Brantley returns but not likely to see duty in OF
The Astros activated Michael Brantley off the injured list prior to Wednesday's night game against the Rays, ending his 16-game absence.
Brantley, who had been sidelined by discomfort in his right knee, hit second and went 0-for-4 as the designated hitter during his return. Slotting Brantley back in the two-hole came with some hesitancy, according to manager Dusty Baker, but the length of Houston’s lineup left him little choice.
“I have to get him on that horse as soon as I can,” Baker said. “There was some reservation. But I wasn’t going to put him seventh or eighth; that meant I would have to move everyone else around. I inserted him in a spot he’s comfortable with and we’re comfortable.”
Baker intimated that Brantley is unlikely to play defense during the final few regular-season games, opening more time for Yordan Alvarez in left field. Alvarez started there Wednesday and might get the nod Thursday when Lance McCullers Jr. is scheduled to start.
The Astros went 10-6 in Brantley’s absence while scoring 5.9 runs and striking 9.1 hits per game.
Reliever Josh James was optioned to Class AAA Sugar Land to clear a roster spot for Brantley.
“He’s been champing at the bit,” Baker said of Brantley. “He’s a guy that’s a big part of our lineup. We missed him big-time.
You can tell our run production has been down since he’s been out of there. We just hope his timing is (back), but the only way to get your timing back is to play.”
Pressly dealing with sore knee
Astros closer Ryan Pressly had knee soreness and was unavailable during Tuesday night’s 4-3 walk-off win over the Rays.
Baker revealed Pressly’s discomfort after Tuesday night’s game but seemed optimistic he could pitch Wednesday. The manager was noncommittal on Pressly’s availability prior to Wednesday’s game but acknowledged “we’ve got to take care of him bigtime.”
Pressly underwent right knee surgery in August 2019 but returned to throw leverage innings during the team’s World Series run. He limped off the field after making a defensive play during Game 6 of the American League Championship Series.
The knee has not been a problem since. Pressly has made 62 appearances during an All-Star season — his first as Houston’s fulltime closer — and posted a 2.32 ERA and 0.97 WHIP.
Non-players are all vaccinated
The Astros are in accordance with Major League Baseball’s playoff mandate for all non-playing, onfield personnel to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, Baker said.
Major League Baseball and its Players Association have declined to make vaccinations mandatory for players but will require them for all non-playing personnel — coaches, trainers and managers among them — to gain access to the field and other restricted areas in the postseason.
The Astros’ Tier 1 personnel have exceeded Major League Baseball’s 85 percent vaccination threshold, but more specific extent of their inoculations is unknown. Baker, a 72-year-old with multiple preexisting conditions that place him at high risk, said he received a COVID-19 booster shot earlier this month.
On Wednesday, the Boston Red Sox — in the hunt for an American League wild-card berth — replaced first-base coach Tom Goodwin with Ramon Vazquez on an interim basis. Goodwin is not vaccinated, according to multiple reports, and would not get field access in the postseason.
Skeeters 3-hit in loss to Express
Five Round Rock pitchers combined on a threehitter as the Express topped the Skeeters 5-1 on Wednesday night at Constellation Field.
Josh Jung homered in the first off the Skeeters’ Chad Donato, who allowed one more run in his six innings. Sugar Land scored in the ninth on Korey Lee’s sacrifice fly.