One door closes and another one opens
Bregman heads to IL with hamstring strain, further hampering an injury-depleted lineup
DENVER — The number of ailing Astros continues to climb, leaving manager Dusty Baker with little explanation and a team searching for reasons to remain optimistic. Reigning American League Cy Young winner Justin Verlander and unanimous Rookie of the Year selection Yordan Alvarez, among others, are out. Now, third baseman Alex Bregman — a steady presence amid so much upheaval — is gone, too.
Before Thursday’s game against the Rockies, Bregman was placed on the 10-day injured list with a strained right hamstring. Bregman flew back to Houston on
Thursday afternoon to undergo an MRI, Baker said.
“Every day we’re dealing with disappointment,” Baker said. “You have to find a way to stay positive.”
The manager did not provide a long-term prognosis, but Bregman’s tone after Wednesday’s game was ominous. He exited the 13-6 win over the Rockies in the fourth inning after depositing a leadoff double into the right-field corner. Bregman came up lame as he approached first base, then limped his way to second before immediately leaving the game.
“I’m just disappointed,” Bregman said afterward. “I want to be out there every day playing with my guys. I was starting to feel pretty damn good. I think right now, just go with it day to day and see how it feels tomorrow.”
Bregman strained the same hamstring during his rookie season in 2016 and again in 2019. The strains differed in severity. His 2019 injury did not even require a trip to the injured list. Asked to compare how he felt this time to those two, Bregman said it’s “hard to tell.”
“One time I came back in a few weeks; one time I came back in two days,” Bregman said. “It’s just disappointing because I put so much work in this offseason and this quarantine period on, specifically, my hamstrings. It’s frustrating.”
Bregman was 11 for his last 31 and goes to the injured list with an .874 OPS. The double on Wednesday extended his on-base streak to 40 games.
In a lineup rife with turnover, Bregman was one of the few constants. Baker batted him third or fourth in every game this season. Bregman’s .500 slugging percentage and .374 on-base percentage were both second among active Astros hitters.
“If anybody works, it’s him. He’ll be back,” Baker said. “He’ll be back in the nick of time. Hopefully, he can stay sharp in between because he’s been just about to get his timing. We need him badly, but better it happen now than later. We’re playing pretty good, and by the time he comes back, we’re hoping that we’ll make a move and overtake the A’s or whoever else is in front of us.”
Baker batted Carlos Correa
third and Josh Reddick cleanup Thursday. With Yuli Gurriel taking a day at designated hitter, Baker inserted two rookies in his infield — Abraham Toro at third base and Taylor Jones at first. Toro, Gurriel and Jack Mayfield are the team’s third base options in Bregman’s absence, Baker said.
Gurriel, the team’s leader in OPS and slugging percentage, started 29 games at third base last season. His spot in the starting lineup is unquestioned, but Baker now must determine what defensive alignment best suits the team.
Jones’ defense at first base received rave reviews in the minor leagues, but Thursday was his first big league start there. Toro is a switch hitter and has most of his major league experience as a third baseman. Mayfield is perhaps more sure-handed defensively but does not offer the offensive upside of Jones or Toro.
“It’s a day-to-day thing,” Baker
said.
Bregman’s absence further hinders an Astros lineup still reeling from Wednesday’s announcement that Alvarez will undergo season-ending knee surgery.
Michael Brantley remains on the injured list with a nagging quad injury. The team hopes Brantley can be activated Saturday in San Diego. Utility man Aledmys Diaz, out since opening day with a groin strain, is still not close to returning.
“I think the guys that we have in the locker room are more than able to do the job,” outfielder George Springer said. “Obviously, it’s very, very tough to replace Alex (and) Alvarez, but I think the most important thing is the guys that are in there just have to be themselves and not try to do so much.”