San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
Bregman ‘feeling great,’ but return date unclear
Astros third baseman Alex Bregman, who has been sidelined since June 17 because of a quadriceps strain, moved closer to his return to the team by playing in a rehab game Friday and is scheduled to do so again Sunday.
Bregman fielded grounders and took batting practice in Houston on Saturday between rehab games, but general manager James Click said a report that Bregman will be ready to go in Houston on Monday is premature.
“The priority is not getting back as soon as possible for right now, the priority is making sure this is 100% behind him so that he can play at his normal 110% that he plays for the next month and a half and hopefully, beyond that,” Click told MLB.com. “That’s the priority.”
In 59 games this season, Bregman is hitting .275 with seven homers and 34 RBIs.
“I’m feeling great, getting work done today,” Bregman told MLB.com Saturday. “Overall, everything’s good. Moving in the right direction, have been the entire time.
“It’s a difficult injury to come back from. I have amazing trainers and strength coaches here that have really dedicated a lot to making sure I’m fully healthy. I’m super thankful for them.”
With Bregman sidelined, Aledmys Diaz has been starting at third base for the Astros.
Bregman went 2-for-4 Friday in his rehab game with Triple-A Sugar Land. He had one at-bat for Sugar
Land on Aug. 1 and played two full games for the team Aug. 6-7.
Despite Bregman’s absence, Houston has moved from second to first place in the AL West, now holding a 31⁄2-game lead over the second-place A’s.
Trout update: Angels center fielder Mike Trout, who has not played since May 18 because of a calf strain, is nearly ready to begin a rehab assignment, although a start date has not been set, MLB.com reported. Trout, the AL MVP in 2014, 2016 and 2019, was hitting .333 with eight homers and 18 RBIs when he was sidelined.
“I tore it pretty bad and now it’s pretty much healed. It’s just about breaking up that scar tissue,” Trout told MLB.com. “It’s frustrating because I feel really good during my workouts and then just after it just aches on me. It’s a way longer process than I thought it would be.
“I’m going crazy. There’s only so much you can do to get it better, and I’m looking for every single way to get out there and whatever I need to do to get this thing back right.”
Medical report: Twins right-hander Kenta Maeda was scheduled to undergo an MRI exam after leaving his start Saturday because of right forearm tightness. “I don’t see very many scenarios right now where it’s not going to take some time to get Kenta back where he needs to be,” manager Rocco Baldelli told the Minneapolis Star Tribune . ... Mets catcher James McCann (back spasms), Brewers outfielder Tyrone Taylor (oblique injury) and Mariners pitcher Diego Castillo (shoulder inflammation) went on the 10-day IL.
Briefly: Former A’s infielder Renato Nuñez was designated for assignment by the Tigers . ... First baseman Mike Ford was designated for assignment by the Rays.