Astros’ priority is keeping Tucker, Bregman healthy for stretch run
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HOUSTON — The final three-plus weeks of the regular season figure to be juggling act for Astros manager Joe Espada when it comes to the playing time of right fielder Kyle Tucker and third baseman Alex Bregman, both of whom have an ailment that may not be completely healed until the end of the season.
Tucker was activated from the injured list prior to Friday’s game against the D-backs after missing three months with a right shin fracture, suffered when he fouled a ball off it on June 3. He was in the lineup at designated hitter for the series opener and went 0-for-2 with a walk, but the Astros will have to monitor his playing time going forward.
Seven other players started a game in right field this year, including in-season acquisitions Ben Gamel and Jason Heyward.
Meanwhile, Bregman has been dealing with right elbow inflammation for the last three weeks, which has kept him out of the lineup several times. He missed five games in a row (Aug. 16-20) and four games in a row (Aug. 30-Sept. 2), while starting three other games at DH. Bregman wasn’t in the lineup on Friday against Arizona.
“He’s a bit sore today, but he’s doing well,” Espada said. “We’re trying to monitor the volume of games in a row, but he’s actually feeling well.”
