Paredes sent down to work on control issues
The Astros demoted struggling reliever Enoli Paredes to Class AAA Sugar Land on Saturday to make room for starter
Jake Odorizzi on the active roster.
Paredes starred as a rookie in 2020, but his struggles accentuate the broader problems in the Astros’ wretched bullpen.
Few of their rookies from last season have been as effective in 2021, leaving manager Dusty Baker with a group of inexperienced and inconsistent relievers trying to navigate their way through their first 162-game season.
Houston had little justification for keeping Paredes on the active roster. He has faced 32 hitters this season and has walked 11, plunked one, and given up hits to six others.
“We hated to do it, but he’s never been ready since spring training,” Baker said. “We want him to go down there and find his command and control. …
“We’re still counting on him heavily, but we need him to be himself. We sent him down to get some work. Hopefully when he
comes back, hope it’s not too long, hopefully when he comes back, he’ll be the Paredes that we know.”
The Astros envisioned him being a late-inning weapon, but lately they could not afford to pitch him at all.
He last appeared in a leverage situation May 22 in Arlington, taking the
ball in the seventh inning of a tied game. Paredes made an error, issued two walks, and gave up a double.
“I’m sure that’s the first time Paredes has ever pitched in front of 40,000 people or whatever. Going to the mound and talking to him, I have a tendency to put my hand on their heart rate to see what it feels like, and it was beating like a hummingbird,” pitching coach Brent Strom said Saturday. “These guys have to learn how to handle this. It’s a learning process for them. And that was my biggest fear.”
Paredes has never pitched at Class AAA. Before his ascension last season, the 25-year-old Dominican had only thrown 50 innings at Class AA. Injuries forced Paredes into a key role on the 2020 team — and he excelled. Paredes had a 3.05 ERA in 20⅔ innings while striking out 20. He averaged 95.7 mph with his fastball and walked only 11 of the 90 batters he faced.
“I didn’t promise him that he’d be back,” Baker said. “But you can see the need that we have here — especially middle to late in the games, which is supposed to have been his role on this team.”
Gurriel held out with sore finger
The Astros scratched first baseman Yuli Gurriel from the starting lineup Saturday with what the team called “left middle finger inflammation,” leaving the team without three of its top hitters against Padres ace Yu Darvish.
Gurriel entered Saturday’s game with the club lead in OPS, hits and doubles.
Taylor Jones replaced Gurriel in the lineup at first base Saturday.
Yordan Alvarez, who has not played in three consecutive games while combating right wrist soreness, also sat out Saturday’s game.
Skeeters blank Albuquerque
Peter Solomon, Riley Ferrell and Ronel Blanco combined on a three-hit shutout as AAA Sugar
Land beat Albuquerque 2-0 on Saturday night at Constellation Field.
Solomon (2-0) gave up two hits while striking out nine and walking just one in six innings. After Ferrell held the Isotopes in check, Blanco pitched the final 11⁄3 innings for his first save.