First four
» McCullers, Greinke, James to follow Verlander on mound in Astros’ opening series.
Lance McCullers Jr., Zack Greinke and Josh James will follow Justin Verlander on the mound in the Astros’ seasonopening series against the Mariners, which begins Friday night at Minute Maid Park.
Verlander, the 2019 AL Cy Young Award winner, will be making his 12th career openingday start.
McCullers, who missed 2019 rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, and James are scheduled to start in the Astros’ two exhibition games against the Royals in Kansas City on Monday and Tuesday.
The rotation’s fifth starter is still undetermined, manager Dusty Baker said after Sunday’s workout.
“It’ll probably go down to the wire,” he said.
Framber Valdez and Cristian Javier are two candidates for the spot.
After the Astros’ four-game series against the Mariners, they host the Dodgers for two games before the first road series of the season against the Angels at Anaheim.
Osuna not injured but could miss opener
Roberto Osuna has yet to throw live batting practice this summer, although manager Dusty Baker clarified after Sunday’s workout the closer, who collected 38 saves in 2019, is not injured and has been concentrating on conditioning.
“He came late,” Baker said. “No fault of his own. He’s working hard, and he’s not hurt. We’re trying to prevent him from getting hurt. He knows himself. He knows how he feels. We were hoping he might be ready sooner than later. But we’re at the mercy of when he’s ready.”
Baker said there is a chance the Astros could be without Osuna, Austin Pruitt (right elbow bone bruise) and Brad Peacock (right shoulder inflammation) to start the season, meaning the club will need to lean on young arms to eat up innings out of the bullpen.
Baker cited the league’s new three-batter minimum rule as something that could compound the situation. The rule, made in an effort to speed up the game, will require a reliever to face at least three hitters unless he can retire the side faster.
“Right now, we’re in a practice situation,” Baker said. “You don’t know how guys are going to react during the season when it counts. That’s one thing I’m a little apprehensive about with the threebatter-minimum rule. I think that’s going to put a lot of people in a very volatile situation. Not only us but a whole bunch of teams.”
Diaz says Alvarez in good spirits
Astros utilityman Aledmys Diaz said he has texted with Yordan Alvarez since summer workouts started but is not permitted to expand on the conversations between the two, adding only that last year’s American League Rookie of the Year is in good spirits.
Alvarez has yet to join the team, which has said only that he has a “condition that prevents him from reporting to the field.”
Diaz expressed optimism the team will see Alvarez this season, saying, “Yes, I think he’s going to be ready.”
Manager Dusty Baker said last week he expects Kyle Tucker to be the primary designated hitter if Alvarez isn’t available to start the season. Left fielder Michael Brantley also might get some DH duty.
Tucker said he’s fine with getting into the lineup any way he can.
“Obviously, we’re missing Yordan. He’s a big part of the lineup and everything,” Tucker said. “But it gives some guys some extra opportunities. We’re going to try our best to win as many games as possible, and whenever Yordan comes back, we’ll welcome him.”
Weather may inhibit exhibitions vs. Royals
The Astros are keeping an eye on inclement weather in Kansas City, where they are supposed to fly Monday for a pair of exhibition games against the Royals. After storms in Kansas City on Sunday, the forecast indicates an 80 percent chance of rain for Monday night’s game and 60 percent for Tuesday afternoon’s matchup.
Astros manager Dusty Baker said he was unsure if the Astros would travel for Tuesday’s game if Monday’s were canceled. Another workout at home could be in order if the schedule is altered by weather.
“You’d hate to lose a day of work,” Baker said, “so we’ll see.”