Baseball Chatter 04/19

Reporter: “Tell me an example of the knowledge McCann has imparted on you”

Keuchel: “McCann told me not to shave my beard.” Reporter: “Why?,” Keuchel “Because we’re going to be beard brothers,”

Dallas Keuchel hasn’t shaken off Brian McCann more than three times in 21 innings over Keuchel’s first three starts. Keuchel Loves McCann. Why wouldn’t he? Since this relationship started, Keuchel:

• Has pitched seven innings in each of his three starts
• 78% ground balls
• Eight hits allowed , 21 innings pitched
• 0.86 ERA.

His knowledge first of all, but what he sees in the box, what he relays to me, what we talk about between innings. Just everything you could possibly want from a catcher, he’s got. He’s also caught a lot of quality pitchers in his time. I usually just listen. He talks. But I like to talk a lot, so it takes a lot out of me not to talk.Keuchel on McCann

I think he’s challenged him, which is something that you have to do with Dallas Pitch usage is big with (Keuchel) – how much to implement his cutter versus his fastball, the usage of the change I think Brian’s been good for him to emphasize pitching in before going straight to the change up and getting hitters to respect both sides of the plate.Astros Manager A.J. Hinch

Andrew McCutchen made it very clear he was proud to be playing back in center field. If I were a manager in real baseball I would love a guy like McCutchen on my team. However, I am not a real manager, and I do not own McCutchen in any league.

Luis Severino retired 18 of the first 19 batters he faced last night and has 21 strikeouts over his past two starts. It’s Pedro, i’m telling you.

Stephen Piscotty has the highest batting average of any Cardinals starter, at .237. Overall, the Cardinals rank last, hitting .206

Mike Leake leads the Cardinals rotation in

• Most Wins
• Lowest ERA 0.84
• Most IP 21 1/3

Andrew Triggs set a club record for the most innings pitched without allowing an earned run in 17 2/3 innings to start the season. He is 3-0 on a ballclub that is 6-8 and hasn’t allowed an earned run over his first three starts.

Sonny Gray threw 47 pitches without shoulder pain on Monday. He is on track to throw 65 pitches this weekend at Single-A Stockton

Logan Forsythe has a bruised big toe after getting hit by a pitch. He tried to act like a tough guy staying in the game until he couldn’t hide the pain in the third. His X-rays are inconclusive, and will be examined by team doctors today.

Kevin Gausman is not right in his first 18.1 innings, and while he blames it on “bad execution”, it is hard not question weather he is hiding some injury.

• 7.23 ERA
• 2.04 WHIP
• 13:12 K:BB

Robbie Ray has a bunch of strikeouts, and a bunch of walks. The most in the National League. Yu Darvish is the Robbie Ray of the American League

Freddie Freeman is hitting .400, and ranks second in both SLG and OPS

Jose Ramirez is hitting .583, with three home runs in his last four games. Last night he showed some speed on the basepaths as well.

Francisco Lindor is batting .392 with five doubles one triple, four home runs, nine RBIs and a career high 12-game hit streak.

DJ LeMahieu started the season going 2-for-23, hitting .087. Over the past eight games he is 12-for-27, hitting .444. Looks like LeMahieu woke up.

The Tigers have homered in 13 consecutive games and need one more to tie the 2002 Indians for the longest consecutive home run streak to start a season.

Huston Street was moved to the 60-day disabled list after club management came to a consensus that he won’t be ready until at least early June. I’d say the same thing if his replacement closer has the most saves in baseball.

Hyun-Jin Ryu has given up six homers in three starts. In 26 starts back in 2014, his last healthy

The Royals went 1 for 6 last night when there were two outs and runners in scoring position, and are 3 for 37 overall.

The Blue Jays record is 2-11, the worst start of any playoff team since the Florida Marlins in 1988

The Mets last five games came down to the final at bat. They lost three of those five, as the bullpen went 0-4 with a 7.15 ERA

Albert Pujols has hit more homers off the Astros than any other player, 54. He is 10 for 34 since starting the season 1 for 20