Latest testing outcome needed before return
Rangers visit today, but game’s status depends on results
The Astros remained in isolation Monday evening while awaiting their COVID-19 test results from Sunday, putting into doubt their scheduled game against the Rangers on Tuesday night at Minute Maid Park.
The Astros’ game against the A’s on Sunday was postponed after a member of Oakland’s organization tested positive for COVID-19. Houston conducted contact tracing and tested every member of its major league team and staff Sunday.
When general manager James Click addressed reporters on a video conference at 5:15 p.m. on Monday, the Astros had still not received results that will dictate whether they can play on Tuesday. The results still were not known late Monday night.
Players and staffers must remain in isolation until the results arrive, making workouts impossible. Minute Maid Park is closed to the players and staff until the results are in hand.
“I know everyone is anxious to get the results, but having a test that we took yesterday — it hasn’t even been 36 hours since we took it — that is well within the standard window of kind of how we get these results back,” Click said. “We’re not frustrated at all. This is very much how the procedure has been going.”
According to multiple reports, the A’s received their test results Monday morning. They revealed no new positive cases. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the team was to remain in Houston for at least one more night Monday.
Oakland was scheduled to start a series against the Mariners in Seattle on Tuesday, but Major League Baseball postponed it through Wednesday. In a statement, the league said its postponement was to allow for additional contact tracing and testing within the organization.
The Rangers had a scheduled off day Monday. When Click addressed the media, he was unable to say whether the team would travel to Houston that night.
Astros-Dodgers on national TV
ESPN will nationally televise the Astros’ final regular-season meeting with the Dodgers on Sept. 13 at Dodger Stadium, the network announced on Monday.
The game will start at 7 p.m. and air as the network’s Sunday Night Baseball selection with Matt Vasgersian and Alex Rodriguez handling the broadcast.
The Dodgers swept the Astros during a two-game series at Minute Maid Park last month — the first meeting between both clubs since Houston’s 2017 signstealing scandal came to light this winter. Dodgers personnel excoriated the Astros during spring training, with Cody Bellinger claiming Houston “stole” the 2017 World Series title from the Dodgers.
Tempers flared during the first meeting in July. Dodgers reliever Joe Kelly threw a fastball behind Alex Bregman and a breaking ball near the head of Carlos Correa. Correa and Kelly exchanged words as the teams left the field between innings, causing both benches to empty. No punches were thrown.
Kelly was suspended eight
On deck: Rangers at Astros
When/where: Today and Wednesday at 7:10 p.m., Thursday at 1:10 p.m.; Minute Maid Park. TV/radio: ATTSW today and Thursday, ATTSW Plus on Wednesday; 790 AM and 850 AM (Spanish).
Pitchers: Today, LHP Framber Valdez (3-2, 2.35) vs. RHP Jordan Lyles (1-3, 9.25); Wednesday, Cristian Javier (3-1, 3.77) vs. LHP Kolby Allard (0-3, 6.50); Thursday, Lance McCullers Jr. (3-2, 5.06) vs. TBD.
Astros (19-14) update: As the result of Hurricane Laura precautions and positive COVID-19 tests on the A’s, the Astros have played just two games — a Saturday doubleheader sweep of Oakland that included a game postponed by a protest for social justice the night before — in the last six days. … Houston is 13-5 in its last 18 games and has won 10 of its last 11 home games. … Kyle Tucker, who drove in three runs in each game of Saturday’s sweep, leads the majors with six triples and is tied for fifth with 29 RBIs. His 18 extra-base hits, which include six doubles and six home runs, are tied for fifth in the American League.
Rangers (12-21) update: The trade deadline saw Texas hold on to righthander Lance Lynn, one of the AL’s top starting pitchers this year. Having last pitched Saturday, Lynn would be a possibility for Thursday’s start. He is 4-1 with a 1.93 ERA, a 0.92 WHIP and 56 strikeouts in 51 1⁄3 innings. … With seven home runs, Joey Gallo is the lone player on the roster with more than three, but he is hitting only .183 with 43 strikeouts in 104 at-bats. … The Rangers’ slash numbers — .213/.292/.345 — are all American League lows.
Steve Schaeffer
games, but had it reduced to five on appeal. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts received a onegame ban. Astros manager Dusty Baker called Kelly’s actions “dirty baseball.”