‘Old friend’ seen as another good catch

The Astros got Martin Maldonado at a convenient time, not only with the trade deadline hours away, but also because starting catcher Robinson Chirinos would not be healthy enough to play Friday against the Mariners for the start of the three-game series.

Astros manager A.J. Hinch scratched Chirinos from the lineup because of soreness in his left shoulder. The manager did not project for how long Chirinos will be out, but the team sent down righthander Cy Sneed to Class AAA Round Rock so they could call up catcher Garrett Stubbs.

Chirinos “was fine yesterday” but felt awkward from a swing, according to Hinch.

“I don’t know if he slept funny,” Hinch added.

Acquiring Maldonado as they had last season felt to the Astros in part like a reunion.

Hinch had his sights set on the team reacquiring the 32-year-old catcher sooner, but his hope plummeted when the Royals traded him to the Cubs on July 15.

“I was heartbroken,” Hinch said. “I thought that was going to be the end of his travels.”

Then the Astros struck a deal that sent utility fielder Tony Kemp to the Cubs in exchange for Maldonado.

“Martin’s like bringing back an old friend,” Hinch said. “I’m not sure how many times you acquire the same person two years in a row. It shows our belief and trust in him.”

In 2017, when they threw out 12 percent of runners, and most 2018, the Astros had been the worst team at preventing steals. Then, with Maldonado behind the plate for 2942⁄3innings in the 2018 regular season, he gunned down five of eight attempted steals against him, and Houston’s staff had a 3.21 ERA.

Maldonado, nicknamed “Machete” for how he cuts down baserunners, has one of the five strongest arms for a catcher, according to Baseball Savant.

Starting for Houston on Thursday, he immediately showed the difference he makes.

“Last night he almost throws a runner out in a situation where almost nobody could throw home out,” Hinch said. “We almost reviewed that play.

“He made a couple of great plays at home — two tough tags — one with (Yasiel) Puig running down, which is intimidating. I don’t care about slide rules or anything.”

The recent injury to Chirinos appears to be an opportunity for Maldonado, whom the starting pitchers extol, to usurp Chirinos as the primary starter, but Hinch insisted that he plans to split the workload more evenly.

“We have a great tandem going into any series, no matter who I (start) or who they’re catching,” Hinch said.