Astros Crawfish Boil: July 4, 2024

Here’s your Crawfish Boil!

Not only do we get fourth of July baseball, it’s also the USA’s 248th birthday! Oh, and the Astros are just two games behind the Seattle Mariners.

Houston Astros

Altuve, Alvarez headed to Arlington as All-Star starters

After early scare, Alvarez continues hot streak with monster night

Joe Espada’s bullpen usage is working now, but could cost the Astros down the stretch (CTH)

MLB Power Rankings Week 14: Astros rise, Rangers drop (ESPN)

How Disneyland, culinary therapy helped Jon Singleton’s MLB comeback (Chron)

Blue Jays feeling pressure ahead of finale vs. Astros (Deadspin)

AL West News

A’s: ‘This was Joey’s game’: Estes dominates in 1st career ‘Maddux’

Halos: Angels try to end road slide, face the Athletics (FOX)

M’s: The Mariners have never reached a World Series. Fans hope for a drought’s end (The Guardian)

Mall Cops: Rangers fan ejected from game for trying to make play on foul ball (Larry Brown Sports)

MLB News

Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani reveals why he’s skipping the Home Run Derby (YB)

Jackson Merrill Is Powering Up (FG)

What Do We See When We Watch Baseball? (FG)

Southpaws surge in SP Power Rankings

Examining the trade market for starting pitching this season

With another gem, Sale now a candidate to start ASG

Reds feel the tide turning after clinching series win in Bronx

All-Star starters Bohm, Turner key Phils’ win

‘Izzy does Izzy things’: Isbel wows with sensational catch

Houston Astros Birthdays

3B/SS Vinny Castilla (57) spent the better part of the 2001 season with Houston, and slashed out a .270/.320/.492 line with 23 homers and 82 RBI in 122 games.

RHP Dan Larson (70) started in 23 of his 45 Houston appearances between 1976 and 1977, going 6-15 with a 4.45 ERA.

Prospect A.J. Blubaugh (24) is 6-2 with a 3.46 ERA between the Asheville Tourists and the Corpus Christi Hooks this season.