MLB The Show: Steelerfan's Houston Astros Franchise

[steelerfan]

The Astros have taken part in the 2015 First Year Player Draft. Here is a rundown of the players that Houston selected.

Round 1, Pick 15
3B Eric Gutierrez
Age 21, 4-yr. College
B/T R/R 6'4", 196 lbs
OVR 73 POT C
2nd Pos: None

Round 2, Pick 14
CP Will Looney
Age 19, 4-yr. College
B/T L/R 6'1", 194 lbs
OVR 61 POT B
2nd Pos: LF, CF

Round 3, Pick 15
LF Marco Pena
Age 21, 4-yr. College
B/T R/R 5'9", 173 lbs
OVR 63 POT B
2nd Pos: RF, CF

Round 4, Pick 15
SP Damon Huff
Age 20, 4-yr. College
B/T R/L 6'3" 204lbs
OVR 59 POT C
2nd Pos: CF, RF

Round 5, Pick 15
2B Emilio Vargas
Age 23, 2-yr. College
B/T R/R 5'11", 187 lbs
OVR 63 POT C
2nd Pos: None

Round 6, Pick 15
RF Juan Valencia
Age 21, 2-yr. College
B/T L/L 6'3", 201 lbs.
OVR 75 POT C
2nd Pos: None

Round 7, Pick 15
3B Pablo Ybarra
Age 22, 2-yr. College
B/T R/R 6'5", 185 lbs.
OVR 40 POT F
2nd Pos: None


The first overall selection was made by the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs selected 21-year-old shortstop Joaquin Ibanez who is a 58 OVR with A POT.

The best first round picks, in my opinion, were made #2 by the Mets (CP Willy Pulido - 64 OVR, A POT) and # 27 by the Royals (1B Jason Saito - 62 OVR, A POT)

The Angels made a nice selection with the 17th pick in Round 2 (SP Julio Fernandez - 57 OVR, A POT) and the Phillies faired nicely with the 3rd pick in the round (2B Darren Black - 65 OVR, B POT)

In the 3rd Round, Baltimore used the 5th pick to land CF Mike Burgess (52, A); the White Sox picked 1B Joaquin Ramirez (70, B) with the 6th pick; C Peter Greer (70, C) went 19th to the Giants and Milwaukee took 3B Joey Morgan (51, A) 29th.

Pittsburgh used the 4th pick in Round 4 to land 3B Jim Pedersen (68, B) and Atlanta got C Matthew Myers (72, C) 27th.

The White Sox took 1B Roger Saldana (75, C) with the 6th selection in Round 5 and the Padres got 1B Michael Lacey (74, C) 24th.

Houston's selection of Juan Valencia appears to be the best of Round 6.

Todd Lopez (68, D) would appear to be the only player of much quality taken in Round 7. He went 1st to the Cubs.

[steelerfan]

The Houston Astros are the hottest team in baseball, after completing a 4-game sweep of the Baltimore Orioles to go 7-0 on their most recent home stand.

Jose Altuve and Robbie Grossman each homered in game one with Chris Carter hitting 2 long balls. Brett Oberholtzer earned his second win of the year as he pitched 5 innings and allowed 4 runs (2 earned) on 6 hits. Jesse Crain tallied his 15th save.

In game two, Jason Castro hit a solo home run and Dexter Fowler added a fifth inning grand slam as the Astros won, 8-5. Starter Jeff Locke did not factor in the decision as he went 6 innings and gave up 5 runs on 9 hits. It was JP Howell who earned the win, his second, and Jesse Crain got save number 16.

The Astros took game three by a 3-0 count. Alex White was brilliant before running into some trouble with walks in the 7th inning. His final stat line read: 6.2 innings, no runs, 1 hit, 5 walks and 7 strikeouts. White improved to 6-2 this season and Jesse Crain shut the door in the ninth for his 17th save.

Carlos Correa hit a two-runhomer in the 4th and Matt Dominguez hit a two-out blast on a 3-2 pitch in the bottom of the ninth to give Houston a walk off 3-2 win in game four. Brad Peacock went 7 innings, allowing 2 runs on 4 hits and struck out 10. However, the win went to Jason Motte, his second. Motte walked one and struck out 4 in his 2 innings on the mound.

BAL 4-9-0
HOU 6-9-1

BAL 5-10-1
HOU 8-6-1

BAL 0-2-1
HOU 3-12-0

BAL 2-4-1
HOU 3-9-0

The Astros will hit the road for 6 games, beginning Friday with a weekend trip to Toronto. The Blue Jays took 3 of 4 in Houston last month, scoring 32 runs in the process.

AL West Standings through Thursday, June 4, 2015

Astros 32-23
Athletics 31-25
Rangers 30-24
Mariners 25-29
Angels 25-29

Note: Astros management has announced that their top 6 draft picks have been signed to one-year deals with the club.

[steelerfan]

Houston Astros (32-23) vs Toronto Blue Jays (34-21)
June 5-7, 2015
Rogers Centre - Toronto, Ontario

Probable Starters:
Game One - Friday 7:07 PM
Jarred Cosart (6-2, 3.38) vs Cole Hamels (6-4, 3.17)

Game Two - Saturday 1:07 PM
Brett Oberholtzer (2-5, 5.73) vs Shelby Miller (8-2, 3.09)

Game Three - Sunday 1:07 PM
Jeff Locke (4-3, 4.00) vs Drew Hutchison (2-2, 3.09)

[steelerfan]

The Astros and Blue Jays spent Friday and Saturday ending each other's 7-game winning streaks. On Sunday, Toronto took the rubber match and the series to finish 2015 with a 5-2 record against the AL West leaders.

In game one, Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa each homered but reliever Luis Cruz allowed a 6th inning grand slam by Colby Rasmus which broke a 4-4 tie and wound up dropping the rookie to 0-4 this year.

In game two, Altuve and Chris Carter went deep for Houston. Altuve, who hit just 8 home runs last year, hit 4 long balls in the week and has 5 on the year.

Brett Oberholtzer had a much-needed consecutive strong outing. He went 6.1 innings and allowed 3 runs on 8 hits with 5 Ks and 2 walks to improve to 3-5.

The big offensive games that had dotted the meetings between the clubs were forgotten on Sunday add the Jays used a 4-run 6th inning to propel them to a 4-1 win.

Chris Carter provided the Astros only offense, hitting a solo homer in the 4th. For Carter, it was his 5th long ball in 8 days and club-leading 13th of the season.

Jeff Locke took the loss, dropping his record to 4-4. Locke was hit for all 4 runs as he pitched 6 innings and surrendered 6 base knocks.

HOU 7-14-2
TOR 9-12-1

HOU 10-13-0
TOR 3-10-1

HOU 1-5-0
TOR 4-6-0

The Astros head to Chicago next where they will play 3 with the White Sox beginning Monday.

AL West Standings through Sunday, June 7, 2015

Astros 33-25
Athletics 33-26
Rangers 32-25
Angels 28-29
Mariners 26-31

[steelerfan]

Houston Astros (33-25) vs Chicago White Sox (23-33)
June 8-10, 2015
U.S. Cellular Field - Chicago, Illinois

Probable Starters:

Game One - Monday 7:10 PM
Alex White (6-2, 3.99) vs John Danks (3-3, 3.98)

Game Two - Tuesday 7:10 PM
Brad Peacock (3-1, 2.38) vs Jose Quintana (5-4, 3.42)

Game Three - Wednesday 1:10 PM
Jarred Cosart (6-2, 3.61) vs Paul Maholm (3-5, 3.68)

[steelerfan]

Updates of former Astros through June 7, 2015

2B Tony Kemp (NYY - MLB) 121 AB, .190, 2 HR, 7 RBI

SP Scott Feldman (PIT - MLB) 5/7 QS, 39.2 IP, 1-2, 3.40, 27 K, 9 BB

SP Collin McHugh (PIT - AAA Indianapolis) 28.0 IP, 0-1, 2.57, 20 K, 2 BB

SP Jerome Williams (TB - MLB) 3.0 IP, 0-0, 0.00, 1 K, 2 BB

SS Jonathan Villar (MIA - MLB) 182 AB, .236, 0 HR, 10 RBI

[steelerfan]

The Astros dropped the opener in Chicago but bounced back to take 2 of 3 from the White Sox.

In game one, Chris Carter hit yet another home run - a 2-run shot in the 6th - but it wasn't enough as the Sox won 4-3.

Alex White took the loss to fall to 6-3 as he allowed all 4 Chicago runs (3 earned) on his 5 innings of work.

In game 2, Jose Altuve went 3 for 5 with a home run to lead Houston to a 7-3 win.

The Astros bullpen had to put in some overtime as starter Brad Peacock excited after just 2+ innings when he separated the shoulder on his throwing arm after throwing a pitch in the 3rd inning. More on Peacock later.

Luis Cruz came in and went 4.2 scoreless innings, allowing 3 hits and 2 bases on balls with 5 punch outs, to earn his first Major League win.

As for Peacock, the separated shoulder will have him on the shelf for 2-3 months and the Astros have placed him on the 60-day DL. Peacock has made 7 appearances for Houston (6 starts, 5 quality starts) and is 3-1 with a 3.00 ERA and a hold.

The Astros recalled pitcher Asher Wojciechowski from AAA Fresno to replace Peacock in the rotation. Wojciechowski began the season as Houston's number 3 starter but was sent down to Fresno after going 1-2 with a 7.76 ERA in 6 starts.

Charlie Barbour hit a 2-run home run in game 3, his 4th, to help Houston to a 5-3 win in the finale.

Jarred Cosart was strong, again, on the mound for Houston. The staff ace pitched 7 innings, giving up just 1 run on 4 hits to improve to 7-2. Jason Motte earned his 7th hold and Jesse Crain recorded the final out to secure his 18th save.

HOU 3-8-1
CWS 4-7-0

HOU 7-12-0
CWS 3-8-0

HOU 5-10-0
CWS 3-8-1

The Astros will take Thursday off before returning home for 5 games, beginning with a 3-game weekend series with the Seattle Mariners.

Note: The Kansas City Royals have acquired reliever Richie Heil from the Atlanta Braves, in exchange for minor league pitcher Miguel Almonte.

RP Richie Heil
Age 29, B/T L/L
80 OVR, B POT
1-1, 2.79, 19.1 IP, 21 K, 12 BB

SP Miguel Almonte
Age 21, B/T R/R
69 OVR, B POT
*Has yet to play in the Majors and has been assigned to AAA Gwinnett.

[steelerfan]

AL West Standings through Thursday, June 11, 2015

Astros 35-26
Rangers 34-26
Athletics 34-28
Angels 30-30
Mariners 27-33

[steelerfan]

Seattle Mariners (27-33) vs Houston Astros (35-26)
June 12-14, 2015
Minute Maid Park - Houston, Texas

Probable Starters:

Game One - Friday 7:10 PM
Felix Hernandez (5-3, 2.45) vs Brett Oberholtzer (3-5, 5.59)

Game Two - Saturday 1:10 PM
Hisashi Iwakuma (8-1, 2.85) vs Jeff Locke (4-4, 4.17)

Game Three - Sunday 1:10 PM
Taijuan Walker (3-5, 3.73) vs Alex White (6-3, 4.09)

[steelerfan]

Houston managed to win 2 of 3 against the Seattle Mariners to open a short 5-game home stand.

In the first game shortstop Carlos Correa was the star at the plate going 2 for 5 with a double, a home run and 5 runs batted in.

Brett Oberholtzer won for the third consecutive time to improve to 4-5 on the year. The lefty allowed 3 runs on 9 hits with 9 strikeouts and 2 walks in 7 innings.

Game two produced another Astros victory as Jeff Locke out-dueled Hisashi Iwakuma for a 2-1 win.

Locke (5-4) pitched 7 innings and surrendered just 1 run on 4 hits while striking out 6 and walking one. Jesse Crain closed the game out with a perfect 9th inning to earn his 19th save of 2015.

Game 3 was all Seattle as the Mariners new shortstop (more on that later) had a club debut to remember. Jordy Mercer went 2 for 4 with 2 home runs and 3 RBI for his new team.

George Springer homered in the bottom of the 8th inning to avoid having Houston shutout for the first time this season while Alex White took the loss. White lasted 6 innings but allowed 4 runs on 7 hits.

SEA 3-8-1
HOU 8-11-0

SEA 1-5-0
HOU 2-8-0

SEA 6-12-0
HOU 1-7-2

The Astros will play 2 with Colorado beginning Monday, before traveling to Denver on Wednesday for 2 more with the Rockies to start an 8-game road trip.

AL West Standings through Sunday, June 14, 2015

Rangers 38-26
Astros 37-27
Athletics 35-31
Angels 33-31
Mariners 29-35

[steelerfan]

Note: The Pittsburgh Pirates have traded shortstop Jordy Mercer to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for second baseman Nick Franklin.

2B Nick Franklin
Age 23 B/T S/R
74 OVR, C POT
.149, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 147 AB

SS Jordy Mercer
Age 28 B/T R/R
75 OVR, B POT
.289, 5 HR, 12 RBI, 114 AB

[steelerfan]

Colorado Rockies (28-35) vs Houston Astros (37-27)
June 15-16, 2015
Minute Maid Park - Houston, Texas

Probable Starters:
Game One - Monday 7:10 PM
Dustin McGowan (3-3, 4.91) vs Asher Wojciechowski (1-2, 7.76)

Game Two - Tuesday 1:10 PM
Jhoulys Chacin (3-7, 4.38) vs Jarred Cosart (7-2, 3.43)

[jaymo76]

Looks like your 1st round draft pick will be in the Bigs pretty quick. Too bad only a C potential though.

[steelerfan]

Looks like your 1st round draft pick will be in the Bigs pretty quick. Too bad only a C potential though.

I think I did good in Round 6.

[steelerfan]

The Rockies and Astros split the two games in Houston as the Astros were shut out for the first time this season.

In game one, Jason Castro and Chris Carter each homered as Houston belted out 15 hits for a convincing 10-3 win that saw 5 Astros have multi-hit games.

Asher Wojciechowski earned his second win of the season as the rookie went 6.2 innings and allowed 3 runs on 5 hits.

In game two, it was a completely different story for Houston. They were limited to just 4 hits and, adding injury to insult, center fielder Dexter Fowler suffered a fractured arm diving back into first base on a pick off attempt in the bottom of the 9th.

Fowler, who missed virtually all of 2014 with a torn knee ligament, was having a fantastic season for the Astros. The 28 year old was hitting .295 with 8 homers and 32 RBI in 217 AB. Fowler is expected to miss 4 to 8 weeks.

Jarred Cosart pitched 7 shutout innings before giving way to Mike Foltynewicz. Foltynewicz gave up a solo home run to the first batter he faced - rookie shortstop Jose Pirela - then promptly reid the final 6 Rockies in order with 3 of them being struck out. However, Pirela's first career long ball held up to drop Foltynewicz to 1-2 on the season.

COL 3-7-1
HOU 10-15-0

COL 1-7-0
HOU 0-4-0

Both clubs will travel to Denver to play two more in the Mile High City, beginning Wednesday.

AL West Standings through Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Rangers 39-26
Astros 38-28
Athletics 35-32
Angels 34-31
Mariners 29-36

Notes: To replace Fowler, the Astros called up outfielder Domingo Santana from AAA Fresno. Santana, 22, debuted with Houston in 2014, hitting. 400 with 5 bombs and 17 RBI in 55 AB.

On Monday, Milwaukee traded shortstop Didi Gregorious to Minnesota for third baseman Trevor Plouffe.

3B Trevor Plouffe
Age 28 B/T R/R
76 OVR, C POT
.218, 5 HR, 23 RBI

SS Didi Gregorious
Age 25 B/T L/R
75 OVR, C POT
.240, 8 HR, 24 RBI

On Tuesday, it was Kansas City and Atlanta exchanging players. The Royals got catcher Ryan Doumit for minor league pitcher Sean Mora.

SP Sean Mora
Age 21 B/T L/R
63 OVR, B POT
2-1, 1.88, 16 K, 10 BB, 24.0 IP in AAA

C Ryan Doumit
Age 33 B/T S/R
77 OVR, C POT
.272, 13 HR, 37 RBI

The Royals were looking for a gap stop while Salvador Perez recovers from a broken arm.

[steelerfan]

Houston Astros (38-28) vs Colorado Rockies (29-36)
June 17-18, 2015
Coors Field - Denver, Colorado

Probable Starters:

Game One - Wednesday 6:40 PM
Brett Oberholtzer (4-5, 5.42) vs Brett Anderson (7-4, 3.60)

Game Two - Thursday 2:10 PM
Jeff Locke (5-4, 3.91) vs Jon Gray (2-8, 5.51)

[SmoothPancakes]

Come on Rockies!

#TheScriptIsDead

[jaymo76]

I think I did good in Round 6.

Oh wow! Didn't see that at first. Nice job! I haven't done an MLB draft yet... well ever actually. How does it compare to Madden in terms of amount of information available?

[steelerfan]

Oh wow! Didn't see that at first. Nice job! I haven't done an MLB draft yet... well ever actually. How does it compare to Madden in terms of amount of information available?

The pertinent information is available (no question marks) but the validity of the information (accuracy) is what is unknown unless you scout the player.

It's a fair enough system. I don't feel like I'm screwing the CPU, I don't feel like I'm getting screwed, and I don't feel like I'm drafting blind.

It's pretty basic but I'm ok with the results.

[steelerfan]

The Astros and Rockies will each feel the effects of the 2-game series at Coors Field for several days to come. The clubs split the games, just as they did in Houston, but each contest was a 13 inning marathon that will certainly affect them going forward, at least from a fatigue standpoint.

In game one, the recently called-up Domingo Santana got a pinch-hit home run in the 13th inning to lift Houston to a 2-1 win in his first at bat of 2015 with the big club.

After Brett Oberholtzer went 7.1 innings, allowing just 1 run on 2 hits, the bullpen took over and eventually Luis Cruz, who scattered 3 hits over 3 innings, was rewarded with his 2nd win of the year. Jesse Crain closed the ball game out for save number 20.

In game two, Robbie Grossman's ninth inning, two-run inside the park homer forced extra innings and Houston eventually took a 6-5 lead in the top of the 13th.

However, Jesse Crain allowed a two-run homer to Pirela in the bottom half to take the loss.

Starter Jeff Locke went 6 innings and surrendered 3 runs on 6 hits with 6 punch outs.

HOU 2-8-0 F/13
COL 1-8-0

HOU 6-14-1 F/13
COL 7-12-1

Next up, Houston hits the second stop on their 8-game road trip with 3 games in Seattle against the Mariners.

AL West Standings through Thursday, June 18, 2015

Rangers 40-27
Astros 39-29
Angels 35-32
Athletics 35-34
Mariners 30-37