Friday, April 14: Astros Catch Angels, Athletics Remain Even Steven

The American League West already is the tightest race in the American League, with three teams within one game of each other. No surprise there, except the fact the Athletics are one of them. The Rangers, after taking a series from the Angels, are just 1.5 off the pace. After a weekend in Kansas City, the Angels fly to Houston for a Week 3 series between the current top two teams - although who knows what the standings will look like by Monday? Recaps and links to good reads below.

Rangers 8, Angels 3


The Angels lost their first series, and at home. The Rangers won their second one - both against division opponents (they took two out of three from the A's last week). But that's just horse race reporting! The largest issue for the Angels, now that the gauzy haze from those comeback victories has dissipated a bit, is what everyone knew the largest issue would be: pitching. My trusty calculator indicates the Angels staff has given up 50 runs through the first 10 games and 21 against the Rangers alone. For the Rangers, the Best Coast trip has been a surfin' safari since that ball didn't roll foul on Tuesday night in the Angels' miraculous comeback. Yu Darvish pitched like Yu Darvish - 7 innings, zero earned runs, 10 strike outs, just ridiculous. Both Carlos Gomez and Nomar Mazara mashed their third home runs. Minus Sam Dyson grabbing just a dab too much of the plate on that two-seamer to Mike Trout on Tuesday, maybe the Rangers would have swept. But maybe not. He's Mike Trout, man.

The box. 

Royal 3, Athletics 1


The A's failed to get the sweep, but still come out of a six-game road trip at .500. Soft-throwing Royals lefty  Jason Vargas was dealing, going 7 2/3, giving up no earned runs and striking out eight. The A's got another good start, with Jesse Hahn throwing 6 innings and giving up three runs. That follows good performances by Andrew Triggs and Jharel Cotton. The bullpen also has been solid, giving up nothing again last night.

The box.

Good Reads

Angels

In addition to playing, as usual, like Superman, Mike Trout also made a kids' day.

The L.A. Times has some bad news about Garrett Richards.

Astros

The value of the Astros soared by 32 percent this year, according to Forbes.

Carlos Correa isn't interested in signing an early, multi-year contract, according to Fan Rag Sports Network.

Athletics

This is the sort of obsession over details that I love. Nice look at some early trends for the A's.

New A's president Dave Kaval gets some love from USA Today.

Mariners

Another day, another compelling article about pain from a Mariners' fan. (Warning: Language!)

The Mariners honor Ken Griffey Jr. I was lucky enough to see him play, he deserves a statue.

Rangers

FanGraphs takes a look at the reinvention of Elvis Andrus as a hitter.

Sam Dyson might have velocity issues. Those are two words you don't want associated with your closer.














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