Morton expected to start on Saturday
The Astros expect Charlie
Morton to make his scheduled start Saturday against the Red Sox.
Morton has progressed from his right shoulder discomfort and given positive feedback. Only a setback will prevent him from taking the mound at Fenway Park, Astros manager A.J. Hinch said Wednesday before the Astros wrapped up their series against the Twins.
“He felt really good coming out of the bullpen (Tuesday), so unless something unforeseen happens, he’s on track to be the starting pitcher,” Hinch said.
Hinch said he will treat Morton conservatively. He suggested that it will be surprising if Morton goes past the sixth inning.
“As the game goes on, I’ll watch to see his mannerisms, his endurance, his ability to get deeper into the game,” Hinch said. “We’ll be very cautious with him. It’s a matter of how long he can last and whether fatigue is a factor.”
Morton’s return means righthander Josh James, who dazzled in his debut last week, likely will be an option out of the bullpen Friday.
Hinch has not cemented James’ role. He is open to using James in a spot start is necessary this month. Hinch also expects Marwin Gonzalez (right oblique) and
Hector Rondon (right hand) to return for the weekend series in Boston. Gonzalez may need until Saturday or Sunday.
“Rondon’s doing exceptionally well,” Hinch said. “I don’t know how his throwing program’s going to go at this point, but he seems to be ready to go pretty soon.” Lance McCullers Jr. (right elbow) threw down the slope of a mound, completing the most recent step in his recovery pro- gram. Unlike a bullpen session, this opportunity let McCullers throw 15 to 20 pitches with less effort and tension on his arm.
“(He) came out of that very excited,” Hinch said. “I’m happy he wanted to test himself by throwing off the slope. It doesn’t seem like a big deal, but actually getting off the mound and throwing off the slope is a good test for a pitcher.”
Struggling Correa gets a night off
Carlos Correa had the night off on Wednesday when the Astros finished their series against the Twins at Minute Maid Park.
In combination with the team’s off day on Thursday, Correa will get two consecutive days of rest.
“You’ve seen me do that time and time again to try and get a little extra rest for our guys,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “I’ll probably do it again next week in Detroit.”
Neither Hinch nor Correa indicated he is battling an injury, but the star shortstop has not looked right since returning Aug. 10 from the back discomfort that caused him to miss 45 days of the season.
In 23 games back, Correa has batted .171 with two extra-base hits in 96 plate appearances.
Davis wins PCL batting crown
With the conclusion of the Class AAA minor league season, utility man J.D. Davis won the 2018 Pacific Coast League batting title with a .341 average.
He is the third player in Fresno Grizzlies franchise history to achieve the feat, joining John Bowker (.342 in 2009) and Br
ian Dallim ore (.352 in 2003). In 334 at-bats, Davis struck 114 hits, 44 of them for extra-bases. He had 25 doubles, two triples and 17 home runs in 85 games.
Davis, in his fifth season of professional baseball, has not carried his hitting success from the minors to the majors. He has batted .197 with a .601 OPS in 54 games over two seasons in the majors.
On Tuesday, the Astros called up Davis to help fill in for the injured Marwin Gonzalez.
“It’s a big adjustment when you get to this level,” Astros manager A.J. Hinch said before Wednesday’s series finale against the Twins at Minute Maid Park. “He needs some at-bats to see what he can do here, but he’s not going to get them right now based on the lineup construction we have.”
The ascension of Tyler White, a desire to prepare veterans Evan
Gattis and Brian McCann for the playoffs, and the need to get Gonzalez in rhythm before the postseason will crowd Davis, 25, out of the lineup most days.
“He had a sensational season and something to build on for the future,” Hinch said.
The PCL also named Grizzlies outfielder Kyle Tucker Player of the Month for August. He posted the highest batting average (.471, 33-for-70), on-base percentage (.542), slugging percentage (.943) and OPS (1.485) in the circuit.
Next Osuna hearing slated for Sept. 19
The next hearing in Astros reliever Roberto Osuna’s assault case in Toronto has been scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 19, according to prosecutors in Toronto.
Osuna was charged earlier this year in Canada, while pitching with the Blue Jays, with the U.S. equivalent of misdemeanor assault in what has been described as a domestic violence case.
His attorney, Domenic Basile, has said he hopes to resolve the case through a peace bond, Canada’s equivalent of a restraining order. Under such an arrangement, Osuna would agree to certain provisions set by the court for a period of one year, and the charge against him would be dismissed.
The Astros traded for Osuna in late July as he was completing a 75-game suspension handed down by Major League Baseball for violation of its Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse policy, one of the stiffest sentences levied under that policy.
Basile said last month he hoped to resolve the case Wednesday but said Tuesday there would be an additional delay.