Gustave edges Hoyt for final roster spot
The Astros awarded Jandel Gustave their final opening-day roster spot and will send fellow righthander James Hoyt to Class AAA, signifying the last significant decision manager A.J. Hinch had to make in spring training.
Hinch had said their effectiveness against lefthanded batters would determine who made the cut. In Thursday night’s 8-6 exhibition win over the Cubs at Minute Maid Park, Hinch took the opportunity to test Hoyt in relief against lefthanded hitters in the fifth.
Over two innings, Hoyt dispatched righties with ease but did not execute against his lefthanded assignments. He surrendered a towering home run into the second deck to Anthony Rizzo, which hung long enough for Rizzo to admire. Ben Zobrist followed by lining a deep fly to right field that George Springer had to catch on the run.
Hoyt rebounded in the sixth by getting lefties Jason Heyward to fly out and Tommy La Stella to strike out.
Gustave started off the seventh by giving up a single to Kyle Schwarber but proceeded to strike out Kris Bryant, induce a fly out from Rizzo and strike out Zobrist.
Mixed results for McCullers
Two ugly innings against Cubs stood out more than two clean ones for Lance McCullers in his final start of spring training.
McCullers, who will start Tuesday against the Seattle Mariners, seemed headed for a dominant outing when he struck out the side in the first inning. Kyle Schwarber and reigning National League Most Valuable Player Kris Bryant struck out swinging at curveballs, and Anthony Rizzo froze for the third strike on an inside fastball at 94.4 mph.
McCullers needed 17 pitches to work the first inning and 31 to grind out the second.
He surrendered three runs on a mix of one triple, two singles, one walk and one double, prompting pitching coach Brent Strom to visit the mound for a breather with two outs. Bryant then hit a deep fly ball that George Springer caught by backpedalling and banging into the centerfield wall.
In the third, Addison Russell pulled a tworun home run on a high fastball to push the Cubs’ lead to 5-2.
McCullers had an easier fourth inning against the bottom of the lineup and finished by striking out Schwarber.
McCullers said his curveball was off against the Cubs and that he needs more reps with his changeup, which has been a work in progress. Still, he is happiest that he will begin the 2017 healthy.
“That is my first box to check off,” he said. “I’ve got to work on putting those guys away ahead in the count, and the runs will stop coming across as well.”
Odds and ends
Collin McHugh, who is recovering from dead arm and was officially placed on the 10-day disabled list after Thursday’s game, will throw a simulated game Saturday in West Palm Beach, Fla., join the Astros for opening day and, if Saturday goes well, pitch in a minor league rehab assignment, according to manager A.J. Hinch .…
Among the Astros’ new acquisitions, Josh Reddick in particular is looking forward to Minute Maid Park’s confines after signing for four years and $52 million. “I’ve never had the pleasure of hitting in a hitter-friendly park,” said Reddick, who in his first at-bat Thursday night hit a two-run homer off the Cubs’ Brett Anderson.