The best case scenario is Castro has a legit injury but not one that should necessarily keep him from playing, and he has embraced the idea of going on the DL and staying home while staying in playing shape in case Lee flounders or in case Maldy gets hurt.
I imagine Castro doesn't have to stretch the truth much to find a part of his body feeling discomfort, and that's what the Astros label all their injuries anyways. I find the scenario where the Astros and Castro conspire to fake an injury a little far fetched, but I think the Astros have shown that they're willing to err on the side of caution for injuries with a big division lead.
Wild ass guess … Castro needs surgery with a chance to be back by playoffs or play with a limp the rest of the season.
Astros Future on Twitter: "Lance McCullers strikes out the first batter he faced tonight for the Hooks! #Astros https://t.co/zu8b8kf8co" / Twitter His arm slot appears to have dropped a tad as compared to last year. That could also be the camera angle. Little Pedro like fastball there. Lance has always had great stuff and it is why he is so valuable in the playoffs.
I'm more concerned about how he feels TODAY than immediately after his outing. But that's me. But no bad news and his velo are great news.
STARTERS L RF TUCKER, Kyle 339 465 804 3.4 R 3B BREGMAN, Alex 358 421 779 1.7 L LF ALVAREZ, Yordan 409 675 1084 4.5 R 2B ALTUVE, Jose 366 519 885 2.8 R SS PEÑA, Jeremy 307 449 756 3.1 R CF McCORMICK, Chas 313 413 726 0.5 R DH LEE, Korey 313 400 713 -0.2 R 1B DIAZ, Aledmys 291 372 663 0.8 R C MALDONADO, Martin 235 341 576 -0.4 BENCH R OF MEYERS, Jake 286 338 624 0.2 R IF GURRIEL, Yuli 285 384 669 0.0 R UT DUBÔN, Mauricio 250 261 511 0.1 L IF MATIJEVIC, J J 229 341 570 0.0 IR L OF BRANTLEY, Michael 370 416 78 1.2 L C CASTRO, Jason 205 179 384 -0.5 We have space for 13 Position Players
Could someone clarify how the DH can be lost if you use him in the field? Is using the backup catcher at 1B rather than DH and using the 1B at DH solve that problem?
If the DH enters the game as a defensive replacement, then the pitcher is slotted into the batting other where the replaced player was hitting.
Thanks. I'm just trying to figure out how to get Lee some ABs by playing him and Maldy at the same time and still having available as emergency backup without forcing a pitcher into the lineup. A catcher should have some of the skills you would want at 1B.
Just as in old National League rules you could pinch hit a position player when the pitcher spot comes up. They usually carry a 3rd catcher during September call-ups so that might be when we see Lee given some extra at bats as a DH before the postseason.
