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The Astros have struggled badly to open the 12 months as they presently sit lifeless final within the AL West with a 7-15 file, 4 video games again of Seattle and Texas for the division lead. Membership GM Dana Brown lately spoke to Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle relating to the membership’s deep early season struggles, together with commenting on the standing of veteran first baseman Jose Abreu.
Abreu, 37, has hit an anemic .073/.148/.091 with a 27.9% strikeout price and only one extra-base hit in his first 61 journeys to the plate this season. Whereas that’s a reasonably small pattern dimension, it comes on the heels of a 2023 marketing campaign the place he posted a disappointing 86 wRC+ in 141 video games. Given the veteran slugger’s lack of success in an Astros uniform, Brown left the door open to the membership making some adjustments relating to his enjoying time ought to he proceed to wrestle. Whereas Brown emphasised that the membership will proceed to deal with getting Abreu enjoying time to “see if he can get sizzling” within the coming days, he additionally acknowledged that they’ll need to “circle again and make some selections” if the veteran doesn’t present indicators of enchancment.
It’s an comprehensible stance for the membership to take, although Abreu is simply within the second 12 months of his three-year, $58.5M pact with the membership. The obvious possibility for the membership at first base ought to they appear to maneuver away from Abreu is Jon Singleton, although the 32-year-old has hardly lit the world on hearth himself with a .250/.333/.313 slash line in 13 video games this 12 months. Trey Cabbage and Grae Kessinger are among the many different believable choices accessible to the membership at first base presently on the 40-man roster.
Extra from across the AL West…
- Reporting earlier this week indicated that Rangers ace Max Scherzer is forward of schedule as he rehabs from surgical procedure to restore a herniated disc he underwent over the offseason and that he was scheduled to throw 40 pitches to stay hitters Friday. In accordance with Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News, that 40-pitch session went off and not using a hitch and Scherzer had no points recovering at this time, which means the 39-year-old veteran is now on schedule to start a rehab task on Wednesday. The information is a large shot within the arm for the membership’s rotation, which has scuffled considerably early within the season with a 4.46 FIP getting into play Saturday that positioned the membership forward of solely the White Sox, Rockies and Cardinals amongst all main league golf equipment. Scherzer, who posted a 3.20 ERA and three.40 FIP in eight begins with Texas final 12 months, would give the membership the flexibleness to maneuver an arm corresponding to Michael Lorenzen and even Andrew Heaney to the bullpen upon his return.
- Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon exited Saturday night’s sport in opposition to the Reds with a proper hamstring harm, as relayed by MLB.com’s Rhett Bollinger. Rendon sustained the harm whereas working out an infield single within the high of the primary inning. Following the sport, Rendon spoke to reporters (including Bollinger) concerning the harm, noting that his hamstring is feeling “not too nice” within the aftermath of the sport and that he was feeling some frustration concerning the fixed accidents. Rendon, 34 in June, was as soon as a star infielder for the Nationals and earned a seven-year cope with the Angels in free company previous to the 2020 marketing campaign. Sadly, his profession has been fully derailed by accidents in recent times, with simply 166 appearances and a 95 wRC+ because the begin of the 2021 season. Ought to the harm lead to one other journey to the shelf for Rendon, it will be a significant blow to the Angels. Whereas the veteran infielder began the season in a 0-for-19 droop, since then he’s began to warmth up with a .346/.403/.400 slash line in his final 13 video games. Within the occasion Rendon requires a visit to the injured record, the membership might depend on Brandon Drury to cowl third base in Rendon’s absence, with the membership’s bench choices, corresponding to Aaron Hicks, Miguel Sano and Jo Adell, dealing with DH.
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