Astros-A’s set to battle at Minute Maid

The Astros play host to the Oakland A’s this weekend at Minute Maid Park for only the second time in history. The team are now in the same division, but both sides have a handful of players who are very familiar with the opposition. Brad Peacock is on the mound for the Astros, facing his former team in his first action since 2011. Astros starting pitchers have a 2.08 ERA in the team’s first three games.

The Astros made some news today:

  • The team designated right-handed pitcher Edgar Gonzalez for assignment to clear a roster spot for newly-acquired left-handed pitcher Travis Blackley, general manager Jeff Luhnow announced today. Blackley, whom was acquired from the Oakland Athletics yesterday, will be with the Astros for tonight’s game and will wear No. 54. He was 6-4 with a 4.10 ERA in 28 games, including 15 starts, with San Francisco (4 games) and Oakland (24 games) last season. Gonzalez, who has been with the Astros since last season, did not appear in the first three games of the 2013 season. The Astros 40-man roster is now at 40.
  • Luhnow also announced today that right-handed pitcher Alex White will undergo ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction surgery (Tommy John) on his right elbow next week. White left his last start on Friday (March 29) vs. the Cubs after experiencing discomfort in his right elbow.

Here are the lineups:

ASTROS

2B Jose Altuve

1B Brett Wallace

LF Chris Carter

DH Carlos Pena

CF Justin Maxwell

RF Rick Ankiel

C Jason Castro

3B Matt Dominguez

SS Marwin Gonzalez

—

RHP Brad Peacock

ATHLETICS

CF Coco Crisp

SS Jed Lowrie

RF Josh Reddick

LF Yoenis Cespedes

DH Seth Smith

C John Jason

3B Josh Donaldson

2B Eric Sogard

1B Nate Freiman

—

RHP Dan Straily

Astros add to bullpen depth with Blackley

Left-handed pitcher Travis Blackley was sent to the Astros from the Oakland A’s on Thursday in exchange for Triple-A outfielder Jake Goebbert. Blackley, who was designated for assignment six days ago, will be in uniform for the Astros when they open a three-game series against the A’s on Friday at Minute Maid Park.

Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow said Blackley will be used in long relief.

“He’s a left-handed long man, which is something we’ve been trying to figure out how to work into our roster,” Luhnow said. “He had a lot of success as a starter and we believe that will translate well into our bullpen. We did have our scouts see him this spring and there was a long list of players that became available as the season started when everybody cut down to 25 [players]. He was at the top of our list, and we made a few phone calls and got it done.”

Blackley played a key role in the A’s run to the AL West title in 2012, going 6-4 with a 3.86 ERA. He struck out 69 batters and walked 30 in 102 2/3 innings. The southpaw has pitched over 1,100 innings in the Minors.

The Astros will have to clear a spot on the 40-man roster on Friday, but Luhnow said adding Blackley gives them more flexibility.

“There’s some good lineups we’re going to be facing with left-handed hitters, and four of our five rotation guys are right-handed, so if you follow them up with a left-handed long man, it gives you a platoon advantage that’s nice to have,” he said. “He’s been effective against lefties and righties.”

Blackley has held right-handers to a .269 batting average and left-handers to a .243 batting average in his career, which has included stops in Seattle and San Francisco. He’s one of three Astros players who played for the A’s organization last year, joining starting pitcher Brad Peacock and outfielder Chris Carter.

Peacock and Carter came to Houston two months ago in the trade that sent Jed Lowrie and Fernando Rodriguez to Oakland. <p>

Goebbert, a 13th-round Draft pick from Northwestern in 2009, spent the majority of the 2012 season in Double-A Corpus Christi, where he hit .304 with a .399 on-base percentage. The 25-year-old has 176 walks to 262 strikeouts in more than 1,500 Minor League at-bats.

Astros get right back to work against Rangers

Astros manager Bo Porter said the great thing about baseball is you can have a short-term memory. Only hours after Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish retired the first 26 batters he faced and had a perfect game broken up with two outs in the ninth on a single by Marwin Gonzalez on Tuesday night, the Astros will meet the Rangers at 1:05 p.m. today in the series finale.

“The beautiful thing that I love about baseball is every 24 hours you get an opportunity to either keep your momentum going or change what happened the day before,” he said. “That’s the great thing about our game, and that’s why you have to stay even-keeled more so than any other sports because it’s every day. You don’t to get too high, you don’t want to get too low. You want to report to the park each and every day with a great attitude that gives you an opportunity to perform at a high level.”

  • In other Astros news, RHP Alex White has come to terms with the fact he could be headed to Tommy John surgery. White, who’s on the 60-day disabled list with a sprained elbow, is awaiting a second opinion from Dr. James Andrews. “We have a pretty good idea what’s going to happen and we’re just waiting for Andrews to take a look and make a decision for us,” he said. “I’ve gotten used to the idea, and it’s going to be a long process getting back to the field. It will be day to day and even if it’s just a sprain, it’s still going to take me a while to get back.”

Here’s the lineups for Wednesday’s series finale:

ASTROS

2B Jose Altuve

1B Brett Wallace

DH Carlos Pena

LF Chris Carter

C Jason Castro

CF Justin Maxwell

RF Rick Ankiel

3B Matt Dominguez

SS Ronny Cedeno

—

RHP Philip Humber

RANGERS

2B Ian Kinsler

SS Elvis Andrus

DH Lance Berkman

3B Adrian Beltre

LF David Murphy

RF Nelson Cruz

C A.J. Pierzynski

1B Mitch Moreland

CF Leonys Martin

—

RHP Alexi Ogando

Astros lineup vs. Rangers

Here is Tuesday’s Astros lineup against the Rangers (you can follow the game here):

2B Jose Altuve

3B Brett Wallace

1B Carlos Pena

LF Chris Carter

RF Rick Ankiel

CF Justin Maxwell

DH Jason Castro

C Carlos Corporan

SS Marwin Gonzalez

—

RHP Lucas Harrell

Astros set Minor League rosters

The Astros on Monday released the roster for their four full-season clubs. As expected, 2012 No. 1 overall pick Carlos Correa is starting in Class A Quad Cities, which is a big jump for a kid who was in high school in Puerto Rico at this time last year.

Other notable assignments:  Pitchers Travis Ballew and Aaron West, catcher Tyler Heinemann and outfielder Preston Tucker are all jumping low A and going to high Class A Lancaster. Outfielder Austin Wates and pitchers Jason Stoffel and Ross Seaton are repeating a level at Double-A Corpus Christi.

Here are the rosters:

TRIPLE-A OKLAHOMA CITY

Pitchers – Kevin Chapman, Jose Cisnero, Paul Clemens, Jarred Cosart, John Ely, C.J. Fick, Dallas Keuchel, Jordan Lyles, Wes Musick, Brett Oberholtzer, Rudy Owens, Jose Valdez, Josh Zeid.

Catchers – Cody Clark, Jason Jaramillo, Chris Wallace.

Infielders – Jake Elmore, Marc Krauss, Brandon Laird, Jose Martinez, Jonathan Villar.

Outfielders – Trevor Crowe, Jake Goebbert, Robbie Grossman, Che-Hsuan Lin, Jimmy Paredes.

DOUBLE-A CORPUS CHRISTI

Pitchers – Ruben Alaniz, Jake Buchanan, Jorge De Leon, Bobby Doran, Mat Heidenreich, David Martinez, Andrew Robinson, Ross Seaton, Alex Sogard, Jason Stoffel, Nick Tropeano, Pat Urckfitz, Asher Wojciechowski.

Catchers – Rene Garcia, Ryan McCurdy, Carlos Perez.

Infielders – Eric Castro, Enrique Hernandez, Jonathan Meyer, Jio Mier, Ben Orloff.

Outfielders – Michael Burgess, Domingo Santana, George Springer, Austin Wates.

CLASS A LANCASTER

Pitchers – Travis Ballew, Luis Cruz, Chris Devenski, Jonas Dufek, Mike Foltynewicz, Theron Geith, Alex Gillingham, Tyson Perez, Carlos Quevedo, Brady Rodgers, David Rollins, Tommy Shirley, Blair Walters, Aaron West.

Catchers – M.P. Cokinos, Tyler Heineman.

Infielders – Delino DeShields Jr., Matt Duffy, Nolan Fontana, Zach Johnson, Raoul Torrez, Rafael Valenzuela.

Outfielders – Andrew Aplin, Chris Epps, Brandon Meredith, Andrew Muren, Preston Tucker.

CLASS A QUAD CITIES

Pitchers – Joe Bircher, Colton Cain, Kyle Hallock, Mike Hauschild, Brian Holmes, Jordan Jankowski, Cam Lamb, Mitchell Lambson, Lance McCullers, Daniel Minor, John Neely, Gera Sanchez, Vincent Velasquez.

Catchers – Jobduan Morales, Roberto Pena.

Infielders – Carlos Correa, Chase Davidson, Ryan Dineed, Carlos Perdomo, Rio Ruiz, Joe Sclafani, Jesse Wierzbicki.

Outfielders – Teoscar Hernandez, Terrell Joyce, Ariel Ovando, Jordan Scott.

 

 

Astros do it right in AL debut

Another Opening Night is in the books, and the Astros are top of the baseball world — at least for one night — after beating the Rangers, 8-2, on Sunday at sold-out Minute Maid Park. The first game in the American League, the first game in their sharp new uniforms and the first game for new manager Bo Porter couldn’t have gone any better for the Astros, who snapped a six-game losing streak on Opening Day.

After the game, Twitter was alive with Astros inspiration:

Here’s are links to MLB.com’s coverage of Opening Day, which included tons of video by Alyson Footer and enough to keep you reading during Monday’s off day:

Poll: How many games will the Astros win in 2013?

Now that we know what the roster is going to look like on Sunday when the Astros face the Rangers in their American League debut, it’s time for your voice to be heard. Based on what you know about the Astros, the influence of manager Bo Porter and the rest of the AL West, how many games will the Astros win in 2013?

Take the poll:

Big day from Singleton ends Astros’ stay in Florida

The Astros wrapped up Grapefruit League play with an 11-4 win over the Tigers on Thursday afternoon at Osceola County Stadium, getting a pair of homers from Jonathan Singleton and one each from Jason Castro and Rick Ankiel.

After the game, the clubhouse was bustling with activity as players showered, packed and boarded buses for their charter flight to Houston. The Astros will play the Cubs in exhibition on Friday and Saturday at Minute Maid Park.

“I think everybody is excited to get on the airplane and get back to Houston,” Astros manager Bo Porter said.

With four homers Thursday, the Astros have hit 46 homers in 33 games in Florida — their most since hitting 48 in 2002. Porter says he’s confident the power surge will carry into season.

“I’m extremely confident,” he said. “You’d rather be in this position than have a spring where you haven’t hit the ball and wondering if they can hit or not. These guys have good track records, they’ve played at a high level and we believe we have 25 quality baseball players.”

Singleton homered in his first two at-bats off Anibal Sanchez.

“I was just going out there trying to do my best,” he said. “He left a couple of pitches over the plate and I tried to put a good swing on it.”

Singleton, the team’s top prospect, will remain in Kissimmee through the end of May while he sits out his 50-game suspension for a second failed drug test, testing positive for marijuana. He will start the season at Triple-A Oklahoma City but could be hitting homers at Minute Maid Park before 2013 is out.

Martinez to see doctor, could be headed to DL

After an exceptionally healthy spring camp, the Astros may have to put outfielder Fernando Martinez on the disabled list.

Martinez, who’s made the club as one of the team’s backup outfielders, was scratched from the lineup for Thursday’s game against the Tigers and he admitted going on the DL was a possibility. He missed a week earlier this spring with lower back tightness and will be examined by a doctor Friday in Houston.

“I think it’s the [left] oblique right now,” Martinez said. “I feel a little more pain right now than I did before. Hopefully a couple of days off and I’ll be back.”

Martinez said the team has discussed possibly having to put him on the disabled list. The Astros are taking a bevy of extra players to Houston, so they wouldn’t have to go reach to find his roster replacement. Trevor Crowe and J.D. Martinez were among the last outfielders cut from camp.

Martinez is holding out hope he won’t have to go on the DL.

“I can play like that, but sometimes when I throw and I swing I feel a little pain,” he said.

The 24-year-old left-handed hitter batted .237 with six homers and 14 RBIs in 41 games last year for the Astros, who claimed him off waivers on Jan. 11, 2012.

 

Astros set 25-man roster, tab Peacock for rotation

The Astros finalized their 25-man roster, setting their pitching rotation for the start of the 2013 season on Thursday by telling right-hander Brad Peacock he would be the club’s fourth starter. Right-hander Alex White is bound for the bullpen in a long relief role.

Astros manager Bo Porter also locked in the the bullpen by telling Rule 5 pick Josh Fields, Hector Ambriz and Rhiner Cruz they had made the club. Edgar Gonzalez will start the season at Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Peacock, acquired by the Astros in last month’s trade that shipped Jed Lowrie to Oakland, had a strong spring for Houston, allowing 16 hits and seven earned runs in 19 2/3 innings in seven games (three starts). White’s numbers weren’t quite as good, but he did pitch three games of the bullpen last year for Colorado.

“He did a tremendous job,” Porter said. “I talked to him and White and told them I thought we deserved to have six starters make the rotation, and I’m a big believer in carrying a long guy for the flexibility of saving your bullpen. I told White, ‘You’re going to get your innings.’ It’s a competition that’s not just going to stop at the end of Spring Training. It will continue through the course of the season.”

With Bud Norris (Sunday), Lucas Harrell (Tuesday) and Philip Humber (Wednesday) pitching against the Rangers in the season-opening series, Peacock will start Friday against his former team, the Oakland A’s. Erik Bedard is scheduled to pitch Saturday against the A’s, with Norris throwing the homestand finale on Sunday.

Porter likes the makeup of the bullpen. Jose Veras will be the closer and he said the eighth-inning role will initially be determined by matchups. White can work in long relief, but he said Hector Ambriz and Rhiner Cruz can pitch multiple innings from the right side and Xavier Cedeno from the left side.

“I love the fact we have two lefties down there who are capable of getting out some of the better left-handed hitters in our league,” he said. “We also have a long guy, we have a good mix of guys who can pitch in the back end. I’m pretty confident in our bullpen.”

Peacock, 25, was selected by Washington as the No. 41 overall pick in 2006 and was shipped to Oakland five years later in the Gio Gonzalez trade. The Astros acquired him, outfielder Chris Carter and catcher Max Stassi from the A’s on Feb 4.

Peacock was 12-9 with a 6.01 ERA in 28 games (25 starts) at Triple-A last year following a terrific 2011 season in which he made his Major League debut with the Nationals and was 2-0 with a 0.75 ERA in three games (two starts).

“For the whole staff, he just looked like he got stronger each and every time he got the ball,” Porter said. “The outings got strong, the stuff got more crisp and the breaking ball really, really starting to get late depth. It was good to see. I have history with him and I saw him really, really good in 2010 and like I told him, ‘He looks like the guy I saw in 2010.’”

Here’s the 25-man roster:

Starting pitchers (5) — Bud Norris, Lucas Harrell, Philip Humber, Brad Peacock and Erik Bedard.

Relief pitchers (7) — Jose Veras, Josh Fields, Hector Ambriz, Xavier Cedeno, Wesley Wright, Rhiner Cruz, Alex White.

Catchers (2) — Jason Castro, Carlos Corporan.

Infielders (6) — Brett Wallace, Jose Altuve, Ronny Cedeno, Marwin Gonzalez, Matt Dominguez, Carlos Pena.

Outfielders (5) — Chris Carter, Justin Maxwell, Rick Ankiel, Brandon Barnes, Fernando Martinez.

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