Monday, September 25, 2023. Why is this date significant? The day prior, the Houston Astros had just completed a 12-game stretch that saw them go 3-9 and lose four consecutive series (with 9 of those games against the two worst teams in baseball). The outlook for the reigning World Champs just to have an opportunity to defend their title was bleak, with the Astros trailing the AL West-leading Rangers by 2 1/2 games with just 6 games left to play, and with the Stros having to travel to Seattle to face a Mariners’ squad that had beaten them in 8 of 10 previous meetings on the season.
However, 9/25/23 arrived, and the Mamelhorn thread streak was born. Less than two weeks later, the Astros are again champions of the American League West and are preparing to host a best-of-five series against the AL Central champion Minnesota Twins.
During the regular season, Minnesota won 4 out of 6 contests against the Astros. Unfortunately for the Twinkies, this is no longer the regular season. Since 2017, October has been when the Astros’ postseason DNA gets unleashed on the remainder of the league, resulting in the Astros playing in six consecutive American League Championship series, winning four American League pennants and two World Championships. And, for basically the first time all season, the Astros’ lineup is finally healthy and ready to wreak havoc on opposing pitching staffs.
Series Starting Pitching Matchups (all times CDT)
- Saturday, October 7 @ 3:45 pm: Bailey Ober (8-6, 3.43 ERA, 1.07 WHIP) vs. Justin Verlander (13-8, 3.22 ERA, 1.13 WHIP)
- Sunday, October 8 @ 7:03 pm: Pablo López (11-8, 3.66 ERA, 1.15 WHIP) vs. Framber Valdez (12-11, 3.45 ERA, 1.13 WHIP)
- Tuesday, October 10 @ 3:07 pm: Sonny Gray (8-8, 2.79 ERA, 1.15 WHIP)
- Wednesday, October 11 @ 1:07 pm (if necessary): TBD vs. TBD
- Friday, October 13 @ 3:07 pm (if necessary): TBD vs. TBD
Minnesota heads into Minute Maid Park with a very solid squad that does just about everything at a high level. Offensively, they’re 6th in baseball with a WRC+ of 109 (just slightly behind the Astros’ WRC+ of 112). On the mound, Minnesota finished 5th in baseball with a 3.87 Team ERA (three spots ahead of Houston, whose team ERA was 3.94). Defensively, Minnesota finished 9th in baseball in Defensive Runs Saved, whereas the Astros finished 17th. Make no mistake…Minnesota is no pushover, and the Astros will have their work cut out for them to advance to their seventh-consecutive American League Championship series.
Mamelhorn is posting this thread live from the Texas State Fair, so here’s to a phenomenal day filled with fried delicacies, tons of wax-cup beer, and a Red River of Sooner tears, only to be improved upon with the Astros getting out to a 1-0 series lead. Astros OB’s…GITT as often as possible to help keep the thread streak alive and, along with it, the Astros chances of becoming the first repeat MLB champion in two decades.
GO STROS!!!
However, 9/25/23 arrived, and the Mamelhorn thread streak was born. Less than two weeks later, the Astros are again champions of the American League West and are preparing to host a best-of-five series against the AL Central champion Minnesota Twins.
During the regular season, Minnesota won 4 out of 6 contests against the Astros. Unfortunately for the Twinkies, this is no longer the regular season. Since 2017, October has been when the Astros’ postseason DNA gets unleashed on the remainder of the league, resulting in the Astros playing in six consecutive American League Championship series, winning four American League pennants and two World Championships. And, for basically the first time all season, the Astros’ lineup is finally healthy and ready to wreak havoc on opposing pitching staffs.
Series Starting Pitching Matchups (all times CDT)
- Saturday, October 7 @ 3:45 pm: Bailey Ober (8-6, 3.43 ERA, 1.07 WHIP) vs. Justin Verlander (13-8, 3.22 ERA, 1.13 WHIP)
- Sunday, October 8 @ 7:03 pm: Pablo López (11-8, 3.66 ERA, 1.15 WHIP) vs. Framber Valdez (12-11, 3.45 ERA, 1.13 WHIP)
- Tuesday, October 10 @ 3:07 pm: Sonny Gray (8-8, 2.79 ERA, 1.15 WHIP)
- Wednesday, October 11 @ 1:07 pm (if necessary): TBD vs. TBD
- Friday, October 13 @ 3:07 pm (if necessary): TBD vs. TBD
Minnesota heads into Minute Maid Park with a very solid squad that does just about everything at a high level. Offensively, they’re 6th in baseball with a WRC+ of 109 (just slightly behind the Astros’ WRC+ of 112). On the mound, Minnesota finished 5th in baseball with a 3.87 Team ERA (three spots ahead of Houston, whose team ERA was 3.94). Defensively, Minnesota finished 9th in baseball in Defensive Runs Saved, whereas the Astros finished 17th. Make no mistake…Minnesota is no pushover, and the Astros will have their work cut out for them to advance to their seventh-consecutive American League Championship series.
Mamelhorn is posting this thread live from the Texas State Fair, so here’s to a phenomenal day filled with fried delicacies, tons of wax-cup beer, and a Red River of Sooner tears, only to be improved upon with the Astros getting out to a 1-0 series lead. Astros OB’s…GITT as often as possible to help keep the thread streak alive and, along with it, the Astros chances of becoming the first repeat MLB champion in two decades.
GO STROS!!!
