AL WEST Ryon Healy
News and notes
Houston Astros
It’s an embarrassment of riches for the AL West-leading Astros, primed to fold injured starters back into the rotation.
Dallas Keuchel, recovering from a neck injury, was scheduled to begin playing catch this week. Keuchel was a top candidate for his second AL Cy Young Award in three years when he won his first nine decisions this season.
Lance McCullers Jr. (back), the team’s top starter behind Keuchel, is expected to pitch during this week’s road trip.
Charlie Morton (lat) is scheduled for a minor league outing with Class AAA Fresno this week.
Collin McHugh (elbow) is expected to face live hitters this week. He initially was shut down in spring training.
The potential for the Astros, who are running away with the AL West title, to receive such a boost is hardly comforting to the rest of the division. Josh Reddick should be ready to contribute this week after becoming the third Astro to be put on the disabled list because of a concussion this year. Like Reddick’s stint, Brian McCann and Jake Marisnick were on the DL for the minimum length. uDraft Watch: J.B Bukaus
kas, a right-hander out of the University of North Carolina, was the Astros’ first pick at No. 15 overall. Bukauskas has a threepitch repertoire, with a fastball that can reach the high 90s and a hard slider. He was 9-1 with a 2.53 ERA for the Tar Heels and will be groomed as a starter.
Los Angeles Angels
The wobbly rotation took another hit last week when Matt
Shoemaker injured his forearm. Shoemaker was expected to miss at least one start after being forced to leave his June 14 outing after three innings. He joined a disabled list that includes starters Garrett Richards, Tyler Skaggs and Nick Tropeano. Andrew Heaney also is on the extended DL and isn’t expected to pitch this season. But there was good news on the injury front, too: Center fielder Mike Trout said he might return sooner than expected from his
May 28 thumb surgery.
The 2016 American League MVP, who had been expected to be out until the All-Star break, said, “I hear good things from the doctors. I’m happy where it’s going.” Reliever Cam Bedrosian (groin) returned after a nearly two-month stay on the disabled list. He’ll assist an Angels bullpen that has pitched well, compiling a 2.28 ERA over a recent 12-game stretch.
Draft Watch: It was critical for the Angels to restock their depleted farm system, and they were encouraged that their 40player haul, which included 24 pitchers, did just that. At the top of the list of new prospects is
Jordon Adell, a high school outfielder taken 10th overall. While Adell’s combination of speed and power is enticing, it’s believed UCLA ace Griffin Can
ning, a second-round pick, is closer to the big leagues. Oakland Athletics continues to give the A’s reason to believe he’ll be something special.
Healy’s two-homer day Saturday was his third in 14 games, in which he hit .375 (21-for-56) with eight homers, 18 RBI, six doubles and 12 runs scored.
“Trusting the process,” said Healy, an infielder and designated hitter. “Really emphasize getting a good pitch to hit and putting my best swing on it.” uShortstop Marcus Semien, out since mid-April because of a wrist injury, was expected to be shipped out for a minor league stint this week and could be back early next month. Rookie Chad
Pinder has gotten more playing time at short lately over veteran
Adam Rosales and last week had his second three-hit game since May 31.
Draft Watch: Two of Oakland’s first three picks were from the college ranks, but high school outfielder Austin Beck was their first-round pick, No. 6 overall. Beck hit .590 with 12 home runs in his senior season and became the fourth high school player in 21 years to be taken with the team’s first-round pick.
Seattle Mariners
The Mariners have had their weekend series with the AL Westleading Astros circled for some time. If Felix Hernandez can kick off the three-game set, all the better for Seattle.
Hernandez, fresh from three minor league rehab starts after recovering from a shoulder injury that lingered longer than originally expected, might be ready to go in the series opener.
“He knows what he’s doing up there, and this is really kind of a breakout year for him that he’s sustaining — not just on the power end of it, all the way around.” A’s manager Bob Melvin after Yonder Alonso had seven hits in a doubleheader
“I feel comfortable with my mechanics,” Hernandez said. “Good curveball, good pitches. I think I’m ready to roll. I’m looking forward to (exiting) the DL. It’s been boring.”
Hernandez might be joined in his return by Hisashi Iwakuma, also coming off a sore shoulder. Shortstop Jean Segura, who was leading the AL in batting with a .341 average before injuring his ankle in an awkward slide June 1, could be back for the Houston series as well.
Draft Watch: The Mariners are upbeat about Kentucky first baseman Evan White, their first-round pick, but the draft illustrated the team’s concerns about pitching in a season when it already has used 29 pitchers. Thirteen of Seattle’s first 17 picks were pitchers, including Minnesota high school star Sam Carlson in the second round.
Texas Rangers
A red flag was raised when
Andrew Cashner went on the disabled list because of a strained muscle in his side. That’s the same ailment that waylaid ace Cole
Hamels and A.J. Griffin. But the Rangers were confident that Cashner’s injury isn’t long term. “It’s fairly minor,” manager
Jeff Banister said. “It’s not even close to the other two.”
Cashner (3-6, 3.50 ERA) likely will miss one start. He could return late in the team’s 10-game, three-city road trip.
Mike Napoli and Carlos Gomez fled the disabled list, and their impact was immediate as the Rangers scored 10 runs in consecutive games for the second time in two years. “To have Gomez and Napoli come back and be able to insert them into the lineup and do what they do is crucial for us,” Banister said. Draft Watch: Because of a lack of depth among hitters in the draft, the Rangers loaded up on arms. Of the team’s 41 picks, 29 are pitchers, including 13 from the high school ranks. But their top pick was athletic outfielder Bub
ba Thompson, who also played quarterback and led his Alabama high school to a state football title.
Contributing: Wire reports