The Houston Astros are predicted to take Texas Christian University standout outfielder in an early MLB mock draft

Find Thursday's best bets for the biggest games from the SportsLine Projection Model and top CBS Sports experts

The Astros haven’t quite felt right this year. They still have lots of good players and occupied the best record in the American League for a hot minute, but they just aren’t the beast they used to be. But as long as Jose Altuve is standing upright, everyone will remember how good this team is when they’re at their best.

That’s news when the commissioner says it publicly, but impending realignment has not been a closely guarded secret. Expanding to 32 clubs would necessitate some reshuffling, the most likely of which would be moving to eight divisions of four teams apiece.

Braves' Hurston Waldrep is on a historic rookie run only seen in MLB by Fernando-Mania in 1981 originally appeared on The Sporting News Those who were around for Fernando-Mania probably never expected to see anything like that ever again. Fernando Valenzuela took Major League Baseball by storm when he arrived as a rookie for the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Around this time of year, it's always fun to look back at preseason predictions and pat yourself on the back for those that you got right—or at least those you can twist into convincing yourself you got right.

Baseball insiders have whispered about the possibility of regional-based realignment for a few years. MLB commissioner Rob Mandred was asked directly about it on Sunday night during an ESPN broadcast, and didn’t shy away from his next bold rules change.

Recently, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred noted that the league could realign geographically. FOX Sports outlined a plan that would group four major teams.

If the league expands to 32 teams, it seems more likely that the season will last 156 games — or possibly 154 — than 162. Here's why.

The Pittsburgh Pirates are promoting right-handed starting pitcher Bubba Chandler, MLB.com's No. 7 overall prospect (No. 1 overall pitcher).

The Pittsburgh Pirates are reportedly promoting baseball's top pitching prospect to make his MLB debut as early as Friday.

Made leapt onto the prospect scene last summer into the middle of the top 100 amid one of the best DSL performances we've ever seen. He has continued to deliver with an .801 OPS across both Single-A levels as a 17- and 18-year-old this season.