The Houston Astros announced their roster for the American League Championship Series against the New York Yankees, which begins tonight in Houston. Two changes were made from the ALDS…
Wade Miley and Myles Straw are the two casualties from the NLDS group. Miley would have been a candidate to start game four, but momentum has moved increasingly to Jose Urquidy to get the nod for that game. Straw appeared in games 1 and 2 of the ALDS as a pinch-runner, but he is a numbers casualty here as the Astros decided to carry a 12th pitcher.
Right-handers Bryan Abreu and Brad Peacock join the group. Peacock can serve as a long man out of the pen, or he could be a candidate to start the fourth game of the series. Abreu is an especially interesting add, as the 22-year-old has just 7 big league appearances under his belt. A high-spin-rate curveball is his trademark pitch, and though he was a starter in High-A and Double-A for most of the season, his 6 September appearances were enough to prove his postseason utility to the Houston brass. He struck out 13 batters in 8 2/3 big league innings, giving up just 4 hits.
Here’s the complete 25-man unit:
Right-Handed Pitchers
- Bryan Abreu
- Gerrit Cole
- Zack Greinke (probably game 1 starter)
- Will Harris
- Josh James
- Roberto Osuna
- Brad Peacock
- Ryan Pressly
- Hector Rondon
- Joe Smith
- Jose Urquidy
- Justin Verlander (probable game 2 starter)
Left-Handed Pitchers
None
Infielders
Outfielders
Catchers
Miley’s absence is the most notable for a couple of reasons. He provided steady production for most of the season, finishing 14-6 with a 3.98 ERA/4.51 FIP across 33 starts and 167 1/3 innings. He also saw postseason success for last season’s Brewers when he carried a 1.23 ERA over 14 2/3 postseason innings. He appeared in game three of this year’s ALDS, surrendering 4 hits and 2 earned runs across 2 2/3 innings in relief of Zack Greinke. Miley is a free agent at the end of the season after signing a one-year, $4.5MM deal with Houston this offseason. Being left off the ALCS roster is not likely to affect the market for his services this winter.
Without Miley, the Astros aren’t carrying a single left-handed pitcher on the roster. The Yankees are flush with right-handed power hitters, so it’s not necessarily a glaring need, but it’s still worth noting. Of course, the Astros have gone without a lefty in their pen for stretches of the season, and it’s a cosmetic issue nonetheless. Pressly, Harris, James, Osuna, and Urquidy have all fared as well or better against lefties this season as against righties, despite the unseemliness of throwing with their right hand.
I was wondering what happened with peacock.
But I’m shocked Miley got the ax
You shouldn’t be shocked about Miley, he has been the worst SP in the MLB the last month. He had a 3 game stretch where he couldn’t get out of the 1st inning in 2 of the 3 games.
No Left handed pitchers? Handsists!
Technically, left handedness is now considered a disability (stupid, I know) so you could call them ableist
That claim is from a satirical website.
As he should be
As an Orioles fan I have first hand knowledge of how poorly Miley does against the Yankees and if you look at his career numbers against that squad it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see why he was on the chopping block. He’s definitely a National League pitcher.
Something that hasn’t been mentioned yet:
Straw being left off the roster make Tucker that much more important on the bench. Reddick will now likely start every game in right, although Hinch did mention Diaz starting in left and Brantley in right.
Either way, Tucker is the designated pinch runner if one is needed so won’t start.
He has very good speed and a very good base stealer and runner, but not elite speed like Straw.
I’m interested to see how this affects the series.
Also, Miley and/or Straw could be brought back if the Astros win and get to the series.
Jake runs pretty well.
Great point
But I think A.J. loves putting Jake into CF in the 9th. Victory lineup.
Maybe they will use Marisnick as a runner in a tied game or a game with a 1 run lead in the 8th or top of the 9th and then leave him in with a lead.
But yes, he runs very well also.
I guess the Astros don’t need him to start the game, face one batter, and then come out of the game.
Would’ve kept Straw over Diaz.
Miley decision will be fine if Greinke can survive tonight. Yankees might make Houston regret the trade with Arizona.
Diaz is only backup 1B.
They have already stated that Alvarez WILL NOT play first due to poor defense.
Hopefully he can develop a little ability in instructional league or spring training.
Tucker played some in AAA (his own idea actually) but I never heard any report on how he did.
Reddick played a couple of innings.
If they left Diaz off and Yuli got hurt, the team would be in trouble.
If Yuli was injured during the ALCS, they could add Diaz to the roster. It’s part of the postseason rules I believe. Astros are permitted to have a 25 man roster, if one man get injured, it is permissible to replace them with someone on the 40 man roster.
That is true, however Yuli would not be allowed to be activated for the rest of this series or World Series.
So, no harm if it’s a major injury, but if it’s a day to day injury, you burn one of your best players.
Both ideas have merit and risk
For a few innings they put Tucker at 1B and then add a player to replace an injured Gurriel. Simple. Straw is needed to swipe a bag late in a game on the road in a pivotal game.
Wade Miley has had 1 Quality start since August 24 and has added nearly 1 run to his year ERA since. Conversely, Brad Peacock has had only 1 bad outing since returning from the IL August 20.
Aledmy Diaz over Myles Straw makes sense too Straw is much faster and can also play OF but Diaz is a better hitter and defender in the IF.