Chris Carter, Jonathan Villar Out of Astros Lineup Again

As far as I know, the hand contusion that forced Houston shortstop Jonathan Villar out of the lineup a week ago yesterday is no longer an issue. However, in the past week since that minor injury, Villar is 0/17. Even still, the AB’s are his to own and not for backup Marwin Gonzalez to take. For now we’ll chalk this one up to extra rest and getting his mind right. Tuesday marks his third consecutive missed game, passing a previous season high of two missed games, which happened… last night.

Also missing his third straight game without an injury to note is Designated Hitter Chris Carter. Like Villar, his third day out of the lineup is a season high for the power hitting Carter, his second straight coming last night — just like Villar.

The Astros have won three games in a row, but that isn’t really due to a lineup switch at short or DH, it’s due to some quality pitching and George Springer belting home runs. In game one of the current winning streak, Carter was 2/5 and Villar — despite going hitless in three AB — had his most productive game since coming back from the one game injury absence, scoring two runs and driving in a run.

Villar is hitting just .207 on the year, but has a more than respectable 5 home runs and 11 stolen bases. Carter is struggling at .192 but has 17 RBI and June (.253) has been the best month of his career and is…*checks*…five days away!

Yesterday’s shakeup was Jason Castro occupying the DH spot, today Dexter Fowler is the DH, Alex Presley starts in center and Robbie Grossman mans left field.

In very loosely related news, I DH’d a fatigued Fowler last night in MLB The Show and he fractured his hand sliding into home. *WOOD KNOCKING*

But fear not, Springer is in right field batting second.