NUMBERS GAME
Ryan Pressly’s return triggers unforeseen roster move for Astros
Aug 29, 2024, 4:17 pm
Will the Astros regret demoting Bryan King? Composite Getty Image.
Ahead of the Astros pivotal series with the Royals, they've made a few roster moves. Chas McCormick has been optioned to Sugar Land along with relief pitcher Bryan King.
The Houston Astros have made several roster moves over the last two days:
- OF Chas McCormick was optioned to Triple A yesterday.
- OF Jason Heyward (#22) has been signed to a Major League contract.
- RHP Ryan Pressly has been reinstated from the 15-day IL.
- LHP Bryan King has…
— Houston Astros (@astros) August 29, 2024
They will be replaced on the roster by newly signed outfielder Jason Heyward, and Ryan Pressly, who is returning from the IL.
Heyward will make his Astros debut Thursday night and is playing right field and batting eighth.
Back home.
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🏟️: Closed
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— Houston Astros (@astros) August 29, 2024
The demotion of King comes as a bit of a surprise. He's been fantastic this season (2.05 ERA), and certainly better than their other lefty middle reliever, Caleb Ferguson (4.63 ERA).
On Monday, Joe Espada chose Bryan King over Caleb Ferguson to face Bryce Harper with the go-ahead run on base on the road. https://t.co/9DAmx7RPSs
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) August 29, 2024
But Ferguson is out of options, so the front office elected to send King to Sugar Land instead. If I'm Joe Espada, I am not pleased with this move. Espada has rightfully shown a lot more confidence in King this season.
Some news and notes for the upcoming series:
Kansas City Royals (75-59, second in the AL Central) vs. Houston Astros (71-62, first in the AL West)
Houston; Thursday, 8:10 p.m. EDT
PITCHING PROBABLES: Royals: Brady Singer (9-9, 3.37 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 141 strikeouts); Astros: Hunter Brown (11-7, 3.72 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 151 strikeouts)
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK: LINE Astros -155, Royals +130; over/under is 8 runs
BOTTOM LINE: The Houston Astros host the Kansas City Royals after Yordan Alvarez hit three home runs on Wednesday in a 10-0 win over the Phillies.
Houston is 35-29 in home games and 71-62 overall. The Astros have a 59-18 record in games when they out-hit their opponents.
Kansas City has a 34-31 record on the road and a 75-59 record overall. The Royals have the third-ranked team batting average in the AL at .258.
The matchup Thursday is the fourth time these teams match up this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Alvarez leads the Astros with a .311 batting average, and has 29 doubles, two triples, 28 home runs, 60 walks and 71 RBI. Yainer Diaz is 13-for-42 with four home runs and four RBI over the past 10 games.
Bobby Witt Jr. has 39 doubles, 11 triples and 28 home runs while hitting .346 for the Royals. Salvador Perez is 13-for-38 with five doubles and three home runs over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Astros: 4-6, .272 batting average, 3.10 ERA, outscored opponents by seven runs
Royals: 6-4, .277 batting average, 4.85 ERA, outscored by four runs
INJURIES: Astros: J.P. France: 60-Day IL (undisclosed), Ryan Pressly: 15-Day IL (back), Kyle Tucker: 60-Day IL (shin), Cristian Javier: 60-Day IL (forearm), Jose Urquidy: 60-Day IL (forearm), Oliver Ortega: 60-Day IL (elbow), Bennett Sousa: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Penn Murfee: 60-Day IL (elbow), Luis Garcia: 60-Day IL (elbow), Lance McCullers Jr.: 60-Day IL (elbow), Kendall Graveman: 60-Day IL (elbow)
Royals: Michael Lorenzen: 15-Day IL (hamstring), Will Smith: 15-Day IL (back), Hunter Renfroe: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Hunter Harvey: 15-Day IL (back), Dan Altavilla: 60-Day IL (oblique), Josh Taylor: 60-Day IL (biceps), Kyle Wright: 60-Day IL (shoulder)
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Oswald Peraza hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to help the Los Angeles Angels snap a three-game losing skid by beating the Houston Astros 4-1 on Saturday night.
Peraza entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and hit a bases-loaded fly ball to deep right field that eluded the outstretched glove of Cam Smith. It was the fourth straight hit off Astros closer Bryan Abreu (3-4), who had not allowed a run in his previous 12 appearances.
The Angels third run of the ninth inning scored when Mike Trout walked with the bases loaded.
Kyle Hendricks allowed one run while scattering seven hits over six innings. He held the Astros to 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, the one hit coming on Jesús Sánchez’s third-inning infield single that scored Jeremy Peña.
Reid Detmers worked around a leadoff walk to keep the Astros scoreless in the seventh, and José Fermin (3-2) retired the side in order in the eighth before Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save.
Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti struck out a season-high eight batters over 6 1/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Zach Neto’s third-inning solo home run.
Yordan Alvarez had two hits for the Astros, who remained three games ahead of Seattle for first place in the AL West.
Key moment
Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.
Key Stat
Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.
Up next
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.