Astros Crawfish Boil: July 19, 2024

It’s Friday, and Houston’s ready to challenge for the Division lead.

I’d always thought we’d get here eventually, but if you had asked me a month ago, I would have said sometime in September. If Houston loses the series, they lose ground. If they win the series, they tie the M’s, and if they sweep, they’ll be two games ahead.

Houston Astros News

Why Astros’ Jon Singleton is poised for breakout second half (Chron — with a pretty good read on things)

Seattle Mariners Release Pitching Plan For Massive Weekend Series with Astros (SI — Castillo, Kirby, & Woo are now probable)

Brian McTaggart On Astros Trading An Outfielder: ‘Meyers Has More Value’ (790)

Houston Astros schedule boasts homestand to start 2025, California road trip to end: Key takeaways (ABC)

Astros angling for another AL West crown

Houston Astros 2024 MLB Draft Review (Baseball America)

AL West News

A’s: A’s No. 1 prospect called up after hitting .438 in Minors

M’s: With Astros on their tail, first-place Mariners face critical trade deadline (YB)

Halos: Los Angeles Angels Talk Around Baseball: What Are the Insiders Saying About the Halos? We Discuss! (WFAA)

Blarts: Ranking Texas Rangers’ top 30 prospects 1-15: Where does Jack Leiter belong? (KSDK)

MLB News

MLB reveals flimsy ‘Rivalry Weekend’ for 2025 schedule, fumbling a good idea (YB)

The 2024 Replacement-Level Killers: Left Field & Right Field (FG)

Pitching Better Means Pitching So Much Less (FG)

The 2025 schedule is out! Here are 5 dates to know

Mets sign catcher who has found consistent success in minors (YB)

This Cardinals star is trending in right direction at the plate (YB)

Report: O’s have been ‘in touch’ on Miller

Houston Astros Birthdays

Friday

Mauricio Dubón (30) is Houston’s superutilityman du jour for the past two and a half seasons. In 294 games he has a .263 average and 15 home runs.

RHP Wilton López (41) was 13-13 in 211 relief appearances (and two starts) for Houston from 2009 through 2012. In 2012, López was one of two pitchers to finish over .500, at 6-3. (Édgar González was 3-1).

CF Rick Ankiel (45) was 12-for-62 with five home runs for the 2013 Astros.

CF Preston Wilson (50) played in 102 games for the 2006 Astros, with a .269/.309/.405 slashline.

RHP Edwin Gonzalez (20) is 1-1 with a 3.22 ERA in 22 ¹⁄₃ innings for the Astros Blue in the DSL.

Saturday

OF Gary Woods (1953-2015) appeared in 73 games for Houston in 1980 and 1981, with a .264 average and passable right field defense.

Sunday

RHP Mark Lemongello (69) joined Houston’s rotation for 64 turns (and seven relief appearances) between 1976 and 1979. He was 21-29 with a 3.65 ERA.

IF Denis Menke (1940-2020) played five seasons for the Astros (1968-1971, 1974), making the All-Star Team twice. He hit .266 in 634 games for Houston in total, mostly in one of the middle infield positions.

C John Bateman (1940-1996) appeared in 565 games for Houston from 1963 through 1968, hitting .228 with 45 home runs.