Reliever Martinez gets first call to majors
ANAHEIM, Calif. — To supplement a bullpen overworked by this 17-game stretch without a day off, the Astros selected reliever Seth Martinez’s contract from Class AAA Sugar Land on Monday, putting the 27-year-old righthander on the precipice of his major league debut.
Martinez took the roster spot of Peter Solomon, whom Houston optioned to its taxi squad following Sunday’s 7-6 win over Arizona. Solomon earned his first major league win after throwing four innings of one-run ball. The workload meant he would not be available for any of this four-game series in Anaheim.
Oakland selected Martinez in the 17th round of the 2016 draft out of Arizona State. Houston nabbed him in the minor league phase of last winter’s Rule 5 draft. Martinez excelled at Sugar Land this season, posting a 0.953 WHIP and 2.86 ERA in 562⁄3 innings.
Martinez throws five pitches: a four-seam fastball, a cutter, a two-seam fastball and a changeup. He credited the Astros for introducing a more sweeping slider that has induced more swings and misses.
“Staying consistent with my day-to-day routine, I think that consistency off the field helps with consistency on the field,” Martinez said prior to Monday’s game. “I think this was the best I’ve done in my career staying consistent with my routine before we go out and stretch (and) my routine in the bullpen before I go out there and pitch.”
To clear a spot on the 40-man roster, the Astros recalled minor league infielder Freudis Nova and placed him on the major league 60-day injured list with a torn ACL in his left knee.
With boosted roster, Skeeters top Isotopes
The Astros promoted catching prospect Korey Lee to Class AAA Sugar Land on Monday, the same day touted infielder Pedro León rejoined the Skeeters after a seven-week absence.
The two moves mean Houston’s top four prospects — Lee, León, shortstop Jeremy Peña and righthander Hunter Brown — are all at Sugar Land for the team’s final three weeks of play.
Peña, León and Lee all were in the lineup Monday as the Skeeters topped Albuquerque 5-3 at Constellation Field. JJ Matijevic drove in four runs, three on a first-inning homer.
Though the Skeeters’ regular season concludes Oct. 3, the team will participate in a 10game Final Stretch that runs through mid-October.
Houston’s only Top 100 prospect in Baseball America’s latest rankings, Lee missed nearly three weeks in August after straining his oblique but returned to Class AA Corpus Christi’s lineup Sept. 9. The former first-round pick slashed .254/ .320/.443 in 185 at-bats with the Hooks while throwing out 15 of 35 base-stealers. He singled in the Skeeters’ win Monday while going 1-for-4.
León fractured his left pinkie finger in late July, just after receiving his promotion to Sugar Land. He missed about six weeks before resuming game action at the Astros’ spring training complex in West Palm Beach last week. León took only 20 at-bats with the Skeeters before his injury. He was 0-for-3 on Monday but walked, stole a base and scored a run.
How the Astros divide playing time between León and Peña for the final few weeks could be fascinating. Peña, the team’s No. 2 overall prospect, is the club’s heir apparent at shortstop — the same position León has played during the majority of his brief minor league career.
The Astros heralded León as an elite defensive center fielder upon his arrival but began exposing the 23-year-old to shortstop during spring training. He started 40 games at shortstop with Class AA Corpus Christi and just eight in center field.
Peña, who started Monday at third base while León was at short, underwent surgery in April to correct an injured left wrist but joined Class AAA Sugar Land in late August. He homered, doubled and scored twice Monday and now has a .928 OPS in 84 plate appearances with the Skeeters.
Bielak back as Stanek goes on paternity list
The Astros placed reliever Ryne Stanek on the paternity list prior to Monday’s series opener against the Angels and recalled reliever Brandon Bielak from their taxi squad.
Players on the paternity list can take up to three days’ leave. Manager Dusty Baker intimated Stanek will take the full three days before rejoining the team.
Stanek has emerged as one of Baker’s most trusted leverage relievers this season, posting a 3.50 ERA in 641⁄3 innings while striking out 11.2 batters per nine. Yimi Garcia and Phil Maton could see higher-leverage roles in Stanek’s short absence.
Odds and ends
Kyle Tucker’s shoulder soreness might limit him to designated hitter duties for the next few days against the Angels, Baker said. Tucker left Sunday’s 7-6 win against the Diamondbacks with a right shoulder issue but returned to the starting lineup at DH on Monday. Tucker’s shoulder is unaffected when he swings the bat, Baker said. …
Second baseman Jose Altuve received a pre-planned day off during Monday’s series opener against the Angels, the Astros’ 10th game in a stretch of 17 without an off day. Jose Siri hit leadoff in Altuve’s absence and homered in the first inning, and Marwin Gonzalez played second base and hit a grand slam in the ninth.