The Houston Astros might be without one of their top players due to an unexpected issue that has sidelined him. After a rocky start to the season, the Astros have found their stride, currently boasting a record of 65-55 and riding an eight-game winning streak that has placed them three games ahead of the Seattle Mariners for the AL West lead—a scenario that seemed unlikely during their early struggles.
A key factor in the Astros’ recent success has been the exceptional performance of Alex Bregman. Known for slow starts, Bregman’s early-season struggles were highlighted by the team’s overall poor performance. As an impending free agent, he faced heightened scrutiny, especially with the potential for a lucrative contract on the horizon.
However, Bregman is now showcasing why he’s regarded as one of the premier third basemen in baseball, posting an impressive .340/.375/.717 slash line with an OPS of 1.092 in August, alongside five home runs and eight RBIs.
Unfortunately, it appears that the Astros may be without Bregman for their upcoming weekend series. He underwent an MRI to assess his elbow, but with results showing no structural damage, the current plan is for him to rest.
Astros third baseman Alex Bregman said he slept with his arm wrong a few days ago and doesn’t want to play through it anymore. He expects to miss the weekend but said it’s not a long term injury.
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) August 16, 2024
The silver lining for Houston is that they will be facing the struggling Chicago White Sox starting on Friday, which may be the ideal time for Bregman to miss a few games. Nevertheless, any absence due to injury is concerning, particularly since Bregman felt it was serious enough to warrant medical attention.
Bregman is optimistic that this won’t be a long-term issue, but it’s certainly a situation worth monitoring.
