Jake Cronenworth, Victor Caratini Get Night Off Wednesday
Jake Cronenworth and catcher Victor Caratini are both getting the night off on Wednesday. Caratini had played in eight of the team's last 10 games, while Wednesday marks just the second time this year Cronenworth is out of the lineup. Through 25 games this season, Cronenworth is hitting .253 with a .697 OPS, while Caratini is hitting .236 with a .645 OPS in 20 games. Luis Campusano will get the start behind the plate and bat seventh, while Ha-Seong Kim will play at second base and hit eighth.
Source: MLB.com
San Diego Padres second baseman Source: MLB.com
Victor Caratini Starts Running And Throwing
Victor Caratini (hip) started running and throwing while rehabbing in Houston, manager Joe Espada said on Sunday. Caratini is set to join the team during its series in Minnesota on July 5-7, when he'll continue his rehab, a step that could include batting practice on the field. The veteran backstop suffered a left-hip flexor strain sliding into home plate on June 20 in Chicago and was facing around a four-week recovery period. That timetable puts his return around the All-Star break, but likely after. The 30-year-old was slashing .248/.287/.429 with four home runs and 17 RBI in 115 plate appearances this year before getting hurt. As long as starting catcher Yainer Diaz remains healthy for the Astros, Caratini will be an afterthought in most fantasy leagues.
Source: MLB.com
Houston Astros catcher Source: MLB.com
Victor Caratini Could Land On Injured List
Victor Caratini (quadriceps) is getting his left-quadriceps injury looked at by team doctors on Thursday. Manager Joe Espada said Caratini was "pretty sore" on Thursday morning and termed it a potential injured-list situation, but the Astros will wait on the test results before making a decision on their backup catcher. Caratini was pulled from Wednesday's contest against the Chicago White Sox early with the injury and could have to miss the next 10 days. If Caratini is forced to miss additional time with his quad injury, Cesar Salazar and Cooper Hummel would be in line to serve in backup duties to Yainer Diaz. Caratini is not much of a fantasy option, even in two-catcher leagues, with limited playing time and a .248/.287/.429 slash line with four homers in 105 at-bats this year.
Source: Houston Chronicle - Matt Kawahara
Houston Astros catcher Source: Houston Chronicle - Matt Kawahara
Victor Caratini Hits Pinch-Hit, Walk-Off Homer Tuesday
Victor Caratini played the hero in Tuesday's 9-8 extra-innings win over the Guardians. Caratini came into the game to pinch-hit in the bottom of the 10th inning with the game tied, two outs, and a runner on third. He lined a fastball just over the right-center wall to end the game. The 30-year-old has hit well in limited playing time, slashing .314/.368/.571 with two HR and eight RBI in 38 plate appearances. He will likely need to get more frequent at-bats before he can provide meaningful fantasy value in deeper two-catcher leagues.
Source: MLB.com
Houston Astros catcher Source: MLB.com
Astros Reportedly Sign Victor Caratini To Two-Year Deal
Victor Caratini to a two-year, $12 million deal Tuesday, per MLB's Theo DeRosa. The team has not confirmed the deal. The Astros needed a backup catcher to Yainer Diaz with Martin Maldonado also a free agent and will seemingly turn to the 30-year-old Caratini. Caratini served as the backup catcher for the Brewers in 2023, slashing .259/.327/.383 with seven home runs and 25 RBI in 226 plate appearances. While the lineup change will benefit Caratini, it likely will not be enough to make him fantasy-relevant except perhaps in the deepest of two-catcher leagues.
Source: Theo DeRosa - MLB.com
The Houston Astros reportedly signed free-agent catcher Source: Theo DeRosa - MLB.com
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