AL WEST
News and notes by Jay Paris
Rangers left-hander Cole Hamels on remaining upbeat despite some rough outings recently
Houston Astros
Third baseman Alex Bregman is likely out for the season because of a strained hamstring — unless the Astros make the playoffs.
The second pick in the 2015 draft had been a contributor since being called up in July and surviving a 1-for-32 skid to start his career. Since then, he was batting .305 with eight homers, 32 RBI and a .354 on-base percentage.
“It’s a loss for us on many fronts,” manager A. J. Hinch said. “He’s a really good player, and he was hitting in the 2 hole. He was in the middle of a lot of things that were going right for us. So it’s definitely a big blow.”
Bregman’s injury means that rookie Yulieski Gurriel will have a bigger role down the stretch. Gurriel started all three games of the weekend series at the Seattle Mariners.
uLeft-hander Dallas Keuchel (shoulder) could begin throwing this week. The Astros had planned to shut down the 2015 AL Cy Young Award winner until next spring, but Keuchel wanted to test his arm and see if he could come back for the playoffs if Houston qualifies.
“I want to pitch,” he said. “If I feel good, I can only assume my body is going to cooperate.”
After going 3-9 with a 5.54 ERA in his first 14 starts, Keuchel is 6-3 with a 3.47 ERA since.
Los Angeles Angels
Garrett Richards continues to show progress and might avoid Tommy John elbow surgery.
The right-hander cleared a big hurdle last week when he threw 20 pitches in the bullpen. If he can get through two instructional league starts, the operation to fix his elbow will be put on hold.
When Richards damaged his ligament May 1, a procedure that would keep him out well into 2017 seemed inevitable. But Richards chose a stem-cell therapy approach, and the results have been encouraging.
“There is no doubt in my mind that I will be able to pitch next year,” said Richards, the Angels’ ace. “I don’t feel anything abnormal. Everything feels rested and ready to go. It’s not something that I’m worried about right now.”
uThe thought of soft-throwing right-hander Jared Weaver returning to the Angels next year seemed like folly earlier this season. No more. Despite Weaver’s diminished velocity, he has proved to be an effective starter as he nears the end of his contract.
In four of his last five starts, Weaver has allowed two runs or fewer as he leans on deception and off-speed pitches instead of his fastball. “I think he understands what he needs to do now,” manager Mike Scioscia said. “I know he’s motivated to do it. He wants to keep pitching.”
Oakland Athletics
It was the first of many wins, the A’s hope, from right-hander Raul Alcantara.
A 23-year-old rookie who began the season in Class AA, Alcantara is full of promise but didn’t truly show it until his third start in the majors Saturday, when he limited the Texas Rangers to two runs on five hits in 52⁄ innings. 3
“This is very important to me,” he said through a translator, adding that he could feel his confidence growing.
Alcantara had a 7.27 ERA after his first two starts, which lasted three innings and then 52⁄ 3. He’s expected to compete for a rotation spot next season. uShortstop Marcus Semien
had a career-high 26 home runs this season through Sunday, 11 more than he had last year. He recently had three in six games.
uOutfielder Khris Davis is sifting through his World Baseball Classic invitations. Davis, who was born in Southern California, has family ties to Mexico. The U.S. and Mexican teams have reached out to Davis about his availability for next year’s event.
Seattle Mariners
The Mariners’ season-best eight-game winning streak, which pushed them back into the playoff race, could be traced directly to Robinson Cano.
The second baseman is having a career year, and considering his career, that’s quite an accomplishment. Cano has finished in the top six in the AL MVP voting five times.
Cano’s 33 home runs through Sunday tied a career high, and his 87 RBI gave him a shot at reaching 100 for the fourth time. He also has been among the defensive leaders at his position.
“He put in a ton of work in the offseason, and it’s paying off,” manager Scott Servais said. “And it’s not just the bat, either. It’s defensively and the ability to run out there every day and play. It’s so valuable just to write that name in the lineup every day and know what you’re going to get.”
uFirst baseman Adam Lind (finger) is running out of time. Lind, who was injured while diving for a ground ball, continued to feel pain in batting practice sessions. The Mariners miss the left-handed hitter against righthanded pitchers. uCatcher Steve Clevenger is looking toward winter ball so he can be ready for spring training. Clevenger broke his hand in June, and his return hit a setback when he developed a sore elbow.
Texas Rangers
Is less of Elvis Andrus more? Texas’ talented shortstop hasn’t balked at days off as he did in years past, and the result has been a career year. He has more RBI than last year (he was at 63 through Sunday), and his .294 batting average and .772 on-baseplus-slugging percentage through Sunday were career highs.
He’s doing all that despite not reaching the 150-game mark for the first time since 2010.
“I think Elvis wore the 161 or the 160 (games played) as a badge of honor, as most veterans do,” manager Jeff Banister said. “But I didn’t feel that was the best thing for his performance.
“Early on it was a little bit of a struggle —he didn’t really want to (sit). But I think as the year has gone on and he’s seen how it has benefited him to take some days off, he’s OK with it.”
uRight- hander Tony Barnette (strained muscle in side) hopes to pitch during the season’s final week. Barnette, one of the team’s key middle relievers, has been out since Sept. 4, and the Rangers have been cautious with his rehab. uOutfielder Shin-Soo Choo,
bothered by various injuries this year, could be available during the postseason after recovering from a broken forearm. He has been ramping up his baseball activities.
“You want to put up good results, but you want to remain healthy and you want to get to the light at the end of the tunnel, which is getting to the postseason. I’m pretty confident that things are going in the right direction.”