Astros outfielder Kyle Tucker has been on the injured record as a consequence of a proper shin contusion for practically two months now, nevertheless it doesn’t seem as if he’s more likely to be a part of the membership’s lineup any time quickly as they try to tug away from the Mariners in a decent race for the AL West crown. As supervisor Joe Espada instructed reporters (together with Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle) earlier Saturday, the membership will not be but sure if Tucker will be capable of contribute within the majors at any level within the month of August. Espada described the scenario with Tucker as a day-to-day scenario, including that whereas it’s a “risk” he might play in some unspecified time in the future this month it could be “too aggressive” for him to decide to that timeline.
It’s a irritating replace for Astros followers, as Tucker had been certainly the membership’s finest hitter previous to the harm. In 262 journeys to the plate throughout 60 video games this 12 months, the 27-year-old was slashing an otherworldly .266/.395/.584 (172 wRC+) that made him one of many prime bats in the whole sport on the time of his harm. In his absence, the Astros have turned their season round in an enormous method with a 32-19 report for the reason that begin of June thanks largely to sturdy offensive performances from previously-struggling gamers like Yainer Diaz and Alex Bregman. With extra of the Houston lineup contributing each day in current weeks, it’s straightforward to think about the return of Tucker offering the lineup with an extra spark that would assist buoy the membership as they pursue their eighth consecutive look within the ALCS. In fact, even a return someday in September might give the younger star loads of time to arrange for a possible playoff run whereas nonetheless meaningfully contributing to video games down the stretch.
Extra from across the AL West:
- The Athletics supplied a constructive replace relating to injured nearer Mason Miller, as relayed by MLB.com’s Martín Gallegos. In keeping with Gallegos, Miller performed catch with out his solid in the present day as he rehabs from a fractured finger in his non-throwing hand. The subsequent step for the righty is to throw a stay bullpen session in a simulated sport on Monday. The 25-year-old phenom has change into one in every of league’s best-known relievers this 12 months by dominating to a 2.21 ERA with a 1.72 FIP in 40 2/3 innings of labor as Oakland’s nearer, a task that’s seen him rack up 15 saves. Miller final pitched on July 22 and was positioned on the IL a number of days later after fracturing his left pinkie finger within the membership’s coaching room. If that bullpen session goes nicely, it appears doable that the righty may be capable of skip a rehab task solely and return not lengthy after he’s first eligible to come back off the shelf on Aug. 7.
- Mariners followers obtained some unlucky information from down on the farm lately as Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reviews that shortstop Felnin Celesten underwent season-ending surgical procedure to restore a preexisting hamate harm. Celesten, 18, is the membership’s No. 5 prospect according to MLB Pipeline and was among the many prime prospects of the 2023 class of worldwide amateurs. Signed out of the Dominican Republic to a $4.7M bonus, Celesten is taken into account a high-floor prospect with a robust defensive popularity at shortstop and stable all-around instruments. In his first style of stateside ball this 12 months, Celesten slashed a wonderful .352/.431/.568 in 32 Arizona Complicated League video games earlier than being sidelined by harm. It appears probably he’ll get his first style of full-season ball typically subsequent 12 months as soon as he’s returned from rehab.
