Luhnow eyes options for outfield
CLEVELAND — Depth was central to general manager Jeff Luhnow’s design this past winter, and there’s a lot in the outfield. Even with George Springer down, acquiring an outfielder doesn’t become a pressing need for the Astros.
Luhnow acknowledged, however, that the team is doing its homework as the trade deadline approaches, and that includes an assessment of the outfield market.
“July’s going to be an active month for a lot of teams, and we’re going to be evaluating a lot of opportunities to see if we can help these guys down the stretch,” Luhnow said during the weekend series with the Red Sox. “We’ve got Colby (Rasmus), we’ve got (Preston) Tucker ,( Domingo) Santana ,now( Alex) Presley. (Evan) Gattis could play a little left. Marwin (Gonzalez )and( Jonathan) Villar can both play a little outfield. When Jed (Lowrie) comes back, who knows exactly what combination (will be used)?”
The likelihood for Lowrie when he returns to the Astros — the hope is he’s back no later than early August — is that he’ll play the infield. He could see time at third base or first base.
“We haven’t really gotten too specific,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “He’s taken ground balls at short and third. And you know, he’s watching; he understands. He’s played just about everywhere in his career. But having a definitive plan, until we put it on a calendar in front of him (for a minor league rehab assignment), it’s not something that we’re discussing.”
The possibility Lowrie could also play some outfield hasn’t been ruled out.
“I haven’t spoken to him about it or A.J. about it, but it certainly would be something that’d have to be discussed,” Luhnow said. “I wouldn’t say (trading for an outfielder is) a priority right now, but I certainly am doing my homework.”
During the three-game series with the Red Sox that wrapped Sunday, Lowrie swung a regular bat for the first time since having surgery on his right hand. He’s not yet swinging against live pitching, though, taking underhand flips instead. The task is to build up strength in the hand.
The Astros are considering sending Lowrie to the team’s complex in Florida during the All-Star break.
“Those four days, it depends how much activity we’re going to have around Minute Maid,” Hinch said. “We don’t want to give away too many days for Jed, so he’ll have to go somewhere. I think Double A and Triple A aren’t really an option at that time. We want him to be active.”
Rotation tweaked heading to break
One pitcher was sent to the minors and will not pitch again prior to the AllStar break, while the other had his next start pushed back a couple days.
Vince Velasquez’s demotion to Class AA after his start Tuesday brought forth other changes to the Astros’ rotation for the final five games before the break. Velasquez’s next scheduled start was for Sunday, a spot Lance McCullers now occupies, moving back from Friday for two extra days of rest.
Presumably, the Astros wouldn’t have optioned Velasquez were the AllStar break not looming.
As for the rest of the rotation, Dan Straily is to start Wednesday as planned. Lefty Brett Oberholtzer is to take Velasquez’s spot on the roster in a return from Class AAA Fresno and start Thursday.
Collin McHugh moves from Thursday to Friday for the first of three road games against the Rays. Dallas Keuchel stays on target to pitch Saturday as previously planned, ahead of McCullers’ newly scheduled start Sunday.
“I think they’re going to do what’s necessary to hopefully make sure I’m fresh and ready to go when we’re in the thick of it come September,” McCullers said. “Whatever they have to do to make sure that I’m ready to go, I’m 100 percent with.
“There was a lot of talk about (innings), mostly from you guys (in the media) kind of wondering. I didn’t really know. … They kind of told me we have a little bit of a plan set in place. They don’t know exactly what they’re going to do yet.
“I think (being pushed back) is one of the first small tweaks that they’re going to end up making to try and stretch me out.”
Qualls’ rehab could end early
The nine pitches Chad Qualls threw in his minor league rehab appearance Tuesday night for Class AA Corpus Christi might be the only ones he needs before returning to the Astros.
Qualls threw six strikes and retired the three Springfield Cardinals he faced on two groundouts and a fly out.
On the disabled list with a pinched nerve in his neck, Qualls could pitch again Thursday in the minors, but the Astros are still determining if another outing is needed before he’s activated.
“A lot’s going to depend on how he feels and how the ball’s coming out of his hand tonight,” manager A.J. Hinch said before Qualls’ outing on Tuesday. “That was some of the best he’s thrown physically out of his hand since spring training, the last couple days prior to leaving (for the rehab assignment).”
Odds and ends
Luis Valbuena could still play before the fourgame series with the Indians ends Thursday, manager A.J. Hinch said. The third baseman is dealing with a sprained toe, and his condition is said to be improving. But the closer the Astros get to the All-Star break, the greater the temptation might be just to keep him off the foot until the second half. … Dallas Keuchel regained the American League ERA lead on Tuesday by no doing of his own. The A’s Sonny Gray, the leader to begin the day, saw his ERA rise to 2.20, six points higher than Keuchel’s. … Patrick Sandoval, an 18-year-old lefthander out of Mission Viejo (Calif.) High School and the Astros’ 11th-round draft pick, signed for $900,000, a person familiar with the deal said.