Welcome to the Thursday Boil!
Welcome to Houston’s final off-day of the regular season.
Houston Astros News
Astros tighten hold on WC spot with emotional series win in Seattle
Houston Astros: Hector Neris’ reaction to strikeout sparks wild scene (Houston Chronicle)
Why Seattle Mariners, Houston Astros cleared benches for 4th time (Seattle Sports)
The Seattle Mariners fever dream turns into a fever nightmare in loss to Houston Astros (Lookout Landing)
Astros reliever’s inexplicable charge at Julio Rodriguez shifts game dynamics (KOMO News)
Benches clear: Astros start a fight with Julio Rodriguez for no good reason (FanSided)
Houston Astros superfan Mattress Mack bets $3.9 million on World Series win (BVM Sports)
García, Dunning push Rangers to the brink of a playoff berth in a 5-0 win over the Angels (St. Joseph News-Press)
AL West News
Texas Rangers Shutout Angels, Lower AL West Title Magic Number to 2
Rangers visit the Mariners to begin 4-game series (El Paso Inc.)
Manfred hopes owners vote on A’s Las Vegas relocation in November (NBC Sports Bay Area)
Twins take on the Athletics after Kepler’s 4-hit game (AP News)
Why ‘Pitching Ninja’ believes Mason Miller is future A’s ace (NBC Sports Bay Area)
Kotsay believes A’s loss to Twins was ‘teaching moment’ (NBC Sports Bay Area)
MLB News
Cy, sealed, delivered? Cole pitches shutout to wrap stellar season
Another day, another 6 HUGE games today in postseason scramble
12 lessons from the first season under new rules
The final Hitter Power Rankings of the regular season
Pitchometer? Stopwatch? How the Veecks first tried the pitch timer
Acuña secures MLB’s 1st 40-70 season as Braves nab NL’s top seed
Marlins jump into 3rd NL Wild Card spot
3-team tie? 4-team tie?! Chaotic playoff scenarios, explained
Houston Astros Birthdays
RHP Enoli Paredes (28) hasn’t appeared in a major league game this season, although he’s still part of Houston’s farm system. Between 2020 and 2022, he appeared in 37 games out of the bullpen, with 37 strikeouts in 32 1⁄3 innings and a 4.45 FIP. The reason he hasn’t been called back up is his walk-rate. With 31 over that same timeframe, that’s 8.6 and a 1.825 WHIP.
C Héctor Giménez (41) appeared in two games for Houston in 2006, going 0-for-2 with a strikeout at the dish.
RHP Charlie Kerfeld (60) was 15-8 for Houston between 1985 and 1990, with a 3.73 FIP and a 1.474 WHIP to go with 128 strikeouts in 201 2⁄3 innings.
C Ronn Reynolds (65) caught for Houston in 38 contests in 1987, hitting .167/.189/.235.
PH Gene Ratliff (78) went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts in four pinch-hit appearances for the 1965 Houston Astros.
1B Dick Gernert (1928-2017) was five-for-28 with the 1962 Colt .45s. It was the final stop of his 11-season MLB career.
OF Logan Cerny (24) just completed his second season in full-season minor league ball for the Asheville Tourists. He hit .221/.297/.380 in 84 games, with 13 home runs , 42 RBI and 20 stolen bases in 24 attempts.
Eulogy
San Francisco Giants (March 30, 2023 — September 27, 2023)
The Giants held out a day longer than their in-state and in-division rival San Diego Padres. The day after SF eliminated SD, the Friars returned the favor. The casualty leaves 15 teams vying for the top spot.