The Houston Astros announced Wednesday afternoon that 2B Jose Altuve, DH Yordan Alvarez and 3B Alex Bregman have all been placed on the injured list. INF Robel Garcia and C Martin Maldonado were also placed on the IL in a slew of moves by the Astros prior to their game against the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday night. Here’s a look at all of the moves for Houston:
Astros place Yordan Alvarez, Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman, Robel Garcia, Martin Maldonado in IL
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) April 14, 2021
IF Taylor Jones, C Garrett Stubbs and IF Abraham Toro have been recalled; IF Alex De Goti, and OF Ronnie Dawson have been selected to the Major League roster
The Astros enter Wednesday night on a four-game losing streak and this is a big blow to the lineup. Bregman had been dealing with a hamstring injury, so that could be the issue there. Alvarez could be Covid-19 related, which also could be the reason why Altuve, Bregman, Garcia and Maldonado are all on the injured list. This could be a short stint for all the players if it is Covid-19 related and not injury-specific. Either way, it appears all five players will be out for Wednesday’s series finale against Detroit.
Bregman started off the regular season hot, but has cooled off since then as he’s been battling a hamstring injury. The third baseman is slashing .286/.342/.486 with two home runs and six RBI in 38 plate appearances. Altuve is hitting .318/.380/.455 with a home run and five RBI in 50 plate appearances, while Alvarez is hitting .283/.306/.500 with two home runs and eight RBI.
With those players out for Wednesday night’s contest, the Astros will need first baseman Yuli Gurriel, right fielder Kyle Tucker, along with shortstop Carlos Correa and left fielder Michael Brantley to keep the offense afloat. Gurriel will be hitting fourth, behind Brantley, while Tucker will hit fifth and Correa at sixth.
Astros lineup:
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) April 14, 2021
Straw CF
Diaz 2B
Brantley LF
Gurriel 1B
Tucker RF
Correa SS
Toro 3B
Dawson DH (MLB debut)
Castro C
RHP McCullers
The Astros are still favored on the ML at -182 at home vs. the Tigers later despite missing three key players in the middle of the lineup. The Stros have also lost two in a row to the Tigers. At +150 on the ML, Detroit isn’t a bad bet at this point. Houston is 4.5 on the runs line and the under is -108 on DKSB. If you think the Astros offense will continue to be a bit stagnant, then that wouldn’t be a bad game prop. The first 5 inning line for the Tigers is also +150, and the F3 leader line is +210 and the F5 leader line is +188 for Detroit.
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