Astros Crawfish Boil: Wednesday, March 1, 2023

Welcome to your Wednesday Boil!

Now 2-2 after their first four Spring Training matchups, the Houston Astros will for the first time this (pre)season play a game without the benefit of being televised. Houston will be hosting the (3-0) Boston Red Sox at the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches behind Hunter Brown at 12:05 CT.

Houston Astros News

Four Potential “I Told Ya So” Scenarios for the Astros in 2023 (houstonpress.com)

After Three Decades of Waiting, Dana Brown Gets His Shot (nytimes.com)

Watch: Houston Astros’ Luis Garcia debuts new windup (chron.com)

Outfield prospect Justin Dirden has Astros’ attention this spring (houstonchronicle.com)

With Astros spring training in full swing, here are 5 important storylines to watch for (houstonsportsmap.com)

Astros GM details Yordan Alvarez hand injury, status for Opening Day

An MLB Player’s Career May Now Be Defined by How He Handles One Age-Old Pitch (si.com)

Around the AL West

All the big prizes on the table for Castillo (mlb.com)

Spring debuts for Rangers prospects Jack Leiter, Kumar Rocker have been set (dallasnews.com)

Manny Machado extension bad news for the Angels (halohangout.com)

‘New Oakland’ prospects flash their star power (mlb.com)

Other MLB News

The 10 oldest players in baseball in 2023 (mlb.com)

O’s backstop doubles as ... home-plate ump? (mlb.com)

Gavin Lux’s Knee Injury Further Compromises Dodgers’ New-Look Infield (FanGraphs.com)

When Can Cincinnati Paint the NL Central Red? (FanGraphs.com)

With few objections, MLB’s new pitch clock is already having its intended effect (usatoday.com)

MLB breakout candidates: One player from all 30 teams who could make a surprise impact in 2023 (cbssports.com)

MLB Power Rankings: Revamped Mets rotation hits No. 1 with co-aces Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander (cbssports.com)

Houston Astros Birthdays

Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

Although it’s not technically Bligh Madris’ birthday, he’ll turn seven next February 29. It’s unclear whether he celebrates his 27th birthday on February 28 or on March 1. If you can’t have one birthday, I guess you can have two...?

A six-foot, lefty-batting and right-handed throwing utility candidate, Madris is in camp with Houston as part of their 40-man roster. Although listed as an outfielder, Madris also plays a fair amount at first base. In his major league debut in 2022, he was 20-for-113 with the Pittsburgh Pirates.