MLB Notebook: Astros soar to AL West lead

It’s time for another week of news and notes from around Major League Baseball, but unfortunately, my first topic remains fixated on the story of the year within the league. MLB has dictated that umpires must be more aggressive in searching for substances worn by pitchers, and that’s where we’ll kick things off.

Stuck On This Situation

This past week, a number of pitchers, including Washington Nationals ace Max Scherzer, were frisked by umpires searching for substances banned by Major League Baseball. Some pitchers responded by, and I’m not making this up, actively removing articles of clothing while on the field so umpires could have a look.

It’s hard to imagine this situation getting any more bizarre than it already is, but I feel like I’m writing some version of that statement every week. My guess is, more updates will come next week, and the week after that, and the week after that…

Franco Wanders to Stellar Debut

Baseball’s unanimous #1 prospect, Wander Franco, made his MLB debut for the Tampa Bay Rays this past week, and he lived up to the hype. The 20-year-old rookie homered and drove in three runs in his first big league game, an extra-inning loss to the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday.

Franco’s arrival comes at a time when the Rays and Red Sox are battling for the AL East lead, and his lofty potential will undoubtedly make him one of baseball’s most exciting young players.

Astros Soar to AL West Lead

The Houston Astros have gone on a torrid run of late. The squad has won 14 of its last 16 games over the past three weeks, and that stretch has pushed them to the top of a very competitive division. Houston now leads Oakland by two games, and the Astros could be in line for more success thanks to upcoming series with the lowly Detroit Tigers and Baltimore Orioles.

Arizona and Baltimore Go Back on the Road

It’s already been a very long year for the Arizona Diamondbacks, who have lost 23 consecutive road games. After a stop at home for series against the Dodgers and Brewers, the D-Backs will travel to San Diego for a weekend series.

Meanwhile, the Baltimore Orioles are riding a similar 19-game road losing streak dating back to John Means’s no-hitter. They’ll also be on the road later this week, as they’re headed to Buffalo for a four-game set with the Blue Jays.