Astros News: Alex Bregman could join team on upcoming trip

Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman could rejoin the team soon.

We still don’t have a firm date on when Alex Bregman will rejoin the Houston Astros lineup, but we do have something of a general idea. Manager Dusty Baker said the MVP runner-up is progressing well in his return from a hamstring injury and could travel with the team on the upcoming road trip.

Following the current three-game series against the Rangers at Minute Maid Park, the team will hit the road for what currently is scheduled to be a 10-game road trip to play the Angels, A’s and Dodgers. There’s a good chance an extra game will be added to make up for Sunday’s postponed game against the A’s.

That doesn’t mean Bregman will be activated immediately, and in fact he likely won’t be. Baker alluded to the earlier situation with Michael Brantley when he was added to the team’s taxi squad for a road trip while still on the Injured List. Brantley was activated in the latter part of that trip in San Diego.

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Bregman is currently training in Houston and is no longer at the alternate site in Corpus Christi, so if he’s close to returning, it makes sense to let him travel with the team. I wouldn’t expect to see him in the series against the Angels, but he could possibly return next week against the A’s or Dodgers assuming he has no setbacks.

The Astros will be thrilled to have one of their most important hitters back in the lineup. Bregman is hitting .272/.374/.500 on the season with nine doubles and four homers. Abraham Toro and Aledmys Diaz will continue holding down the fort until he’s back, but a healthy Bregman makes the Houston lineup that much more dangerous.

Activating him sometime next week would also give Bregman a couple of weeks to get readjusted before the playoffs start. The Astros are all but guaranteed a spot at this point, so the focus has to be on making sure everyone is healthy and in sync when postseason play begins. Hopefully this timetable gives Bregman the right amount of time to get ready.