Houston Astros fans are closely monitoring the status of Alex Bregman, their star third baseman, as he navigates a troubling elbow issue. Bregman himself has acknowledged that his availability to play third base will be a “fluid situation” for the remainder of the season. This news is particularly concerning for the Astros, a team already facing roster flexibility challenges, and for Bregman, who is entering free agency after this season.
Bregman returned to the Astros’ lineup as designated hitter on Wednesday after a five-game absence due to swelling in his right elbow. In a promising start, he launched a solo home run in his first at-bat, demonstrating his offensive capability despite the injury. However, he was hitless in his subsequent three at-bats, highlighting the ongoing concern.
Bregman’s Elbow Swelling: A Day-to-Day Issue
When questioned about potentially returning to third base for Thursday’s series opener against the Baltimore Orioles, Bregman indicated that the elbow problem will require careful management throughout the season. While he confirmed that there is no structural damage to his ulnar collateral ligament, the persistent swelling remains a significant hurdle.
“Some little gremlins in there are causing some swelling that I’m just going to have to try to mitigate through the rest of the year and keep the swelling out,” Bregman explained, emphasizing the need for a day-by-day approach to managing the situation.
This isn’t Bregman’s first encounter with elbow issues. Following the 2018 season, he underwent arthroscopic surgery to remove bone chips in the same elbow. It remains unclear whether the current problem is related to this previous surgery. Prior to Wednesday’s game, Bregman resumed throwing and reported feeling “no pain or discomfort.” Despite this positive sign, the Astros and their fans are aware that the situation remains delicate.
Bregman clarified that the issue isn’t pain during typical baseball actions like swinging or throwing. Instead, the swelling seems to be aggravated by specific arm positions, even outside of gameplay. “Honestly, I haven’t really felt it doing either, it’s more so if I put my arm in a weird position or sleep weird or something like that,” he stated. “It just kind of flares up. I’m trying to not have it do that. Just going to do everything we can, come out, compete and grind my ass off.”
Impact on Astros Lineup and Bregman’s Performance
Despite the injury concerns, Bregman has been a standout performer for the Astros, especially after a slow start to the season. Since May 13, he has transformed into one of baseball’s most valuable players, accumulating 3.4 wins above replacement according to FanGraphs. Among third basemen, only Matt Chapman, Rafael Devers, and José Ramírez have surpassed his value during this period.
His home run on Wednesday further boosted his season statistics, raising his OPS to .768 and slugging percentage to .450. The ball’s exit velocity of 109.1 mph was the second-hardest hit of his major league career, showcasing his ability to perform at a high level even while managing this elbow issue.
However, if Bregman is limited to the designated hitter role, it presents a considerable challenge for Astros manager Joe Espada in constructing the daily lineup. It would likely necessitate playing Yordan Alvarez in left field regularly, a scenario the team has historically tried to avoid. This shift would then place pressure on rookies Shay Whitcomb and Zach Dezenzo to handle third base duties. Both have struggled since being called up from Triple-A Sugar Land, combining for a .191 batting average in their limited major league time.
Espada could also consider using catchers Yainer Diaz and Victor Caratini at first base to keep their hot bats in the lineup. While these options offer offensive potential, they highlight the roster constraints created by Bregman’s uncertain defensive availability and the knock-on effects throughout the Astros’ lineup.
Looking Ahead
The Astros will need to carefully monitor Bregman’s elbow condition as they navigate the final stretch of the season. His ability to contribute, even as a designated hitter, is crucial to their playoff aspirations. However, the team must also find solutions to solidify the third base position if Bregman’s swelling prevents him from playing there consistently. The situation remains fluid, as Bregman himself described, requiring ongoing evaluation and adjustments from both the player and the team.
