The Astros have placed third baseman Alex Bregman on the 10-day injured list due to a tight right hamstring, manager Dusty Baker Thursday announced to reportersTwitter link via Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle). Bregman travels home to Houston to undergo an MRI and determine the severity of the injury. Loftshandiger Cionel Perez has been recalled from the Astros’ alternative training site to take Bregman’s place on the roster.
Injuries continue to rise at an alarming rate for the Astros, who learned this week Yordan Alvarez will require season-ending knee surgery. Houston also got only one start from Justin Verlander in 2020, while closer Roberto Osuna lies after a potential Tommy John operation (although he first tries to rehabilitate). Brad Peacock en Jose Urquidy, expected to become key members of the bullpen and rotation respectively, have not hit a pitch this year. Michael Brantley, meanwhile, has been on IL for almost a week and was sidelined for a quadriceps strain. George Springer has lost time due to a wrist strain, but is playing through it instead of continuing on the IL.
With Bregman out, the ‘Stros’ will likely transfer third base to young Abraham Toro. An award-winning 23-year-old, Toro has yet to hit much in his limited time in the Major League, but he has eliminated Double-A pitching (.306 / .393 / .513 in 435 PAs) and Triple-A- pitching (.424 / .506 / .606 in 79 PAs) same in 2019.
The situation of Houston from DH is a bit more tense. Kyle Tucker is left off field on a regular basis in Brantley’s absence. Alvarez is out for the season, and Toro could see regular reps on third for at least the immediate future. That will push one of Myles Straw, Jack Mayfield as rookie Taylor Jones in the lineup with regularity.
