The configuration of the Astros' postseason roster in the American League Division Series may hinge on what happens in center field, where manager Dusty Baker has three players -- Chas McCormick, Mauricio Dubón and Jake Meyers -- capable of playing the position in the postseason. The Astros must first decide how many pitchers to carry in a best-of-five series -- Houston had 12 pitchers and 14 position players for last year's ALDS against the White Sox. McCormick provides the most offense and can play left field -- where Baker has said he's better suited -- but Baker is a fan of Dubón's versatility on the infield and has praised his arm in center. Dubón had been starting in center field in games Justin Verlander started down the stretch, though McCormick was in center Tuesday. "There might be room for all three," Baker said. "Depends on how many pitchers we take. Dubón plays infield and outfield. That's something to be discussed. I've been trying to give all of them an opportunity to shine in that situation. ... Some have responded better than others. Some really weren't ready to respond, in the case of Meyers. Is he ready now? That's something we have to determine." Meyers was the starting center fielder in the playoffs last year and injured his shoulder making a catch in Game 4 of the 2021 ALDS, resulting in surgery to repair a torn labrum. After a late start to the regular season and a 20-day rehab stint at Triple-A, Meyers returned to the Astros on June 24 and struggled. He struck out 50 times in 149 plate appearances and didn't throw the ball well. Baker thinks Meyers came back too soon, and Astros general manager James Click said the team is reviewing its return-to-play procedure. "He wasn't ready," Baker said. "There's a certain thing called reps. You've got to have reps. That's what Spring Training is for, to build your reps." |
Meyers responded well in his return to Triple-A in late August, hitting .337 with five doubles, four homers, 14 RBIs and 19 walks in 24 games. He rejoined the Astros last week and went 2-for-3 in his first start Saturday. "It helped me focus on what I needed to focus on to get me to a better place," Meyers said of his stint in the Minors. "It's something that helped me slow the game down a little bit, and using some of the stuff I learned and bringing it back up to here is really the goal." The Astros are still searching for consistency in center field since losing George Springer after the 2020 season. They traded away center fielders Myles Straw in 2021 and Jose Siri this year, both excellent defenders, while showing their faith in Meyers. "Jake is one of the premier athletes in our organization, and seeing that athleticism come through on the field is what we're really looking for, and just making sure that he is back to normal," Click said Sunday on the team's pregame radio show on 790-AM in Houston. "Because you know, he did not look normal the first time that he was up here, and so hopefully that reset button down there in Triple-A worked." |
If the Astros decide to carry McCormick and Meyers -- and not Dubón -- rookie David Hensley could provide the same infield versatility that Dubón gives them, but with more offense. He can play all four infield spots and even left field. That would allow the Astros to have Meyers come off the bench as a late-game defensive replacement or pinch-runner. "He's made a real good case," Baker said of Hensley, who is hitting .321 (9-for-28) entering Wednesday. "He's played well. At the plate, you wouldn't know he's a rookie because he's very confident. Again, all this is going to boil down to how many position guys we take." |
Right-handed pitcher Hunter Brown, the Astros' No. 1-ranked prospect per MLB Pipeline, and catcher Yanier Diaz, the team's No. 3 prospect, were named the organization's Minor League Pitcher and Player of the Year on Tuesday. | Brown, 24, had a 2.55 ERA with 134 strikeouts, a .186 opponents' batting average and 1.08 WHIP in 23 games (14 starts) at Triple-A this season. He led the Pacific Coast League in ERA, strikeouts and opponents' batting average, while ranking second in wins (nine) and WHIP before being promoted to the Majors on Sept. 1. Diaz, 24, had a breakout 2022 season in which he progressed from Double-A Corpus Christi to the Major Leagues. In 105 combined games with Sugar Land (48 games) and Corpus Christi (57 games), he batted .306 with 22 doubles, four triples, 25 home runs, 96 RBIs and an .898 OPS. |
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TRIVIA When Jose Altuve set the franchise record with 225 hits in 2014, he had 104 more hits than his next-closest teammate. Which Astros player finished second to Altuve that year with 121 hits? A.) Jason Castro B.) George Springer C.) Dexter Fowler D.) Matt Dominguez |
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There's still time to vote for the 2022 Roberto Clemente Award, given annually to the player who best represents the game through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field. Second baseman Jose Altuve is the Astros' nominee for the award. The award is named in honor of the Hall of Famer and 15-time All-Star who died in a plane crash on New Year's Eve in 1972 while attempting to deliver supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. "He had a great legacy on the field and had 3,000 hits, but he also did 3,000 good things off the field," Altuve said. "He's a great person and always looking to help people and to make an impact in people's lives. I feel honored to get rewarded by the Roberto Clemente nomination. It means a lot to me." Since arriving in the Major Leagues in 2011, Altuve has hosted charity events, supported teammates' charitable efforts and participated in all of the Astros' fan outreach efforts, which has included the Astros Diamond Dreams gala, FanFest, winter caravan, Picnic in the Park and the annual charity gala, many of which raise dollars for the Astros Foundation. |
DUSTY BAKER QUOTE OF THE WEEK |
"To me, that is more than a replica. That's the prettiest fake ring I've ever seen in my life, and the heaviest. I hope somebody doesn't get their finger cut off trying to steal a fake ring, because it looks real." -- Baker on the replica 2021 AL championship rings given away Monday at Minute Maid Park |
THIS WEEK IN ASTROS HISTORY Oct. 5, 2017 |
Altuve became the ninth player to hit three homers in a postseason game when he did it in Game 1 of the 2017 ALDS against the Red Sox at Minute Maid Park. Altuve homered off Chris Sale in the first and fifth innings, and in the seventh inning off reliever Austin Maddox in Houston's 8-2 win. |
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TRIVIA ANSWER D.) Matt Dominguez |
The third baseman had 121 hits, one more than Fowler (120). The 104-hit difference between Altuve and Dominguez is the largest in Major League history between the first- and second-place hit leaders on a team in one season. |
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