and possibly rejoin the Astros after Monday's doubleheader with Nashville. Luhnow:
[Round Rock has] a doubleheader [Monday], so he'll be able to get as many at-bats as he needs. We do a checkpoint after the first night and after the second day and then come back here. We're hoping to get him in a game here before [the road trip], but certainly the goal is to have him active and playing every day by the time we get out on the road trip.

*And then Max Freaking Stassi left the game early with an injury. Guess it's time to see what Garrett Stubbs has done with Round Ro- oh he went 1x2 with a walk and a 2-run home run before getting replaced probably about five minutes after Stassi left the game. Kyle Tucker hit his 15th home run of the season, and A.J. Reed went 2x5 with 3RBI. Stubbs is apparently on his way to Houston. It is his birthday. Not a bad present.

*Here's a good piece from Chandler Rome on newly-promoted-to-Round-Rock Brandon Bielak's ninja-like assault on the Astros' top prospect list.

*Corpus tied the game with two runs in the bottom of the 9th, but Frisco re-took the lead in the top of the 10th for a 10-9 win. Abraham Toro was 3x5 with 4RBI, and was a double away from the cycle. Seth Beer was 4x5 with 2RBI, and is hitting .382/.488/.529 in nine games since getting called up to Corpus.

*Ruben Foster and Freudis Nova have joined Quad Cities. Spoiler alert: Freudis Nova plays a huge role in my 4th-straight World Series win in 2023 on OOTP 20.

*Chandler Rome: Jeff Bagwell has a lot to offer this group of Astros hitters.

*The Rays are keeping in touch with Dallas Keuchel AND Craig Kimbrel.

*The San Antonio Express-News' Mike Finger has some excellent satirical shade towards Art Briles and Mount Vernon High School.

*RIP, legendary Dallas Morning-News sportswriter Gerry Fraley. Here's a great tribute from Evan P. Grant.

*Two nights ago Colorado's Trevor Story hit his 100th career home run in his 448th career MLB game. It's the fewest number of games ever by a shortstop hitting 100 home runs. Carlos Correa is at 92 home runs in 520 games.

*Amanda Eller, lost in a Hawaiian forest for 17 days, was found alive. Here's how.

*A Musical Selection:

Tuesday Morning Hot Links

Off-Day yesterday for everyone in baseball except the Brewers, and Walker Buehler. Astros/Red Sox at Minute Maid Park at 4:09pm Central today. I'm actually okay with the afternoon start time, as the Dodgers are playing a home game in Game 4. No Start Time Shenanigans from me today!

*Since the beginning of the 2017 postseason, the Astros are 10-1 at home in the playoffs, the lone loss coming in Game 4 of the World Series, with a +30 run differential.

*As we go back to the simulation sites, it's worth remembering that FiveThirtyEight's Game Prediction is 0-2: They thought the Red Sox would win G1 and the Astros would win G2. That said:

-FiveThirtyEight still gives the Astros a 58-42 edge in the ALCS, with a 55-45 nod in Game 3.
-FanGraphs has the Astros at 54-46 over Boston in the series.

*It's not terribly surprising that Dallas Keuchel isn't a fan of Bullpenning. Keuchel:
I think the 25-man roster, maybe a 30-man roster, throughout the course of 162 games is an ancient artifact now, where teams are more willing to just do whatever it takes, no matter the cost. But I don't like that.

In that link, we find Alex Cora talking about Alex Bregman going 0x3 with 6BB and an HBP. Cora:
So far we keep throwing to the edges, and he's not swinging. He's taking his walks. But we'll stay with our game plan. We still are attacking him the way we feel. And I'm not saying, 'So far, so good,' but there's not too much damage done from that spot right now.

It will be up to the guys behind Bregman to drive him in and score some runs.

*Mark Feinsand has the three keys for the Astros to win Game 3.

*Jose Altuve may start at DH in Game 3. Hinch, on Altuve and his knee:
We're going to play three days in a row here. So I talked to him about that, and just for him to continue to give us what he's got. And he's fine. Obviously it didn't hurt his swing in the ninth inning [Sunday night]. He's able to be a productive player. But he's battling it a little bit.

A.J. Hinch was asked about Bregman's Instagram story showing the #Astros hitting homers of Nate Eovaldi (😐, I know). His response is great, wants players to be who they are...and he ends with a "Troll Away". pic.twitter.com/BjImPWj0gy

— Daniel Gotera (@DTGoteraKHOU) October 15, 2018

*The Athletic's Rustin Dodd: A.J. Hinch, once ahead of his time, is fueled by the lessons of the past. History, FTW.

*Here's a good Tyler Kepner article on Dallas "Kuechel," which is East Coast Headline Writer-speak for "Keuchel." (Kepner got his name right in the article. The headline guy? Come on, dude.)

*For as much as J.D. Martinez doesn't want to talk about the Astros, he sure does bring them up a lot.

*Alex Bregman and his connection to Ted Williams.

*Going to any of the games this week? Parking is going to suck.

*NY Times' Billy Witz has a good article on bullpen-changer Ryan Pressly. Luhnow:
Knowing that A.J. doesn't have to go grab our fifth starter and hope he can get three or four innings of a close playoff game, yeah, that gives me a lot of comfort this year compared to last. 

*The Toronto Sun: "Dynastic" Astros a tough out.

*Washington Post: The Astros take good pitchers and make them better.

*Jerome Solomon: Roberto Osuna is ready to do his part for the Astros.

*Speaking of Osuna, the Astros have made a long-term commitment to work with a dozen local and state agencies that advocate for victims of domestic violence.

*A Musical Selection:

Wednesday Morning Hot Links

I don't know, folks, I think that the extra five innings the bullpen had to throw on Sunday because Giles/Harris/Rondon/Randazzo couldn't hold a five-run lead in the 9th is starting to have some effects. Astros take a 5-3 lead into the 9th, and leave with a 6-5 loss in the 10th.

*Cavs-Warriors for the 4th time. Did some looking at the behest of a friend. The Yankees and Dodgers played each other in the World Series four times in five seasons from 1952-1956, but - as far as I can tell - no two teams have faced each other four seasons in a row in the World Series. Anyone that tells you that the 1950s were the Golden Age of Baseball is from New York. Baseball pretty much sucked if you weren't a Yankees/Dodgers/Giants fan.

*Oh yeah, the Astros. They lost. The Yankees committed five errors. The Astros were 3x17 w/Runners in Scoring Position. 6-9 in the lineup (Davis/Marisnick, Marwin, Stassi, Kemp) were a combined 1x8 w/RISP. Marwin had the lone hit w/RISP from that stretch of the lineup, and it resulted in two runs.

*Yankee bullpen: 4IP, 2H/0ER, 6K:3BB
Astros bullpen: 3.2IP, 6H/3ER, 7K:1BB

*Hinch:
We had a tough time finishing a few hitters that paid off big for them. Obviously, our bullpen has been beat up a little bit. We had a number of guys we weren't going to use tonight. That was changing as the game was going. We feel it a little bit on a night like this, where a leadoff walk ends up coming back and scoring on a home run, or a two-strike double that leads to another expanded opportunity with Torres at the end.

*The Astros are 34-3 when leading after the 8th inning. They were 33-1 after Saturday's game.

*Thanks to Brian McTaggart, I can safely tell you that it's the 6th time in franchise history that the Astros have lost a game in which their opponent committed five or more errors. The last time was June 12, 1993 when the Rockies committed five errors and still won 14-11.

*Charlie Morton: 6IP, 8H/3ER, 10K:1BB, 2HR. It's the 3rd 2HR game Morton has allowed this season. It's the 4th 10+ strikeout game he's thrown this season.

Charlie Morton 10+ strikeout games, 2008-2016: 1 (161 starts)
Charlie Morton 10+ strikeout games, 2017-2018: 7 (35 starts)

*Joe Smith, May 2018: 8IP, 2H/1ER, 8K:1BB. This is probably more what the Astros had in mind when they signed him than Smith's April 2018: 8.1IP, 10H/8ER, 9K:3BB.

*Chris Devenski allowed the game-tying home run to Brett Gardner after walking the leadoff hitter.
The walk is what killed me. That walk is unacceptable in that situation, it caused a lot of damage there. 

*Brad Peacock has now pitched on May 26, May 27, and May 29. Those three games: 3IP, 4H/3ER, 2K:2BB. Peacock has allowed a run in three consecutive games, after having thrown a scoreless outing in 16 of his previous 18 appearances in 2018.

*Brett Gardner - who has the facial features of a thumb - was 4x5 with 3RBI, all of which came on home runs including the game-tying home run in the 9th. Gardner:
Any time you make five errors and can hang around and sneak away with a win, you'll take it.

*Every Yankee in the lineup struck out at least once, racking up 17 on the night. So this team committed five errors, struck out 17 times, and still won. Baseball is, occasionally, very stupid. For instance, the 10th inning:

Holy crap. #yankees pic.twitter.com/Np1A5m6J3f

— Sung Min Kim (@sung_minkim) May 30, 2018

*The Yankees have five wins when trailing entering the 9th - the most in MLB.

*Evan Gattis, May: .283/.348/.633. After having drawn one walk in 22 games from April 22-May 25, Gattis has drawn four walks in his last four games.

*The Astros placed Brian McCann on the DL with right knee soreness and called up Fresno catcher Tim Federowicz. McCann is back in Houston to be evaluated by team doctors. Hinch:
It just developed over the course of the game. It's something that he's battled before and something that he's had to deal with, and as we talked to him after the game, we felt like we needed to send him back to Houston to get him evaluated further. We won't know the extent of any sort of issue until he gets to Houston.

After 16 games McCann was hitting .306/.443/.469. In his 21 games since he's hitting .154/.200/.262/, and was dealing with a 1x26 slump.

FACT: It is far more satisfying to pronounce "Federowicz" as though you are a Bond villain:
FEHD-URR-ROE-VITCH. (Ed. Note: This is more satisfying if you're drinking out of an oaken bucket of vodka)

*Jon Paul Morosi has a fascinating interview with Justin Verlander, who thought his career (Verlander, not Morosi's, though...) was over four years ago, after the first inning of an August 2014 start in Pittsburgh. Stay for the part about how long he wants to pitch, his role as a mentor, and also his "body reclamation project." Verlander:
I've been part of some pretty special staffs. It's fun with a group of guys that's as tight as we are. We all love our craft. We all love pitching. Talking with these guys, watching their success on the mound, watching Gerrit's transformation and whatever small part I had in that...it's a good feeling. It's just fun.

*Jake Kaplan: How Charlie Morton has found success by getting away from his signature pitch.

*Astros #7 prospect Jorge Alcala has been promoted from Buies Creek to Corpus. In 38.2IP at High-A Alcala has allowed 25H/13ER, 45K:18BB. Tyler Ivey (3rd Round - 2017) has gone from Quad Cities to Buies Creek. Ivey had allowed 36H/16ER, 53K:8BB in 41.2IP.

*Friday pitching matchup: Gerrit Cole v Chris Sale. Saturday matchup: Justin Verlander v David Price.

*In The Athletic, how a "country lawyer" in Mt. Pleasant, Texas turned Michael Kopech into a future superstar.

*Seeing as how it's been 1939 years and that is definitely out of the Too Soon Statute of Limitations, I low-key laughed all day at this headline and the corresponding picture.

Monday Morning Hot Links

*The Blue Jays beat the Astros for the 8th time in the last ten matchups, mainly because the Blue Jays can hit the ball and the Astros can not hit the ball. Carlos Correa had three of the Astros' seven hits.

*With the Astros down 5-2 with two on and one out, Bregman popped up to foul territory on the first base side and then Russell Martin happened.

Hinch:
They never let up. Their offense is pretty potent when it gets going. 

Altuve didn't get on base for the first time in 44 road games. Hinch:
We often go the way he goes. I'm sure everybody in the ballpark is pretty surprised when he doesn't get on base. 

*More Hinch:
We're going through some growing pains a little bit with some of these young kids. They're learning that mistakes get hit up here. We'll continue to grind through it. We'll have our full bullpen back by Tuesday. That'll be a nice return.

*The Rangers lost, the Mariners won.

*Since July 24:
Seattle: 11-6
Euless: 12-7
Oakland: 7-11
Houston: 7-12
Anaheim: 6-12

In their last 19 games, Houston is a half-game better than the Angels, who have the worst record in the AL in this span.

*Farmer's Branch: -
*Seattle: -5.5
*Houston: -7.5

WC1: -5.5
WC2: -4

*It's Monday, so let's check in on the Playoff Odds!

*FanGraphs: 4.0% AL West; 13.7% playoffs
*FiveThirtyEight: 6% AL West; 18% playoffs
*BP: (Hasn't updated as of 6:10am on 8/15)

*The Meat Wagon came back around in Toronto as Marwin took a pitch off his left knee, left the game, and is day-to-day. Hinch:
He's fine. He's sore. He got hit on the back knee. He didn't feel like he could move around at full speed so I pulled him from the game.

*From Friday, a Baseball America report on what to expect with Teoscar Hernandez.

*The Astros seem to be backing off of the projected Tuesday date for the debut of Yulieski Gurriel. Luhnow:
It's one of those things during spring training that players have to get their timing right. I think defensively he's got his legs under him. He feels good fielding the position. But right now the timing isn't quite there....at this point it may be wisest to let him continue to get some more minor league at-bats before letting him face Garcia and Martinez on Tuesday and Wednesday.

*Yulieski Gurriel went 1x3 with 2RBI in a Corpus win yesterday.

*Pat and I answered a whole bunch of Twitter questions on Episode 22 of Lima Time Time.

*With Giancarlo Stanton out for the rest of the season, the Marlins are looking at bringing in Carlos Gomez. Because he's basically the same thing as Stanton. Oh, they're also looking at A-Rod, just because the Marlins want to piss off every white guy sportswriter in America.

*FiveThirtyEight: Steroids aren't responsible for MLB's power surge.

*Dan Shaughnessy writes about why he hates the 2016 Red Sox, and it matches the same reason why I hate the 2016 Astros.

Wednesday Morning Hot Links

The Masked Marvel has the recap of last night's BoomWin against the Mariners. The Rangers beat the Red Sox, Angels beat the Rays, and the Twins beat the A's. On the Wild Card side, the Blue Jays beat the Royals.

So the Astros are 7.5 behind the Ramgers, 2.5 ahead of the Mariners in the division. And they're 1.0 behind the 1st WC, and 0.5 behind the 2nd WC spot.

*FanGraphs has the Astros at a 25.7% chance to win the division and a 32.5% change of a Wild Card spot. That 32.5% Wild Card chance is the highest in the AL.

*Will Harris will make his All-Star debut and Jose Altuve gets his 4th All-Star nod. Altuve joins Biggio as the only Astros to start two consecutive All-Star Games. One more All-Star selection and Altuve will tie Lance Berkman for 2nd in team history. Biggio leads the franchise with seven ASG nods. Harris:
I'm not going to take it for granted. I don't know if I'll ever get another opportunity like this again. I'm going to soak it in. I'm going to have a big smile on my face for a few days. It should be a lot of fun.

Harris is the first Astros reliever to make an All-Star team since Brad Lidge in 2005.

*George Springer is one of the biggest All-Star snubs, writes David Schoenfield. But he is part of the Final Vote thing.

*Hinch wants to give Altuve and Springer a day off before the All-Star break.

*Over his last 25 games, Ken Giles has a 2.30 ERA with 30 strikeouts in 23.1IP.

*FanGraphs does a deep dive into AL Center Fielder hitter contact quality. Basically, if Gomez could cut his strikeouts, he'd be Adam Jones...
With a league average K rate, he'd be about a league-average performer, or for his position, a little better. Instead, he's been the definition of replacement-level offense.

*Fresno's Brady Rodgers will start the Triple-A All-Star Game for the PCL on July 13.

*2016 4th Round pick Brett Adcock is out for the season after suffering a knee injury while fielding a bunt.

*From the NYT: Where players go to vent.

*Yahoo: How scouts got Corey Seager wrong

*Pittsburgh's Jung Ho Kang is under investigation for sexual assault after a Pirates/Cubs game in Chicago.

*If it makes you feel better about the Rangers thing:

The #Indians, on verge of winning 11th consecutive game vs. #Tigers this season; have outscored them 76-24. They lead 11-1 tonight in 8th

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) July 6, 2016

Jason Castro shut down

Catcher Jason Castro has been shut down for the season, according to Jose de Jesus Ortiz.

Castro sprained his right knee - the one that he injured in the 2010 season - on September 2 and had a cyst drained off of it a couple of days later. He had attempted to come back for 2013, swinging in the batting cage on Saturday and saying on Sunday:
I'm not really concerned about it structurally. Everything is fine. From that aspect of it, I'm not concerned, but it's tough because it's a wait-and-see approach, and there's nothing more I can do other than listen to what it's telling me and how it feels.

It makes absolutely no sense for him to play the last 12 games, so he'll finish an All-Star season at .276/.350/.485 with an OPS of .835 - 100 points better than his 2012 season.

Where Castro really excelled in 2013 was against LHPs. In 111 PAs against lefties, Castro hit .242/.324/.414 with 33K:12BB. Compare that to 2012 when he hit .148/.175/.185 in 57 PAs with 21K:2BB.

You can also look at his Home/Road splits. In 2012 Castro had a 137-point spread between MMP (.805 OPS) and the Road (.668 OPS). In 2013, Castro had a 135-point spread between MMP (.904) and the Road (.769 OPS).

So, good for Jason Castro. Break-out year, no structural damage to his knee...put that leg up, and we'll see you in March.

Corporan's concussion sounds awful

A few things on the injury front:

Carlos Corporan is thankful for the 7-Day DL:
Corporan, who is back to 100 percent, said he experienced constant headaches, nausea, sleepiness and memory problems. The symptoms left him feeling angry.

Jason Castro was out for the 2nd straight game with soreness from the drained cyst in his knee:
We're just kind of giving my knee a chance to calm down.

Bob Grossman is feeling a little bit better, and the Mariners have scratched Felix Hernandez from Wednesday's start - both are dealing with oblique issues.

The Astros will have their first game off in three weeks on Thursday, and will have played 20 games in 20 days.

Castro update

Here's an update on Jason Castro:

Astros GM Jeff Luhnow says MRI on Jason Castro's knee shows cyst on the medial side. Luhnow says it's good news and he's listed day to day.
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) September 3, 2013

Update on J.D. Martinez's knee sprain

In an effort to not get hit by a pitch last night (something of which Carlos Quentin has no idea), J.D. Martinez sprained his knee. What's the status? Jose de Jesus Ortiz has a series of tweets with an update. Combined, they read:

"Just a little sore today. Not a lot of swelling," J.D. Martinez says of right knee sprain. Martinez said AT Nate Lucero says recovery could be anywhere from 3-5 days. "We have to do something . We are not going to play short for an extended period of time," Bo Porter said when asked about J.D. Martinez. Porter says they'll wait on (Fernando) Martinez until J.D. Martinez is evaluated by doctors today.

So obviously, the Astros need to make a move. Remember, they're down a roster spot anyway, so if they just let J.D. Martinez ride it out for 3-5 days, the Active Roster will be at 23.

UPDATE: J.D. Martinez has been put on the 15-Day DL, and Fernando Martinez has been called up from Oklahoma City.

Paul Clemens hurts knee

From a variety of tweets, it looks as though pitcher Paul Clemens has hurt his knee. He apparently slipped off the mound trying to cover first base and "went down hard" according to Brian Smith. He did walk off the field without assistance, but we'll keep an eye on it.

Let's just stop and mention how utterly ridiculous it is that, in a Spring Training where there is an extra week of games, they're even playing this game in the rain. It's one thing to get injured in a freak Spring Training accident (see Castro, Jason), where there's really nothing anybody could have done differently. But to be playing a Spring Training game in the rain? Dumb. 

Update: Bo Porter says Clemens is "fine."

Monday Morning Link Dump

Here's your link dump from the weekend:

*Tony DeFrancesco doesn't respect Ryan Howard, this is Charlie Manuel's complete lack of surprise.

*Fernando Martinez is dealing with right knee inflammation.

*The Astros invited Facebook fans to lunch with Joe Niekro, who died in 2006.

*Marwin Gonzalez just might return from his ankle injury this season.

*Joe Maddon thinks Dave Martinez is a worthy candidate for the Astros.

*Here are the Chronicle's Top 50 Astros of all time.

Norris to DL, Keuchel up

Bud Norris has been placed on the 15-Day Disabled List and Dallas Keuchel has been called up to take his place for tomorrow's start.

So what's up with Keuchel? Well, the lefty is 5-4 for OKC in 2012 with a 4.26 ERA/1.26 WHIP, with 46K:15BB. He has allowed as many homers in 80.1IP (five) as he did in seven short, largely ineffective starts (36IP) for OKC in 2011.

In his last three starts (16.2IP), Keuchel has allowed 17H/6ER, 16K:2BB.

In the process of working this up, Jayne from What the Heck Bobby tweeted out something that was exactly where I was heading: Keuchel will be the 2nd member of the Astros' 2009 draft class to make it to the Majors, joining J.D. Martinez - who was drafted 13 rounds and 390 selections after Keuchel.

Meat Wagon update

Bud Norris is unlikely to start on Sunday due to the sprained knee he suffered against the Giants on Tuesday.

Mills:
"He said he was still a little tentative with it to where he wasn't sure if he was actually going to feel it when he landed."

Wilton Lopez is headed to the DL with a sprained right elbow. Fernando Abad has been activated. Lopez has appeared in 32 games - 4th-most in baseball (and two games behind Wesley Wright, the 2nd-most-used reliever in baseball).

And it looks like Carlos Lee will be back tomorrow (Sunday). Measure your celebrations accordingly.

Jon Singleton update

Jon Singleton was hit in the left knee last night in Midland, and was removed from the lineup. But Greg Rajan comes to the rescue and says it was a precautionary move, and does not seem to be serious.

You will not see Jason Castro next month

Here's an update on Jason Castro's situation: He's been hitting daily, but is still a long way off from coming back, according to Mills:

“The next step somewhere along the line is catching bullpens. He really hasn’t done position-type drills yet — blocking balls, firing to throw to second. Those are things that are all away down the road.”

Interview with Jio Mier

So we got a chance to ask Jio Mier some questions and were able to get an update on his knee injury last night. Let's go...

AC: So what happened last night with your knee, and how are you feeling?

JM: I was covering second base on a stolen base and the throw was a little behind me, so I reached back to get it and my left leg was planted in the ground. I went to go tag him, and he (Lake Elsinore's Wande Olabisi) slid in over-aggressively with both cleats up right into my leg, and it collapsed on me. It's feeling better today just a little sore. I'll be ok though.

AC: You're in your second full season with the Astros, can you reflect on your time with the organization? What's been easier/harder than you expected coming out of high school?

JM: Well, coming into pro ball I knew the daily grind was going to be tough playing every day. So the hardest thing has been getting my body prepared, but after last year I used it as a learning experience on how to prepare this year, how to maintain weight, and being mentally focused day in and day out.

AC: For Greeneville in 2009 you hit .276/.380/.484, and then saw a little bit of a drop-off for Lexington in 2010. What was the biggest adjustment you had to make last year, and what were you working on this past off-season to prepare for 2011?

JM: This off-season I really focused on getting rid of the bad habits I had formed in 2010. Hitting is a lot of muscle memory, so everyday I tried to build good muscle memory and tried to simplify my swing as much as I can to get back to trusting myself and my hands.

AC: What are some of the differences in the skill level between Greeneville and Lexington, and Lexington and Lancaster? Does your day-to-day preparation change?

JM: To be honest, I really don't see a big difference between the levels. Here in Lancaster there are some pitchers that do throw all their pitches for strikes, but other than that it's still the same game.

AC: Overall, your OBP and SLG are up about 20 points in 2011 over your 2010 levels - what are you working on during the season to improve?

JM: I'm seeing the ball a lot better. Last year for most of the first half I wasn't seeing the ball as well as I am now, and that is making me recognize pitches better and balls and strikes. With that, I'm more aggressive with the strikes I get.

AC: You signed relatively early for a 1st Round draft pick, forgoing a scholarship to USC. The Astros haven't - as of right this minute - signed their 2011 draft pick, George Springer. What are the negotiations like for a 1st Round pick, and what's going through Springer's mind as the signing deadline nears?

JM: Well, it's a lot of back and forth communicating between agent and front office, and agent and player. I know George is with my agency, actually, but when I was drafted I went about it a little differently; I told them that I would like to sign quicker than later and that I wanted to get my career started, so my agent went about it in a much different way than Springer. It's definitely a fun experience, but at the same time it is also hectic seeing how you want a deal to happen.

AC: Have you been given any indication from the Astros on your next steps?

JM: I haven't been told anything. They don't really say anything throughout the season, but as of right now I'm just here in Cali and whatever they decide next I'll be up for it.
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Big thanks (and best wishes) to Jio Mier for the injury update and the insights.

Updates on Mier, Wates

Zach Levine has your Lancaster Meat Wagon updates:

On Jiovanni Mier:
Diagnosed with a sprained knee, and will be examined today in Lancaster.

On Austin Wates:
Placed on DL with a strained hamstring.

Castro takes BP!

Jason Castro is optimistic he could return to the Astros by the end of the season.

Castro:
"I definitely still have a little bit to go. Hitting, I feel pretty good right now. I'm still working on easing into squatting a little bit, and my running's coming along pretty good. I've got some time still to go, but I can tell I'm getting closer with stuff like this today."

Mier takes one to the knee

Jordan Comadena tweeted late last night about Jiovanni Mier:

Really hoping that (Mier) is going to be ok. Took a tough shot to his knee at second base tonight. Thoughts and prayers go to him tonight.

Clemens has a bruised knee

Not sure how we missed this, but Koby Clemens had to be helped off the field a couple of days ago, and has a bruised knee after clanking a foul off of it.