Keith Law talks to Jerry Crasnick and Eric Karabell about the Little League Classic, why there doesn't seem to be that much pressure on the Astros and more. Plus, Alex Speier on Rafael Devers and the streaking Red Sox, and Todd Radom unveils the 6th best logo in baseball history.
You can no longer take the Astros' dominance for granted, with the Indians and Red Sox making cases for AL bragging rights. With so many teams still in the hunt, which clubs made big moves up and down?
Detroit's ace brick-walled baseball's unstoppable force, posing this question to contenders: How much would Sunday's version of him be worth?
Marcus Semien wound up with a Little League home run when Houston kept throwing the ball away, Jharel Cotton pitched well into the seventh inning and the Oakland Athletics beat the Astros 3-2 Sunday.
The Astros have a solid all-around group, but lack an elite defender to put them in the upper tiers. Josh Reddick and Jake Marisnick have both been contributors in their platoon roles.
In closing out the Astros' 3-0 win Saturday, Tyler Clippard set a major league record with saves for six teams in a three-season span and seven teams over four seasons. He became the third major leaguer to save games for three teams in the same season, also doing so for the Yankees and White Sox this year. (Elias Sports Bureau)
Collin McHugh threw six innings, Marwin Gonzalez hit a two-run single and the Houston Astros defeated the Oakland Athletics 3-0 on Saturday night.
Dallas Keuchel threw seven shutout innings, Alex Bregman and Jose Altuve homered and the Houston Astros beat the Oakland Athletics 3-1 on Friday night.
Patrick Corbin came within one out of his first career shutout and first complete game since 2013 in the Arizona Diamondbacks' 4-0 victory over the Houston Astros on Thursday.
Aaron Judge may have smacked a 457-foot moon shot, but two of the five longest home runs hit on Wednesday came off the bat of Carlos Beltran and Adrian Beltre, who both play for Texas teams.
Josh Reddick hit a two-run homer in a four-run eighth, and Charlie Morton threw 6 1/3 solid innings as the Houston Astros defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks 9-5 Wednesday night.
MLB fans have been treated to a season full of hitters showing off their power at the plate. The influx of home runs has put the Astros, Nationals and a few other teams on pace to shatter their respective franchise records for HRs hit in a single season.
"When it was time to pick our jerseys [at UConn], that was the smallest one," Springer said of his No. 4. "I was like, 'I need the smallest jersey, and coach says I act like I'm 4. So I'll be 4.'"
There was risk entering the season that Fisher would be a guy who can't field enough for center or hit enough to be a plus in a corner outfield spot, but his power surge this year has helped change that projection.
Jose Altuve, who leads baseball with a .363 average, is an even better hitter away from Minute Maid Park. With a .418 road batting average this season, the Astros 2B has put himself in historic company.
Joey Gallo hit Tuesday's longest home run, but Giancarlo Stanton remains the talk of the town after hitting a 432-foot homer against the Giants to extend his HR streak to six games.
The Houston Astros had six extra-base hits in the first four innings, building a big enough lead to hold off the Arizona Diamondbacks 9-4 on Tuesday.
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon discuss if the Astros should trade for Justin Verlander, if the Cavs are asking too much for Kyrie Irving and more.
With RBIs being partially dependent on opportunity, racking them up as a leadoff man is no easy task. George Springer drove in his 70th run of the season Tuesday to join an exclusive club. Charlie Blackmon did so in late July, after also accomplishing the feat in 2016.
The D-backs' win over the Astros on Monday gave them the edge as the best team in interleague play. Their series continues Tuesday afternoon, as Houston's Brad Peacock opposes Arizona's Anthony Banda.
Gonzalez has started at five positions this season, as his bat has made it necessary for Houston to keep him in the lineup. He can thank a reduced chase rate for his improvement.
The Class-A NY-Penn League inducts 3 Hall of Famers before its All-Star Game Tue. night in Troy, NY -- Buck Showalter, who began managing at 29 with the champion Oneonta Yankees; Tri-City ValleyCats owner Bill Gladstone, who brought the team to Troy; & the late Warner Fusselle, a This Week in Baseball legend who broadcast every game of the Brooklyn Cyclones' first 11 seasons & the league's 1st A-S Game.
Zack Greinke struck out nine in six-plus innings to bounce back from his first home loss of the season, lifting the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 2-0 victory over the Houston Astros on Monday night.
| TEAM | W | L | PCT | GB | STRK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston | 76 | 48 | .613 | - | L1 |
| Los Angeles | 64 | 60 | .516 | 12 | W2 |
| Seattle | 64 | 62 | .508 | 13 | W1 |
| Texas | 61 | 62 | .496 | 14.5 | L1 |
| Oakland | 54 | 71 | .432 | 22.5 | L1 |
