Alex Bregman returned to the Astros’ lineup this afternoon, hitting atop the order while playing designated hitter. Bregman’s leadoff homer accounted for the only run in a 4-1 loss to the Red Sox. That was his first at-bat in a week, as the two-time All-Star hadn’t played since last Wednesday because of inflammation in his right elbow.
Bregman’s return to the order doesn’t mean he’s at full strength. Breaking him back in at DH suggested the Astros were still concerned about him throwing the ball across the diamond. Bregman acknowledged that could be a problem for the foreseeable future. The third baseman told reporters after the game that his defensive work will be “a fluid situation” for the remainder of the season (link via Chandler Rome of the Athletic). Bregman made clear that he wasn’t dealing with any structural damage in his UCL but noted he’d need to “try to mitigate” swelling on a daily basis.
That is far from a declaration that he won’t return to third base, yet it seems likely he’ll get a fair amount of run at designated hitter down the stretch. That could push Yordan Alvarez more frequently into left field. Houston has also given catchers Yainer Diaz and Victor Caratini sporadic DH work as a means of keeping them fresh while getting both players into the lineup. Caratini, as the #2 option behind the plate, could lose a few reps. Diaz has started two of the past three games at first base, where the Astros had been using a Jon Singleton/Zach Dezenzo platoon. That’s another potential avenue for manager Joe Espada to keep both catchers in the lineup.
The bigger question is how the Astros would cover third base if Bregman’s playing time there is curtailed. Rookie Shay Whitcomb is evidently the first choice. Houston called him up on Thursday and has given him the past five starts at the hot corner. Whitcomb has had a great year in Triple-A, hitting .293/.378/.530 with 25 homers and 26 stolen bases. He’d struggled with strikeouts throughout his minor league career before taking a significant step forward in that regard this season.
At this point, there’s no indication that Bregman is dealing with anything especially worrisome. It’s nevertheless a situation worth monitoring as the Astros work to lock down another division title and into the upcoming offseason. Bregman will be a free agent for the first time and has a case as the second-best position player in the class behind Juan Soto.
As MLBTR explored in greater detail last week, Bregman has rebounded from a dismal start to the season. He has hit the ball harder as the year has progressed and has been on a power barrage this month. While his overall .261/.318/.450 season line is still below his standard level, that’s attributable to the poor start. Bregman is playing as well as ever over the past couple months.
just bang on some trash cans alex
that’ll fix everything
Yawn
Sure the trash cans never happened
Are saying they didn’t bang on trash cans??
Too soon?
STOP making those stupid and untrue assertions about the Bregman. STOP.
The hustle of Manny Machado and the speed of Daniel Vogelbach and the power of Nicky Lopez and likeability of Alex Rodriguez and the eyesight of Angel Hernandez and the intelligence of Milton Bradly
I see what you did there
Injuries piling up do to roids
STOP making those stupid and untrue assertions about Bregman. STOP.
Anyone have a player on their favorite team who you only barely like and probably couldn’t stand if he were on another team? This is mine.
He told the media he slept on the elbow wrong 6 games ago. And now he’s describing little gremlins in his elbow that will endure for the remainder of the season. Not funny for the people who care about the team.
I lol’d at your comment. Josh Donaldson was a recent one for Yankees fans.
mlb.com/news/alex-bregman-elbow-injury-keeping-him…
Best player I’ve ever seen at admiring deep flyouts.
It’s great that tim has loosened the site up moderating wise from the days of the iron grip. those were bad times.. Really tho Tim and writers.. Can we auto delete any of these tools who all these like 8y on, keep whining about garbage cans for anything at all Houston related? It grew old like.. Well 8y ago.
Thanks
The only whining is astro fans. the tm cheated. And got away with it, zero penalty not even slap on the wrist. Its a disgrace. Always will be. Cant sweep it under the rug no matter how much you cry about it. SOME ppl love the game, respect it. Bonds and clemens tainted the game, thats a fact that cant be erased. Astros cheated their way to championship, cant be erased or forgotten either. Absolute nonsense that manfred never punished any players, and the 2 coaches who were suspended are back managing, 1 of whom went back to his old job. Absolutely unreal and disgusting. And you have the nerve to suggest it should all be forgotten like it never happened. You are a disgrace.
Fk the ASS-TROS, watching them now at 5AM… really watching Baltimore. Ass-TROS definitely CHEATEDan is a BIG DISGRACE. Manfred COMPLETELY ruined baseball an should be fired for throwing over to 1st for a bawk . and runner on 2nd. I’m getting frustrated now , I want to whip my phone. Fk Manfred and the ASS-TROS
We will never changeup about the trash cans! Never!
It is clear that few of the haters have examined the 2017 issue in any detail. At a minimum they should read (or listen to the audiobook for the literary challenge) Evan Drelich’s book “Winning fixes everything.” While the Astros were culpable they were far from the only team exploiting this technology to give them an advantage. The Astros received their penalties which many perceived as a slap on the wrist but MLB knew there was a powder keg they didn’t want to ignite if every guilty franchise was exposed so they quickly covered it up and moved on. Clearly many posters/fans have been unable to do similarly.
@angryaggie,
If you were aiming for irony, apologies in advance. Otherwise, it’s ’literarily challenged’.
We’re all here to help!
Alex that you?
Also suffering from butt hurt
Not exactly ideal for a player entering free agency.
I think Bregman’s personality and grit are his true value. He has struggled all year long but he just keeps fighting. Mad respect for this guy. If it’s his swansong as an Astro, whoever gets him is getting a true gamer.
I’d say maybe he bonked it on a door knob, but then I remembered how short he is
Great player, but I always thought the height listed on his profile (6’0”) was exaggerated by 3 or 4 inches.
Other teams should think twice about making him the next Anthony Rendon in the off season.