The Houston Astros are doing their part when it comes to pitching, but the offense could stand some improvement if the team wants to catch the red-hot Texas Rangers.
One player that could give the team a boost in that department is Yainer Diaz. Catcher Martin Maldonado is having another poor year at the plate, and Diaz taking some bats from him would provide the team with more offense.
Manager Dusty Baker has been reluctant to play Yainer on a regular basis early in the season, and GM Dana Brown was expecting Diaz to get about 300 at-bats this season.
Diaz can not only catch, he's played some first base this year, and he could certainly be used as a designated hitter. But he was rarely used as a DH even when the team was carrying three catchers.
Currently Diaz is on pace for around 220 at-bats and it looks like Dusty Baker is not seeing eye-to-eye with his GM once again when it comes to Martin Maldonado and his playing time. Just ask former GM James Click.
Be sure to watch the video above as the guys discuss the first public disagreement between Brown and Baker, and what it means moving forward.
Listen to The Killer B's weekdays from Noon-3 PM on ESPN 97.5 and 92.5 FM.
José Soriano and two relievers combined for a two-hitter and Oswald Peraza hit his first home run since a trade from the Yankees to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 3-0 win over the Houston Astros on Sunday.
Soriano (10-9) allowed one hit and struck out eight in seven innings. Luis García allowed one hit in a scoreless eighth and Kenley Jansen threw a perfect ninth for his 25th save.
There were two outs in the fifth when Peraza connected off Hunter Brown (10-7) into the bullpen in right-center field to put the Angels up 1-0. His homer comes after his two-run single in the ninth inning Saturday helped Los Angeles to a 4-1 victory that snapped a three-game skid.
Yoan Moncada walked to start the eighth and scored on Mike Trout’s double that bounced off the wall in center field to make it 2-0. Taylor Ward walked before Luis Rengifo reached and Trout scored on an error by Lance McCullers Jr. when the pitcher overthrew first base.
Yordan Alvarez singled with no outs in the first and Soriano walked a batter in the second and sixth innings. The Astros didn’t get another hit until Ramón Urías doubled with one out in the eighth inning. Los Angeles outfielder Taylor Ward was injured trying to make a catch on that hit when he crashed face-first into the metal scoreboard in left field.
He was carted off the field holding a towel to the right side of his face. He was taken to a hospital by ambulance where interim manager Ray Montgomery said he would receive stitches to close the cut and be evaluated.
Brown allowed three hits and a run with five strikeouts in six innings. McCullers Jr. allowed three hits and two runs in his first relief appearance since 2018.
Key moment
The home run by Peraza.
Key stat
It’s the fifth time the Astros have been shut out this month.
Up next
LHP Yusei Kikuchi (6-9, 3.68 ERA) will start for Los Angeles in the series finale Monday against RHP Luis Garcia, who’ll make his return after sitting out since May 2023 recovering from Tommy John surgery.
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