Sports

Astros’ Maton has surgery after punching locker

Published

3 years ago

October 11, 2022

admin

12:29 PM ET

ESPN News Services

Houston Astros reliever Phil Maton will not pitch again this postseason after breaking a bone in a finger on his pitching hand while punching his locker last week, he said Tuesday.

Maton, who had a 3.84 ERA in 67 games this season, on Tuesday told reporters that he had surgery Monday after suffering a fractured fifth metacarpal in his right pinkie when he punched his locker out of anger last Wednesday.

“It was a short-sighted move and, ultimately, it was selfish,” Maton told reporters about the incident after the Astros’ regular-season finale. “It’s one of those things that I hope doesn’t affect our team moving forward.”

The 29-year-old Maton gave up two hits, including a single to younger brother Nick Maton, and two runs while recording one out in the eighth inning of Houston’s 3-2 win over the Phillies last Wednesday.

The Astros on Tuesday also left veteran reliever Will Smith off their roster for the American League Division Series against the Seattle Mariners.

Smith, who was acquired from the Braves at the trade deadline, had a 3.27 ERA in 24 appearances for Houston this season.

Meanwhile, it was announced that Seattle’s Luis Castillo will oppose Houston’s Framber Valdez in Game 2 on Thursday.

The Astros put rookie right-hander Hunter Brown on their ALDS roster with 12 pitchers and carried an extra position player in rookie infielder David Hensley.

The rest of Houston’s pitching roster is: Game 1 starter Justin Verlander, Valdez, Game 3 starter Lance McCullers Jr., Luis Garcia, Jose Urquidy, Cristian Javier, Ryne Stanek, Ryan Pressly, Bryan Abreu, Rafael Montero and Hector Neris.

Valdez, who won a career-high 17 games this season to rank second in the AL behind Verlander, had 25 straight quality starts from April 25 to Sept. 18 to set the MLB record for most consecutive in a single season. His 31 starts were a career-high and his 2.82 ERA ranks second-lowest of his career and sixth in the AL.

Brown, Hensley, Montero and Neris are making their playoff debuts, as are Houston rookie shortstop Jeremy Pena and utility player Trey Mancini, a six-year veteran acquired this summer after spending his entire career in Baltimore, and infielder Mauricio Dubon.

Houston will carry two catchers, eight infielders and four outfielders in this series.

The Mariners went with the same roster they did for the wild-card series. They will carry 12 pitchers, three catchers, five infielders, four outfielders, and utility players Adam Frazier and Dylan Moore.

Their pitching staff for this series comprises Game 1 starter Logan Gilbert, Castillo, Diego Castillo, Matthew Boyd, Matt Festa, Matt Brash, George Kirby, Andres Munoz, Penn Murfee, Robbie Ray, Paul Sewald and Erik Swanson.

The Mariners have yet to announce a starter for Game 3.

Luis Castillo won Game 1 of Seattle’s wild-card series against Toronto. Acquired from the Reds just before the trade deadline, he allowed six hits and struck out five in 7 1/3 shutout innings against the Blue Jays.

Castillo was 8-6 with a 2.99 ERA in 25 starts between the Reds and Mariners this season.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Sports

Reds place 3B Marte on IL due to oblique injury

Published

59 mins ago

May 7, 2025

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Reds place 3B Marte on IL due to oblique injury

Associated Press

May 7, 2025, 03:44 PM ET

ATLANTA — The Cincinnati Reds placed third baseman Noelvi Marte on the 10-day injured list with a left oblique strain Wednesday.

Marte was scratched minutes before the first pitch of the Atlanta Braves‘ 2-1 win over the Reds in 10 innings Tuesday night. He was reported to have left side discomfort, and the oblique injury was disclosed Wednesday.

Marte is hitting .294 with three homers, 17 RBIs and four stolen bases.

The Reds placed another third baseman, Jeimer Candelario, on the injured list on April 30 with a lumbar spine strain. Santiago Espinal was the fill-in starter for Marte on Tuesday night.

The Reds recalled outfielder Rece Hinds from Triple-A Louisville before Wednesday night’s game against the Braves.

Sports

Brewers’ Contreras playing with fractured finger

Published

59 mins ago

May 7, 2025

admin

$Brewers' Contreras playing with fractured finger$

Field Level Media

May 7, 2025, 02:46 PM ET

Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras intends to continue playing through a fractured finger that the team believes he first suffered last season.

An X-ray revealed the fracture on his left middle finger, his catching hand, which had grown so painful the team ordered the scan.

Contreras plans to play with a splint on the finger while catching and hitting, according to MLB.com.

Coming off his second All-Star season, Contreras is batting .242 with three home runs and 19 RBIs in 35 games. Contreras hit .281 last year and .289 in 2023. The pain is worse when he’s batting, according to MLB.com.

Contreras, 27, was not in the lineup for Wednesday’s matinee against the Houston Astros, getting the day off after catching the previous two games of the series.

Sports

Astros optimistic on Alvarez as MRI shows strain

Published

59 mins ago

May 7, 2025

admin

Astros optimistic on Alvarez as MRI shows strain

Associated Press

May 7, 2025, 12:46 PM ET

MILWAUKEE — Houston Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez has a strained muscle at the top of his right hand, a diagnosis that instills optimism he won’t have a prolonged stay on the injured list.

The three-time All-Star went on the 10-day injured list Monday, retroactive to Saturday, and returned to Houston for an MRI that revealed the muscle strain.

“We look at it as good news,” Astros manager Joe Espada said before their Wednesday afternoon game with the Milwaukee Brewers.

Espada expressed hope that Alvarez wouldn’t have to stay on the injured list longer than the required 10 days. He also said the hand issue may have played a role in Alvarez’s slow start.

Alvarez, 27, is hitting .210 with a .306 on-base percentage, three homers and 18 RBI in 29 games this season. He batted .308 with a .392 on-base percentage, 35 homers and 86 RBI in 147 games last year while ranking ninth in the AL Most Valuable Player balloting.

He has posted an OPS of at least .959 and has finished 13th or higher in the MVP voting each of the last three seasons.

“Once he heals, once he gets back, I think we’ll see a more aggressive at bat and be not as cautious,” Espada said. “I think it had something to do with it, yes.”

His potential return could go a long way toward boosting an Astros lineup that hasn’t been as productive as usual this season. The Astros entered Wednesday’s action ranked 21st in the majors in runs (136) and 23rd in OPS (.676). Houston has ranked 11th or better in both those categories each of the last four seasons.