Correa, Astros clinch AL West, open playoffs vs White Sox
Carlos Correa hit his career-high 25th homer with a three-run shot and the Houston Astros clinched the AL West with a 3-2 win over the Tampa Bay RaysOCTOBER 1, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Throws 34 pitches Greinke (neck) allowed one hit and struck out two across two scoreless innings Thursday for Triple-A Sugar Land, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Impact Greinke threw 34 pitches and seemingly was fairly sharp in the rehab outing. He may not need much more time to ramp up, as manager Dusty Baker said that Greinke could work out of the bullpen in the playoffs. Greinke last threw in the majors on Sep. 19, and he had allowed 18 earned runs across 13 innings in his final three starts before hitting the injured list.
OCTOBER 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
McHugh expected to start for the Rays against Astros
The Rays will start Collin McHugh on Thursday while the Astros are expected to counter with Lance McCullers JrSEPTEMBER 30, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Slated for rehab start Greinke (neck) is scheduled to make a rehab appearance for Triple-A Sugar Land on Thursday, Julia Morales of AT&T SportsNet Southwest reports.
Impact The upcoming appearance in the minors effectively rules Greinke out from starting in any of the Astros' final five games of the regular season, but provided his injured neck responds fine to Thursday's outing, he looks like he'll be good to go for the playoffs. The bigger question is what kind of role Greinke will fill for Houston during its upcoming postseason run. Per Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle, manager Dusty Baker said Tuesday that it's a "distinct possibility" Greinke works out of the bullpen in October, as Houston already has a number of starters available who have been outperforming the veteran righty of late. Over his final three starts before landing on the shelf, Greinke was blasted for 19 runs (18 earned) on 19 hits -- including five home runs -- and six walks while recording only eight strikeouts in 13 frames.
SEPTEMBER 29, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Garcia expected to start for the Astros against the Rays
The Astros will send Luis Garcia to the mound Wednesday and the Rays plan to give Drew Rasmussen the startSEPTEMBER 29, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Astros walk twice with bases loaded in 9th, beat Rays 4-3
Rays reliever JT Chargois walked two Houston batters with the bases loaded in the ninth inning, propelling the Astros to a 4-3 win over Tampa Bay that snapped a four-game skid and...SEPTEMBER 29, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Could work as reliever in playoffs Manager Dusty Baker said Tuesday that Greinke (neck) will "probably not" make another regular-season start and that that there is a "distinct possibility" the right-hander works ou...
Impact The Astros previously expressed hope that Greinke would return to the starting rotation by the end of the regular season, but Baker's latest update suggests that he may be unlikely to return before the playoffs. Greinke struggled severely in his last three starts before landing on the IL last Friday, allowing 18 earned runs on 19 hits and six walks across 13 innings. WIth those woes in mind, it's easy to see why Houston thinks the seasoned right-hander could be better suited for a bullpen role during the postseason. Per Brian McTaggart of MLB.com, Greinke is expected to make a rehab outing with Triple-A Sugar Land on Thursday before his next steps are determined.
SEPTEMBER 28, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Throws bullpen Greinke (neck) threw a bullpen session Sunday.
Impact The Astros are hoping Greinke can make a start before the end of the regular season, targeting the weekend series against Oakland. The right-hander may throw another bullpen session Tuesday.
SEPTEMBER 28, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Blackburn expected to start as Oakland hosts Houston
The Athletics will send Paul Blackburn to the mound Sunday and the Astros plan to give Jake Odorizzi the startSEPTEMBER 26, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Montas reaches 200 Ks, A's pound first-place Astros 14-2
Frankie Montas pitched two-hit ball over seven innings and became the first Oakland pitcher in 20 years to reach 200 strikeouts in a season, helping the Athletics pound the Houston...SEPTEMBER 25, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Astros' Zack Greinke scratched from start with neck soreness
Astros right-hander Zack Greinke was scratched from his scheduled start and placed on the 10-day injured list with neck sorenessSEPTEMBER 25, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Scratched, placed on IL Greinke was scratched from his Friday start against the Athletics and placed on the 10-day injured list with neck soreness, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Impact Greinke last pitched Sunday, but the move to the IL could only be backdated as far as Tuesday. He'll be eligible to be reinstated Oct. 1 against Oakland, though it remains to be seen if he'll need longer to recover from the neck issue. The right-hander has struggled of late, posting a 7.56 ERA while going winless in his last five starts, but he still figures to be in Houston's postseason plans so long as he's able to return in time for the ALDS. Brandon Bielak will start instead Friday. Greinke isn't yet sure when he'll be able to return but could pitch with a reduced workload if he's back in time for the ALDS, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports.
SEPTEMBER 24, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Astros' Zack Greinke's recent struggles set the stage for an important final 2 starts Is Zack Greinke one of the Astros' four best options to start a postseason game? His final two outings might determine his October role.
SEPTEMBER 24, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM
Greinke scheduled to start for Houston against Oakland
The Astros will start Zack Greinke on Friday while the Athletics are expected to counter with Frankie MontasSEPTEMBER 24, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Lester wins 200th, Cards down Brewers for ninth straight win
Jon Lester notched his 200th career win, Nolan Arenado hit a two-run homer and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers 5-2 for their ninth consecutive...SEPTEMBER 21, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Gives up five runs Sunday Greinke didn't factor into the decision Sunday against Arizona after allowing five runs on five hits and a walk across our four innings, striking out three.
Impact Greinke has now gone winless in each of his last five starts, posting an 0-3 record with a 7.56 ERA in that stretch despite logging two quality starts as well. He's now given up five or more runs while failing to pitch more than five frames in each of his last three contests.
SEPTEMBER 20, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Siri, McCormick rally AL West-leading Astros past D-backs
Jose Siri and Chas McCormick hit back-to-back home runs in the eighth inning, rallying the AL West-leading Houston Astros over the Arizona Diamondbacks 7-6SEPTEMBER 19, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Gallen expected to start for the Diamondbacks against Astros
The Astros will roll out Zack Greinke to the mound Sunday and the Diamondbacks plan to give Zac Gallen the startSEPTEMBER 19, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Calhoun, Varsho key 3-run 10th, Arizona beats Houston, 6-4
Kole Calhoun knocked in the go-ahead run with an RBI single and Daulton Varsho homered as the Arizona Diamondbacks scored three runs in the 10th inning for a 6-4 win over the Houst...SEPTEMBER 19, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Astros notes: Zack Greinke's postseason role, Michael Brantley's knee issue and Taylor Jones's demotion Greinke's recent struggles raise the question as to whether he is one of the Astros' four best options to start a postseason game.
SEPTEMBER 16, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM
Roughed up in return to action Greinke (11-6) suffered the loss Tuesday against the Rangers after allowing eight runs (seven earned) on five hits and three walks while striking out four over five innings.
Impact Greinke was pummeled by the long ball Tuesday night, giving up two-run shots in the first and the third innings and subsequently surrendering a three-run homer in the sixth to give the Rangers an 8-0 lead. It was the third time this season Greinke has given up three or more home runs in a game. The 37-year-old has dropped three straight decisions and has given up 13 earned runs over his last two starts. Greinke now owns a 3.94 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 114:35 K:BB over 164.2 innings and lines up for a road meeting against the Angels at the beginning of next week.
SEPTEMBER 15, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Garcia hits 30th HR, Texas beats Astros in Greinke's return
All-Star slugger Adolis García tied the Rangers' single-season rookie record with his 30th home run and last-place Texas beat the AL West-leading Houston Astros 8-1SEPTEMBER 15, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Astros starter Odorizzi to 10-day IL after covering first
The AL West-leading Houston Astros have put starting pitcher Jake Odorizzi on the 10-day injured list with right foot sorenessSEPTEMBER 14, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Activated for Tuesday's start Greinke (undisclosed) was activated from the COVID-19 injured list ahead of his start Tuesday against the Rangers, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chroniclee reports.
Impact The Astros announced over the weekend that Greinke would return from the COVID IL to start Tuesday, and now the club has made the move official by placing Jake Odorizzi (foot) on the 10-day injured list. It'll mark the right-hander's first start since Aug. 29, when he allowed six runs on nine hits and two walks across four innings against Texas.
SEPTEMBER 14, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
LEADING OFF: Greinke back, Vladdy & daddy, Brewers pitch in
Houston Astros right-hander Zack Greinke makes his first start Tuesday night since testing positive for COVID-19 last monthSEPTEMBER 14, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
