Welcome back to the Boil, where everybody knows your name.
Welcome to the September 9 edition of your (week)-daily Crawfish Boil, where all the cool kids come to complain about their team.
Houston Astros News
Smith stuns Astros with 3 homers, 8 RBIs … in first 3 at-bats
Astros’ priority is keeping Tucker, Bregman healthy for stretch run
Houston Astros Dominating Old-School Statistic (SI)
Yordan Alvarez likely to remain in No. 2 spot for Astros ‘for now’ (Houston Chronicle)
Verlander’s playoff rotation spot in jeopardy after troubling start
Houston Astros Starting Rotation Production Has Been Spurred by Yusei Kikuchi (SI)
Astros will return to six-man rotation for upcoming stretch (Houston Chronicle)
This team’s Power surge has it peaking at right time
Astros 2024 Oddities (Chipalatta)
AL West News
A’s: As Oakland A’s homestand ends, realization sets in that MLB’s days in East Bay are numbered (The Mercury News)
M’s: Luis Castillo To Undergo MRI For Hamstring Strain (MLBTR)
Halos: Angels hit hard early, lose to Rangers (OC Register)
Rangers: Rangers on verge of receiving this two-time Cy Young winner back from rehab (MLBTR)
MLB News
Ohtani rockets 450-foot homer to reach 46-46
Yankees starter Nestor Cortes is disgruntled over bullpen duty (YB)
The Playoff Race Between the Mets and the Braves Is Going Down to the Wire (FG)
AL Notes: Buxton, Correa, Lorenzen, Cortes (MLBTR)
Sale’s gem sets up walk-off win as Braves tie Mets in WC race
Sunday Notes: Jaden Hamm Is Riding High as a Tigers 2023 Draft Gem (FG)
Wade Boggs shares difficult health news (YB)
Cole comes out on short end of duel with close pal Taillon
Yankees reliever says he ‘blacked out’ in save situation (YB)
Will Shohei Ohtani Go 50-50? And If So, When? (FG)
Rays No. 5 prospect becomes first player to steal 100 bases since 2012
Matt Chapman Cashes In Early… or Late (FG)
Bucs rookie stages impressive high-wire act in debut
Houston Astros Born Today
LHP Mike Hampton (52) posted a 76-50 record and a 3.59 ERA over 172 starts (and 44 relief appearances) from 1994 through 1999, then again in 2009.
RHP Dan Miceli (54) made 97 trips out of the pen for the 2003 and 2004 Astros, with a 1.207 WHIP and a 3.18 ERA.
RHP Jim Corsi (1961-2022) pitched 77 2⁄3 innings of relief for the 1991 Astros, posting a 3.71 ERA and striking out 8.8 per nine.
OF Jerry Mumphrey (72) played 325 games for Houston between 1983 and 1985, making his only All-Star appearance in 1984. He had a .291/.354/.401 line with 18 home runs and 26 stolen bases.
Random Stat
Despite Yainer Diáz and Yordan Alvarez leading the Astros with 81 and 80 RBI (respectively), it looks like Houston is likely going to finish the season with no player over the 100 RBI threshold. The last time that happened? Marwin Gonzalez led the team with 90 for Houston’s 2017 World Series Champion version of the team.