As the 2024 regular season continues, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. Tucker nursing injury:
Astros outfielder Kyle Tucker exited yesterday’s win over the Cardinals after fouling a ball off of his shin. Manager Joe Espada told reporters (including Chandler Rome of The Athletic) after the game that Tucker was dealing with a right shin contusion and that he had already undergone x-rays, which “looked good.” Espada indicated that Tucker is day-to-day for the time being, although he didn’t rule out a potential trip to the injured list. Chas McCormick and Mauricio Dubon have been splitting time in left field for the Astros lately, and the duo figures to each get more regular reps in the event that Tucker misses time.
Losing Tucker for virtually any length of time would be a devastating blow to an Astros club that is just 27-34 this season, seven games back of the Mariners for the AL West lead. Houston’s struggles on the field have been in no way due to their 27-year-old outfielder, who has delivered an MVP-caliber performance. In 262 trips to the plate, Tucker has slashed an excellent .266/.395/.584 — good for a 176 wRC+. The star outfielder has walked (17.6%) more than he’s struck out (15.6%) while delivering career-best power output (19 homers, .318 ISO in 60 games), going 10-for-10 in stolen bases, and playing plus defense in right field.
2. Padres prospect set for debut:
The Padres are poised to select the contract of right-hander Adam Mazur, who’ll make his MLB debut when he starts tonight’s game against the Angels. Mazur, 23, was San Diego’s second-round pick in the 2022 draft and has generally enjoyed success as he’s ascended the minor league ladder, although he’s stumbled a bit upon being promoted to Triple-A earlier this year. In four starts at the level, Mazur has yielded a 7.11 ERA in 19 innings of work, although he’s nonetheless struck out opponents at a decent 22.7% clip.
Mazur’s debut comes at a time when the Friars have incurred a rash of injuries to the major league rotation, with both Joe Musgrove and Yu Darvish on the injured list. The Padres will have to clear space on the club’s active and 40-man rosters for Mazur, although the latter can be easily achieved by transferring Glenn Otto to the 60-day injured list. Mazur’s debut is scheduled for 6:38pm local time opposite left-hander Patrick Sandoval, who has struggled to a 5.34 ERA in 12 starts for Anaheim this season.
3. MLBTR Chat today:
The past week has been a busy one around baseball as teams such as the Tigers, Mets, and Twins have all shuffled their rosters and removed some notable names from the big league mix, including Spencer Torkelson, Brett Baty, and Edouard Julien. If you have any questions about how your favorite team is playing so far, or perhaps questions that look ahead to the July 30 trade deadline or the upcoming offseason, MLBTR’s Steve Adams will host a live chat with readers today at 1pm CT. You can click here to ask a question in advance, and that same link will allow you to join in on the chat once it begins or read the transcript after it is completed.
FemboySportsFan!
Chas McCormick?? more like @ss McCormick.
Adam mazur? sounds pretty good, I payed attention to his minor league stats…not bad I must say! :3
man Kyle tucker cant catch a break, I love him so much.
also Julien is way too hot to be being sent down, so is baty….cant say the same thing for snorkelson :3
my rant is over thanks for reading :3 love y’all.
Rocker49
Chas is pretty terrible. As long as the Astros stubbornly play Chas, Abreu/Singleton they aren’t going anywhere.
ckc12537
It’s a slump. He batted as well as Springer did in the Astros uniform last year. Would anyone say Springer is “pretty terrible” Springer .270/.361/.491 Chas .273/.353/.489 in 2023.
Big whiffa
Preller can’t trade away his whole farm. He’s too good at drafting! Where all the haters at this morning lol
letitbelowenstein
Time for Gunnar to take advantage in the HR chase.
ckc12537
McCormick had a 131 wRC+ in 2023 and has produced 7.4 fWAR across 371 games so far. Yeah he’s slumping this year but hopefully with some increased playing time he starts performing as well as he has in the past.
MR. Q
Hoping Mazur got a hot debut for his big league career. Go get em!
texasbug
When I heard about Kyle Tucker injured I told myself not another one.Glad it was ok. But now I am hearing Trade Rumors about the Astros making trades and who should go after. I agree on some of them and I don’t agree on. They should let Jose Abreu release him. And bring up one of their best hitters and let them get some MLB experiences..and I am really upset with Ryan Pressly. He has done anything to help the Astros. He should be released r traded. So they can get out of 3rd place.