One of the premier players in baseball, Astros shortstop Carlos Correa, will make his return Sunday against the Mets, per Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. Correa hasn’t played since tearing a thumb ligament on July 17, before which the 22-year-old put himself in American League MVP consideration by hitting an excellent .320/.400/.566 with 20 home runs and posting 4.1 fWAR in 375 plate appearances. While Houston was a juggernaut prior to Correa’s injury, it went backward during his absence. The team jumped out to a 62-31 start with Correa in the fold, but it went just 20-22 when he was on the shelf. Still, the Astros hold an insurmountable 12.5-game lead in the AL West and should have a realistic World Series shot now that their best player is back.
Elsewhere around the AL…
- Although the Tigers went into a full rebuild this week when they traded Justin Verlander and Justin Upton, 35-year-old second baseman Ian Kinsler wouldn’t be averse to staying in Detroit. “I have no problem being part of a rebuilding team if that’s what the Tigers wish. I don’t know what they wish,” Kinsler told Evan Woodbery of MLive.com and other reporters Saturday. “I don’t know if they want me a part of it or if they don’t want me a part of it right now. If they do want me a part of it, I’m fine with that. I have no problem trying to pass my experience along as best I can to the younger players and help anyway that I can.” Kinsler’s having a down 2017 (.236/.316/.387 in 510 plate appearances), but the Tigers fielded an offer for him last month, and he’s likely to draw offseason interest as an affordable player entering the final year of his contract ($10MM club option). While Kinsler has a 10-team no-trade clause, he suggested his fate mostly lies in general manager Al Avila’s hands.
- Angels right-hander Garrett Richards will make his long-awaited return to their rotation Tuesday against Oakland, Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register was among those to report. Richards hasn’t started since April 5, his lone outing of the year, on account of biceps nerve irritation. The 29-year-old will be on a 50-pitch limit in his upcoming start and will gradually increase the count toward 100 by the end of the regular season, Fletcher relays. Both Richards and manager Mike Scioscia are confident the front-end starter is healthy and will fare nicely when he comes back, even though injuries have limited him to 39 1/3 innings since 2016.
- The Rays sent representatives to Japan to watch Nippon Ham Fighters ace Shohei Otani’s start last week, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Along with the Rays and the Yankees, there were around a dozen other teams in attendance to watch Otani, whose fastball hit 100 mph, Buster Olney of ESPN reports. The changes in the collective bargaining agreement could theoretically give low-payroll teams like Tampa Bay a better chance to land the two-way phenom, though the Rays already spent $3.825MM of their available international money ($5.25MM) on Dominican shortstop Wander Franco on July 2.
Angels have a chance to make a deep run if Richards • Skaggs • Heaney pitch to their potential in the last month.
Skaggs is who he is. He was never even a good pitcher in the minors. And never has been able to stay healthy. Richards Bridwell and Heaney will be who the Angels be depending on in the playoffs.
Skaggs might just be a bullpen arm, I really hope Upton doesn’t opt out. Imagine him with the angels next 4 years hitting in front of trout. plus another arm in the rotation and bullpen, thats dangerous.
Um nice conversation you’re having with yourself.
lmao
IF
Kinsler is having a down season, but can see Tigers picking up his relatively cheap option and hoping for a better year from him next season then moving him to a contender at next year’s deadline. I can also see the Tigers letting him go and giving the 2B job to Dixon Machado.
The Tigers are picking up his option no matter what…it’s just a question of if they keep him for themselves or trade him
No disrespect Connor, but do you really think Correa is better than altuve?
I don’t know if he is better, but it definitely is an argument. Correa’s amazing and will still get better.
It doesn’t matter who is better. The Astros are the best with both those players in the lineup.
Correa is flashy he gets the big hits and he is a big guy, altuve will always be better avg. but as a pitcher I would rather face Altuve and give up a single then face Correa
If there is 1 out with runners on first and third in the 9th and the Angels are up by 1 or ried, I would rather see Carrea at bat than Altuva. Because a ground ball to short by Correa the game is still tied or the game is over and the Angels won. If its Altuva its a fielders choice and either the game is tied or the Astros won.
I’m not necessarily arguing with your main point, but I think you are severely undervaluing Altuve here. No, he doesn’t have the power of Correa, but he is far from a singles hitter. He’s a 20+ homer guy with 40+ doubles. And even if he does “only” get a single, he’s a legitimate threat to steal second base on you.
It’s an interesting question. I think I’d take Correa above Altuve because he’s got a bit more power and a slightly more favorable defensive profile, but there’s definitely an argument for Altuve’ s batted – ball skills, and he’s clearly the best player at his position, while Correa might “only” be a top 3 shortstop.
More to the point, rest of season I’d take Altuve, because hand injuries can sometimes sap power and linger for a bit, but, overall, I do agree with Connor that Correa’s ever so slightly better in a vacuum.
Altuve is probably the AL MVP.
As an angels fan, I think Altuve is due for his mvp. A hitting machine the last 4 years. If trout didn’t get hurt, I think he repeats but it’s altuve’s year
I am absolutely not saying that Kinsler wouldn’t be a good veteran presence during a rebuild. I just see him being more valuable as a trade piece, as he only has one year left on his contract. I don’t believe there will be too many of the next gen Tigers on the team next year.
2003 redux?
1988