Batten down the hatches and full speed ahead for the final Wednesday Boil of the 2023 regular season!
Welcome to another Wednesday Boil!
Another setback has Houston in a virtual tie with the Seattle Mariners with the sixth and final American League postseason position, the third wildcard berth. The most important game of the season (so far) awaits tonight.
Houston Astros News
Mariners and Astros meet in series rubber match (Santa Maria TImes)
Astros lose ground in playoff chase in loss to Mariners
Houston Astros: ‘Massive’ series finale in Seattle awaits after loss (Houston Chronicle)
‘Flush it and move on’: Miscues mar Astros in Seattle as WC chase tightens
AL West News
Mariners stay one piano lesson ahead, beat Astros 6-2 (Lookout Landing)
Mariners taken aback by fan throwing ball on field and grazing pitcher George Kirby (AP News)
Seager’s HBP gives Rangers a scare in stretch drive
Mariners tighten WC race behind Kirby’s gem
Angels and Rangers meet in series rubber match (AP News)
Los Angeles Angels snap Texas Rangers 6-game win streak (NBC 5 Dallas-Forth Worth)
What Reid Detmers’ final start of the Angels’ season meant to him (Los Angeles Times)
Remembering the Philadelphia ‘Pathetics’, the worst baseball team in history (The Guardian)
Brock Stewart, Chris Paddack return as Twins overwhelm A’s (Star Tribune)
MLB News
Prospects set record number of 20-20 seasons in Minors this season
How much sleep does an MLB team get? The Brewers answer
Marlins-Mets postponed to doubleheader on Wednesday
‘We got it done’: Crew’s clinch of NL Central a crazy affair
‘Thank you, Tito’: Francona leaves lasting mark ahead of retirement
Here are the 10 most bonkers stats of 2023
O’s legend, Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson passes away
White Sox, West Coast rap created a trend that didn’t end
Betts focused on winning, finishing season strong as NL MVP race winds down
Judge, J.D. Martinez named Players of the Week
Houston Astros Birthdays
RHP Doug Konieczny (72) started 38 games for the Astros between 1973 and 1977, appearing in 44 overall. He struck out 110 in 221 frames and put up a 1.619 WHIP with a 3.98 FIP.
IF Gary Sutherland (79) had himself a 13-season major league career, with a 21 game stop for the Astros in 1972 and 1973. He was 15-for-62 with five doubles and four RBI. Although he only drew three walks, he also only struck out five times.
RHP Jose Guedez (22) got some playing time at the Single-A level this year with the Fayetteville Woodpeckers. He threw 35 1⁄3 innings and struck out 44, allowing a 4.08 ERA and a 1.642 WHIP.
RHP Jaime Melendez (22) may have been upset that I neglected his birthday yesterday, but fear not young man! Still rostered as part of the Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks, Melendez was limited by injury to 9 2⁄3 innings this season, with eight strikeouts.
Eulogy
San Diego Padres (March 30, 2023 — September 26, 2023)
Now 78-80, the San Diego Padres have reached the end of the road. Despite a loaded roster and a payroll to match, the Padres couldn’t seem to get it done. In fact, if you took their 0-12 extra-inning record and split the games at 6-6, the Padres would be 84-74 and in possession of the second wildcard berth. As it stands, Padre Nation can console itself in that San Diego was alive until the final week of the campaign. The casualty has left 16 teams in contention for 12 spots.