Welcome to the Monday Boil.
Riding a four-game winning streak, the Astros come into San Diego with a magic number of nine.
With 13 games to play, any combination of Astros victories and Seattle Mariners losses totaling nine or more results in an American League West Division Title for Houston.
Houston Astros News
Heyward enjoys the ride as Astros motor toward playoffs
Astros’ Commanding Sweep Shakes Up AL West Landscape (Athlon Sports)
Houston Astros’ Alex Bregman receives day off, Ben Gamel still ‘sore’ from knee contusion (MSN)
AL West News
A’s: Chicago White Sox earn 1st series win, back-to-back victories since late June, defeating the Oakland A’s 4-3 (Chicago Tribune)
M’s: Texas Rangers’ road woes at Mariners continue in consecutive losses
Halos: Ronel Blanco stellar in his return to the rotation as Astros sweep Angels (Houston Chronicle)
Mallcops: Rangers Place José Ureña On 15-Day Injured List (MLBTR)
MLB News
Judge’s 53rd strikes CF restaurant, helps Yanks pad AL East lead
Aaron Judge responds to getting thrown at by Red Sox: ‘Don’t miss when you do it’ (Larry Brown Sports)
Sunday Notes: RoY Candidate Colton Cowser Contemplates Contact (FG)
MLB to use helmet ad for playoffs in 4-year deal (ESPN)
Tier Rankings For MLB’s 50 Best Hitters of the 2024 Season (B/R)
Dodgers go back-to-back-to-back in 7-run 9th to beat Braves
Pablo Sandoval has surprise new gig in baseball (YB)
D-backs end ‘rollercoaster ride’ with 11-10 walk-off win
With more gambling cases likely, Ohtani debacle is a lesson to MLB (LA Times)
I Think Lawrence Butler Is Pretty Good (FG)
Power Rankings: Changes in Top 5 as countdown to October begins
White Sox Plan To Cut Payroll In 2025 (MLBTR)
Sophomore Slumps Aren’t a Thing (FG)
There had never been a Splash Hit like this before
Mets suffer tough blow as Lindor exits in eventual walk-off loss
Leo Jiménez’s ‘The Beaning of Life’ (FG)
More hits for Arraez — and still no strikeouts
Houston Astros Birthdays
RHP Dylan Coleman (28) has pitched one inning this season for Houston.
OF Robbie Grossman (35) hit .240 with 11 homers in 190 games for Houston from 2013 through 2015.
RHP Chad Harville (48) pitched 91 1⁄3 innings for Houston between 2004 and 2005, going 3-4 with a 5.28 FIP and a 93 ERA+.
IF Hector Torres (79) played 193 games for the Astros between 1968 and 1970, then returned in 1973 for 38 more. He slashed .235/.281/.314.