The Houston Astros, losers of four straight after a 6-1 opening to the 2020 season, will be without four starters — including 3B Alex Bregman and 2B Jose Altuve — for at least the next 10 days per MLB.com's Brian McTaggart, due to COVID-19 protocols.
Astros place Yordan Alvarez, Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman, Robel Garcia, Martin Maldonado in IL
IF Taylor Jones, C Garrett Stubbs and IF Abraham Toro have been recalled; IF Alex De Goti, and OF Ronnie Dawson have been selected to the Major League roster— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) April 14, 2021
Alvarez, Altuve, Bregman, Garcia and Maldonado have all received their first round dose of the coronavirus vaccination. But a stint on the COVID-19 injured list doesn't necessarily mean a positive test has been confirmed.
From CBSSports.com's Mike Axisa:
“Being placed on the COVID-19 list does not necessarily mean the players have tested positive,” Axisa writes. “They could have come into close contact with a person who tested positive, or broke the league's health and safety protocols (eating indoors at a restaurant, etc.). The COVID-19 list has no minimum or maximum stay, though players who test positive must isolate for 10 days.”
Whatever the cause for the IL, it's not ideal for an Astros starting lineup that's recently been searching for offense after a pair of losses to Oakland and Detroit. Houston averaged 2.25 runs during the stretch with 32 total hits (8 hits/game), getting outhit in all but one game against the Athletics.
The tougher part of this? Alvarez, Altuve and Bregman are all hitting above .280, which is only going to limit the Astros further when they face Detroit again tonight, and are set for series against Seattle, Colorado and the Los Angeles Angels over the next two weeks.
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