Entering Thursday’s game at Minute Maid Park, the Yankees had allowed only 22 stolen bases — the fewest of any American League team. Not that it would deter the Astros or their healthy All-Star hopeful Jose Altuve, who stole two bases in Houston’s 4-0 victory.

The conversation was brief. “How you feelin’?” Astros manager A.J. Hinch asked Dallas Keuchel in the ninth inning of Thursday’s 4-0 victory over the Yankees. “Dandy,” Keuchel responded. “Finish the game,” Hinch shot back. “I want to go home.” Keuchel did just that, notching the shutout with a career-high 12 strikeouts.

Rockies top Draft pick Brendan Rodgers made his professional debut a special one, going 4-for-6 with two singles, a double and a home run on Thursday night. He also crossed the plate three times for Rookie-level Grand Junction in the team’s 15-11 loss to the Orem Owlz.

Here comes Max Scherzer again. Washington’s ace threw a no-hitter in his last start and a one-hit shutout in the outing before that. So what can the Nationals expect on Friday against Philadelphia?

By the time their 23-day, 21-city barnstorming journey comes to a close, the Anderson Monarchs will have logged some 4,000 miles spanning from the Northeast to the Deep South to the Midwest and back home to Philadelphia. And they’re doing this all on a non-air-conditioned bus that is nearly 70 years old, containing none of the amenities found on a typical vehicle designed for long distances.

Lance Lynn, who hadn’t pitched in 18 days, picked up right where he left off in the Cardinals’ 5-1 win on Thursday night at Marlins Park.

Max Scherzer already has put together perhaps the best pair of back-to-back starts in baseball history, and the Nationals right-hander will try to keep rolling when he faces the Phillies on Friday night at Citizens Bank Park.

Jake Arrieta came up to the Majors with a reputation for a big fastball, but he didn’t find success until he put it aside to focus on his secondary pitches. With elite-level spin, he’s become one of the best pitchers in the game.

Brandon Belt became the first Giants player to hit two triples in a game since Brett Pill on September 17, 2011, and Matt Duffy and Brandon Crawford each added a triple, as the club did something it had not done in 55 years.

Welcome to DraftKings fantasy baseball, the Official Daily Fantasy Game of Major League Baseball. The players listed could provide difference-making stats for DraftKings participants on Friday.

It started with Joe Ross’ coming-out party Friday night. It grew with Max Scherzer’s no-hitter and Gio Gonzalez’s seven clean innings. After Stephen Strasburg’s return from the disabled list, Jordan Zimmermann’s eight-inning no-decision and finally Doug Fister’s blanking of the Braves on Thursday, Nationals starting pitchers set a franchise record with 41 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings.

This might end up being one of Billy Beane’s finest hours, and don’t you hate it how the smart guys end up being right so often? First, though, things have to work out a certain way for the A’s and their general manager. Yes, that means lots of October baseball.

Throughout Jackie Bradley Jr.’s career, few have questioned his prowess in the field or the athletic gifts at his disposal. The Red Sox outfielder’s offensive ability has often been a different story.

When All-Star Game festivities begin next month, Jacob deGrom and Jeurys Familia — the two pitchers who combined on the Mets’ 2-0 shutout of the Brewers on Thursday, snapping their season-high seven game losing streak on the last day of a nightmare eight-game road trip — will almost certainly be there. Matt Harvey might not be, which is more a testament to just how good deGrom has been.

After months of dominating the highest level of the Minors, Steven Matz is set to join the Mets this weekend.

In some ways, Rangers third baseman/outfielder Joey Gallo is like most Major League rookies. In some ways, he’s nowhere close.

The finish line is so close for Jose Fernandez, but the Marlins’ ace must first clear one final injury rehab assignment hurdle, which will be on Saturday for Double-A Jacksonville.