The AL West is tied with the Astros and Mariners sharing the same record in first place. The Rangers are close with only a two game deficit. There are fifteen games left in the season. It is very likely no more than two of the three will make Post Season play.
The Astros will start Jayden Murray against the Braves. It will be Murray’s first major league start as he has only two major league innings of experience.
At what point do they realistically switch to a three man rotation for the balance of the regular season? With nine games to go? With six games to go? When they are three games out of first place?
Maybe when they have 3 healthy elbows.
Why ruin Hunter or Alexander to still miss the postseason?
Ok, one man rotation. All Framber, all the time.
It’s funny to me to hear Alexander, the team ace over the last month with a 3-0 record and 2.20ERA pitching 6 innings per game, is now to be a protected asset. When he was a cast-off from the AAA team in Sacramento just a couple of months ago.
We are indeed in interesting times.
Throwing down the gauntlet here: Atlanta, we see your rook with a 1.33ERA and 1.06 WHIP and raise you a rook with a 0.00ERA and 0.00 WHIP. Game on!
When you put it that way, even if they squeak their way into the postseason, I’m convinced Espada is a a goner.
Calls to mind one Collin McHugh
3b Correa
DH Alvarez
2b Altuve
RF Sanchez
C Caratini
1b Walker
CF Meyers
LF Cole
SS Dubon
P Murray
McWho?
Sorry, could not resist.
Because Espada was secretly shooting lasers into pitchers shoulders and elbows and sound-wave weapons into batters various bones?
Hunter Brown is on normal rest, and they are starting Jayden Murray. They deserve to lose this division if they aren’t going to take winning it seriously.
Queue the “he has XX discomfort” press release.
He’s saying Crane is looking for a fall guy. It’s not Espada’s fault the Astros pitching staff is a mash unit, and a bunch of above average hitters with track records are sucking.
However, his lineup tonight leaves a lot to be desired. Jesus Sanchez is lucky to be playing after his “defense” yesterday, and he certainly shouldn’t be batting cleanup. Diaz gets hot in Toronto, and he’s on the bench.
Nothing would surprise me anymore.
How about a healthy pitcher?
Touché.
I hate having Yanier on the bench (can’t believe I just typed that) but like that they got Carintini in the lineup, in particular right behind Sanchez. It might keep Atlanta from going lefty in the middle of an ending with a switch at her batting behind Sanchez. I also understand, giving Yanier a day off with a rookie that could get wild at any time or maybe has been wild and people have just chased a lot of his shit out of the zone having not seen him much to this point. Other than that, I like the lineup and can’t wait to see Cole hit tonight. I hope someone makes a mistake to him and I hope he stays hot and makes them pay.
Not a fall guy exactly, but I’d guess Crane finds this season’s results unacceptable and doesn’t see Espada as part of the solution.
It’s not the injuries, it’s guys who are healthy not playing up to their talent, it’s the mental lapses, it’s the team just not playing fundamentally sound baseball. When Altuve of all people isn’t giving 100%, maybe the clubhouse needs a kick in the ass.
And I don’t blame Espada for this but there is also a chance Crane isn’t thrilled with how Joe used his now-injured $95M closer.