2017 first-half notes

ABOUT THE FIRST-HALF RECORD ABOUT THE record: At 60-29, the Astros continue Six astros all-stars: The Astros have six All- Overall Record:...... 60-29 to pile up wins at a historic rate...the 2017 Astros: Stars this season, which leads all AL teams and marks Home Record:...... 27-18 • Have the best record in the AL, leading the league by 10 the most in a single season in franchise history...they --with Roof Open:...... 8-6 games over the Red Sox (50-39). will be represented by starters 2B Jose Altuve, SS --with Roof Closed:...... 19-12 • Have posted their best 89-game start in club history, and OF and --with Roof Open/Closed:...... 0-0 besting their previous record of 54-35, set in 1998. RHP , LHP and RHP Road Record:...... 33-11 • Are 31-games over .500, a mark they hadn’t reached Lance McCullers Jr. Current Streak:...... Won 1 before 2017 since holding a 97-65 record at the end of Last Homestand:...... 4-2 the 1999 season. tantalizing trio: 2B Jose Altuve, SS Carlos Last Road Trip:...... 4-2 Last 5 Games:...... 3-2 • Are the fourth team in AL history to reach 60 wins prior Correa and OF George Springer all rank within the Last 10 Games:...... 7-3 to the All-Star Break...also 1969 Orioles (65-31), 2001 ’s top five position players in both Series Record:...... 20-6-2 Mariners (63-24), 1998 Yankees (61-20). OPS and WAR ( Reference): Sweeps:...... 8-1 • Are 16.5 games ahead of the Angels, a divisional lead ops war (baseball ref.) When Scoring 4 or More Runs:.....51-12 they had never reached prior to this season. 1. A. Judge (NYY) - 1.139 1. A. Judge (NYY) - 5.3 When Scoring 3 or Fewer Runs:.....9-17 2. G. Springer (HOU) - .993 2. C. Correa (HOU) - 4.9 Shutouts:...... 5-2 chart toppers: The Astros offense leads the 3. J. Ramirez (CLE) - .988 3. J. Altuve (HOU) - 4.7 In One-Run Games:...... 10-6 Major Leagues in runs (527), hits (898), doubles 4. C. Correa (HOU) - .979 4. M. Betts (BOS) - 4.3 In Two-Run Games: ...... 8-7 (197), homers (148), batting average (.289), on-base 5. J. Altuve (HOU) - .968 5. G. Springer (HOU) - 4.1 vs. Left-Handed Starters:...... 15-11 percentage (.355), (.500) and vs. Right-Handed Starters:...... 45-18 first-half totals: During the Day:...... 19-7 OPS (.855)...the Astros pitching staff leads the Majors The 2017 Astros set first-half At Night:...... 41-22 in (902) and leads the AL in opponent batting franchise records in batting average (.289), slugging When Scoring First:...... 42-13 average (.234)...Houston ranks third in the AL in ERA percentage (.500), OPS (.855), runs (527), hits (898), Opponent Scores First: ...... 18-16 (3.93), while the Astros starters lead all AL teams in doubles (197) and home runs (148)...the pitching staff Outhit Opponent:...... 51-7 ERA (3.82). set a first-half franchise record in strikeouts (902). Outhit by Opponent:...... 6-20 Equal Hits:...... 3-2 k kings: The Astros pitching staff set a Major League what a combo: Per Elias, six teams in MLB his- When Hitting :...... 52-22 record by recording 902 strikeouts prior to the All-Star tory have finished a season with the highest slugging No Home Runs:...... 8-7 Break...the previous record was held by the 2013 percentage and the fewest strikeouts, with only two Walkoff Home Runs:...... 1-0 Come-from-Behind Wins:...... 24 Tigers (863). teams doing so since 1911: the 1948 Yankees and the Largest Comeback:...... 6 1995 Indians...only once in MLB history has a team Losses After Leading:...... 17 first-half phenoms: The Astros 148 homers finished a season with the fewest strikeouts by their Last At-Bat Wins:...... 7 rank third in MLB history prior to the All-Star Break, be- batters, and the most strikeouts by their pitchers (also, Largest Blown Lead:...... 6 hind only the 1999 Mariners (151) and 2000 Cardinals the 1911 NY Giants)...this year’s rankings: Extra-Inning Games:...... 4-0 (2000)...the club has scored 5.92 runs per game, the SlG k’s (hitters) K’s (pitchers) Different Batting Orders:...... 75 highest mark by an MLB team prior to the Break since 1. HOU - .500 1. HOU - 602 1. HOU - 902 After Six Innings: the 2007 Tigers posted a 5.95 mark...Houston’s .855 2. WSH - .467 2. CLE - 614 2. LAD - 868 Lead: 48-4...... Tied: 2-3...... Trail: 10-22 OPS ranks sixth in MLB history prior to the Break, and 3. CIN - .451 3. BOS - 624 3. CLE - 857 After Seven Innings: is the highest since the 2000 Giants (.869). Lead: 52-2...... Tied: 3-5...... Trail: 5-22 batting champ: After Eight Innings: 2B Jose Altuve leads the Majors Lead: 56-0...... Tied: 3-3...... Trail: 1-26 sluggers: Houston’s .500 slugging percentage is in batting average (.347) and leads the AL in hits the third-highest in MLB history prior to the All-Star (116)...Altuve has recorded 200 hits in three consec- Break, behind the 1996 Mariners (.503) and 1936 utive seasons, winning two batting titles in that span astros 2017 timeline: Yankees (.511)...per Elias, Houston’s road slugging (2014, 2016)...has hit a Major League-best .414 on the percentage of .516 is the third-highest going into road, which is the highest road batting average in the april 3...... Win on vs. SEA april 14.....Astros take over 1st place in AL West the Break behind the 1936 Yankees (.528) and 2000 Majors since Stan Musial hit .415 in 1948. may 3...... Keuchel named April AL POTM Giants (.523) may 29....Astros score 11 runs in 8th at MIN hit man: 2B Jose Altuve has recorded three hits in june 2...... McCullers Jr. named May AL POTM ROAD rage: The Astros are 22-5 (.815) in their last 27 five straight games...he is the first player in franchise june 2...... Correa named May AL POTM road games dating back to Game 2 of a doubleheader history to record five straight three-hit games, and one june 5.....Astros win 11th consecutive game on May 14, and own the best road record in the Majors of just nine Major League players with a streak this june 5...... Springer named AL POTW june 9...... Martes makes MLB debut at 33-11 (.750)...this record can be attributed to an long all-time...the last player with a streak this long june 11...... Aoki reaches 2,000 career hits offense that has exploded to 7.14 runs per game on was George Brett, who tied the Major League record june 11...Astros HR in club-record 19th cons. game the road (314R/44G), over two runs higher than their with a six-game run in the 1976 season. june 14...... Fisher HR’s in MLB debut runs per game average at home (4.73, 213R/45G)...the july 2...... Astros record 5th sellout of 2017 best road winning percentage in MLB history is .730, SPRINGER’S DINGERS: OF George Springer has hit july 2...... Five Astros named All-Stars produced by the 1939 Yankees (54-20). 27 HR this season, which rank second in the Majors july 7...... Devenski added to All-Star Team july 7...... Astros sign 1st-round pick Bukauskas and are the most by an Astro prior to the All-Star break team: Houston has doubled in a fran- since hit a franchise-record 29 first- chise-record 46 consecutive games, besting the half homers in 2002...only three players in franchise all-star schedule: previous record of 38 games set from July 27-Sept. history have hit 27-or-more homers prior to the All-Star 6, 1977...the streak is tied for the third-longest in MLB Break: Springer (2017), Berkman (2002) and Jeff monday, july 10 history (since 1913) with the 2001-02 Devil Rays. Bagwell, who did so in 1994 (27HR) and 1999 (28 HR). T-Mobile at 7:00 p.m. CT on ESPN in every game: The Astros have held a lead in 77 elias says: With 27 HR, OF George Springer set tuesday, july 11 of their 89 games this season (87%)...additionally, the a MLB record for homers prior to the All-Star break by 2017 MLB All-Star Game at 6:30 p.m. CT on Astros have either taken a lead at any point, or at least a leadoff hitter, besting Brady Anderson, who hit 26 FOX tied their game up after the 5th inning in 24 straight first-half homers for the Orioles in 1996. contests, dating back to June 13. UPCOMING SCHEDULE AND PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS (ALL TIMES CENTRAL) Date Time Opponent Pitchers Television Fri., July 14 7:10 MIN RHP (6-3, 3.82) vs. RHP José Berríos (8-2, 3.53) ROOT SPORTS SW Sat., July 15 6:10 MIN RHP (4-7, 6.04) vs. RHP Ervin Santana (10-6, 2.99) ROOT SPORTS SW Sun., July 16 1:10 MIN RHP Mike Fiers (5-4, 3.84) vs. RHP Kyle Gibson (5-7, 6.31) ROOT SPORTS SW All Astros games are broadcast in English on SportsTalk 790 AM in Houston, the flagship station of the Astros Radio Network. La Nueva, 94.1 FM, is the flagship of the club’s Spanish Radio Network. thru 89: The Astros start to this season has been rare...below are the 11 straight wins: The Astros recorded an 11-game winning streak from last 3 AL teams with similar starts: May 25-June 5 this season, which marked the third-longest single-season RECORD THRU 89 final record winning streak in club history, and longest by a Major League team this 2006 Tigers (60-29) 95-67, Lost WS to STL season. 2005 White Sox (60-29) 116-46, WS Champs longest single-season win streaks in astros history 2001 Mariners (64-25) 116-46, Lost ALCS to NYY T1. 12 games from Aug. 27-Sept. 8, 2004 T1. 12 games from Sept. 3-14, 1999 hot ticket: The Astros have had five sellouts this season, their most 3. 11 games from May 25-June 5, 2017 since recording 15 sellouts during the 2008 season...during the recent series vs. NYY from June 30-July 2, the Astros totaled 122,795 fans, their ABOUT THE streak: The Astros 11-game winning streak was the lon- most in a three-game series since drawing 127,466 fans from July 27-29, gest by a Major League club since 2016, when Cleveland had a 14-game 2008 vs. BOS...the Astros also recorded back-to-back sellouts during the streak...while it was the 3rd-longest single-season streak in club history, it Yankees series for the first time since July 24-25, 2009 vs. NYM...Hous- tied the 3rd-longest overall (also had an 11-game streak from 1986-87)...the ton’s five sellouts this season occurred on April 3 vs. SEA (41,678), June Astros outscored opponents by 50 runs during the streak (80-39)...streak 10 vs. LAA (41,296), June 17 vs. BOS (41,017), July 1 vs. NYY (41,010) featured 3 consecutive sweeps: vs. BAL, at MIN, at TEX. and July 2 vs. NYY (41,761). road dogs: Houston also posted an 11-game road winning streak from pipeline going strong: In ’s Midseason Top 100 May 14-June 5, which established a new club record...it’s the longest Prospects released on Friday, the Astros had five of the top 58 players on single-season road win streak since the Mets won 11 straight in 2015 (the the list: OF (#11), RHP Franklin Perez (#32), RHP Francis Cubs won 12 straight from 2015-16). Martes (#48), OF (#54) and RHP (#58). magical may: This May, the Astros tied a franchise record for wins in bright future: In the 2017 SiriusXM All-Star All-Star Future’s Game a single month, as they went 22-7 (.759)...the Astros also won 22 games held yesterday, LF Derek Fisher (1x2, RBI) and RF Kyle Tucker (1x3, RBI) in July of 2005 (22-7) and August of 1998 (22-7). both started for the U.S. Team and hit RBI-doubles...1B Yordan Alvarez went 1x1 with an RBI-single for the World Team. al honors: The Astros have had three players win AL monthly awards this season: LHP Dallas Keuchel (AL April of the Month), RHP astros sign bukauskas: On Friday, the Astros signed first-round Lance McCullers Jr. (AL May Pitcher of the Month) and SS Carlos Correa pick, RHP J.B. Bukauskas, who was taken with the 15th overall selection (AL May Player of the Month). in the 2017 MLB Draft...Houston signed 36 of their 42 selections in the 2017 draft, including all 12 selections made within the top 10 rounds. keuchel’s april: LHP Dallas Keuchel went 5-0 with a complete game and a 1.21 ERA (6ER/44.2IP) in six starts in April, leading MLB yesterday’s win: The Astros defeated Toronto, 19-1, in their final game in wins and innings while ranking third in the AL in ERA...Keuchel, who of the first half...per Elias, this marks the largest margin of victory by a team won the AL Pitcher of the Month three times in 2015 (April, May, August), in its final game before the All-Star Game in Major League history...the pre- became the first pitcher in franchise history to win a Pitcher of the Month vious record was set in 1938 when the Giants defeated the Dodgers, 16-1. award four times. first to 50: The Astros became the first MLB team in 2017 to reach may winners: For the month of May, RHP Lance McCullers Jr. led all the 50-win milestone when they defeated Oakland, 12-9, on June 22...it AL pitchers in ERA (0.99) while ranking tied for second in wins (4-0) and marked the first time ever that Houston was the first team to reach 50 wins third in opponent average (.164)...SS Carlos Correa led the AL in batting in a season...Houston also became the first MLB team to reach 30 wins (.386) and RBI (26), while ranking fifth in OPS (1.130) in May. and 40 wins this season. sir lance: RHP Lance McCullers Jr. went 22.0 consecutive innings homer streak: The Astros homered in a franchise-record 19 straight without allowing a run from May 6-23...marked the longest scoreless innings games from May 23-June 11 (37 HR in the streak)...surpassed the previous streak by an Astros starter since RHP Roy Oswalt had a 32.0-inning run club record of 18 games set from May 13-31, 2000...while the Astros are from Aug. 27-Sept. 11, 2008. the only team to homer in 19 straight games this season, it was reached three times in the Majors in 2016, including 25-game runs by St. Louis miraculous comeback: On May 29, the Astros scored 11 runs in the and San Diego. 8th inning, overcoming a six-run deficit to defeat the Twins in Minnesota, 16-8...marked the first time in club history the Astros won a game by at least leading man: OF George Springer has a Major Leaguge-best nine six runs after trailing by at least six runs (Elias)...prior to game, the Astros leadoff homers this season, which is a franchise record, topping Springer’s had gone 0-921 in games where they trailed by at least six runs in the 8th own mark in 2016 and 2B in 2001...Springer’s 27 home runs inning or later in club history (Elias)...also marked the first time Houston this season are also a franchise record for home runs by a leadoff hitter. came back to win while trailing by six runs or more since May 15, 2008 at SF...was the second time in club history that the Astros scored 11 runs in cream of the crop: SS Carlos Correa leads all AL in runs an inning (also July 18, 1994 vs. STL, 6th inn.)...was one run behind the (62), home runs (20), RBI (65), walks (41), OBP (.402), SLG (.577) and franchise record of 12 set on May 31, 1975 at PHI (8th inn.). OPS (.979)...AL leaders: OBP SLG ops COMEBACK KIDS: The Astros rank fifth in the Major Leagues with 25 come- 1. Correa - .402 1. Correa - .577 1. Correa - .979 back victories, including four, five-run comebacks...only the Diamondbacks 2. Segura - .390 2. Gregorius - .482 2. Segura - .872 (29), Blue Jays (26), Royals (26) and Angels (26) have come from behind 3. Bogaerts - .359 3. Andrus - .469 3. Andrus - .813 as many times as the Astros this season. streaker: SS Carlos Correa posted a career-long, 15-game hitting player of the week: OF George Springer was named the AL Player streak from June 20-July 7, the longest streak by an Astro since RF Hunter of the Week for the week of May 29-June 4...marked his first career weekly Pence posted a 23-game and a 15-game hitting streak in 2011...Correa award, and first by an Astro this season...for the week, Springer had multiple has reached base safely in a career-long 25 straight games (since June hits in all six of Houston’s games, batting .500 (15x30) with 11 runs, one 10), which is tied for the third-longest streak in club history by a shortstop. double, five homers, nine RBI and a 1.565 OPS (.531 OBP/1.033 SLG)... he led the AL in runs, hits, HR, SLG and OPS during the week. mar-win: IF/OF Marwin Gonzalez became the first player in the modern era of baseball (since 1901) to homer in four straight starts, each at a dif- rolling 6’s: the Astros scored at least 6 runs in 9 straight games from ferent position, when he did so from April 27-May 3...ultimately homered May 28-June 6...that marked the longest MLB streak since 2004, when in five consecutive starts at these positions: 2B (4/27), 3B (4/30), LF (5/2), the 2004 Astros had a franchise-record 11-game streak (Elias Sports). 1B (5/3), LF (5/4)...Gonzalez has hit 16 home runs with 53 RBI this season, both marking new single-season career-highs. man on fiers: On June 21 at OAK, RHP Mike Fiers recorded his 7th consecutive winning decision on the road...his seven-game road winning big dallas: LHP Dallas Keuchel (9-0) is the second starting pitcher streak tied the third-longest in Astros franchise history, trailing only eight- in club history to start a season 9-0, joining RHP Roger Clemens, who game runs by RHP Darryl Kile (1997) and LHP Bob Knepper (1985). did so in his 2004 Cy Young season...his nine-game winning streak is the longest by an AL pitcher this season...his 11-game winning streak dating aoki reaches 2k: OF Norichika Aoki recorded three hits on June 11, back to 2016 is the longest active streak in the Majors. giving him 2,001 between MLB (717) and Nippon (1,284)...the 2,000-hit mark garners automatic entrance into the Meikyukai reddick’s return: Since returning from the DL on June 20, OF Josh (translates to The Golden Players Club) an equivalent to the Baseball HOF. Reddick has hit .442 (23x52) with eight doubles, three home runs and 17 RBI in 16 games...in that time, he’s raised his season batting average fisher flying high: LF Derek Fisher made his MLB debut on June 14 from .281 to .313, which ranks seventh in the AL...Reddick is having a vs. TEX and recorded the first two hits of his career, homering and hitting career-year after signing a four-year deal with Houston this offseason as an RBI-single...became the first Major League player to record the first a free agent...is batting .313 with a .365 OBP, .515 SLG and .880 OPS (all two hits of his career in the same inning since Braves 1B Adam Laroche single-season career-high marks). did so on April 7, 2004 vs. NYM...became the sixth player in club history to homer in his MLB debut, and first since Teoscar Hernandez in 2016.