Diaz (finger) isn't in the Astros' lineup Tuesday versus the Giants.
X-ray and MRI results on Diaz's right index finger came back negative before Tuesday's game, but the Astros will opt to hold him out of action rather than using him as their designated hitter. Victor Caratini, who figures to start regularly until Diaz is cleared to catch again, will get the nod behind the plate and bat ninth.
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Astros' Yainer Diaz: X-ray, MRI comes back negative
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The Astros are hopeful Diaz can avoid the injured list after an X-ray and MRI on his right index finger came back negative, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 in Houston reports.
Diaz is still dealing with swelling in the finger after it was hit by a foul tip during Sunday's game against the Angels. While a decision on a potential IL stint has not yet been made, it sounds like Diaz is trending toward avoiding it for now. The Astros are set to recall Cesar Salazar as insurance behind the plate, so it seems as though Diaz will be unavailable to catch for a few more days. He was available to pinch hit Monday, so it's possible Diaz will serve as a designated hitter until he's ready to catch.
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Astros' Yainer Diaz: Dealing with soreness
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Diaz isn't starting Monday's game against the Giants due to soreness and limited range of motion in his right index finger, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Diaz took a foul tip to his right hand during Sunday's game against the Angels, and he didn't feel healthy enough to start Monday's series opener. However, manager Joe Espada noted Diaz will be available to pinch hit if needed. Victor Caratini draws the start behind the dish and will bat ninth in Diaz's place.
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Astros' Yainer Diaz: Sitting Monday
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Diaz is not in the starting lineup for Monday's series opener against the Giants, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Diaz stayed in Sunday's game versus the Angels after being struck in the right hand by a foul tip, but with Cesar Salazar reportedly being recalled, it's possible the hand is still bothering the Astros' starting catcher. The team should have more on his status shortly. Victor Caratini will start behind the dish Monday and bat ninth against Giants southpaw Kyle Harrison.
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Astros' Yainer Diaz: Keeps slugging Friday
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Diaz went 3-for-5 with a home run and three RBI in Friday's 7-1 win over the Angels.
Diaz opened the scoring with an RBI single in the first inning and added a two-run homer in the seventh. He's gone yard in four straight contests, an impressive run of power after he went 39 games without a homer prior to this surge. The catcher is at a .258/.285/.416 slash line, seven long balls, 32 RBI, 22 runs scored and 10 doubles over 56 contests. With Kyle Tucker (lower leg) going on the injured list Friday, Yordan Alvarez has seen more time in the field, giving the Astros the option of moving Diaz to designated hitter rather than having him at catcher full-time in the short term.
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Astros' Yainer Diaz: Homers in third straight contest
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Diaz went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 4-2 loss to the Cardinals.
Diaz got Houston on the board in the bottom of the fifth inning, smacking a solo shot off Miles Mikolas the opposite way to cut the Astros deficit to 3-1. It's the third straight game with a home run for Diaz, who's up to six long balls on the season. The 25-year-old backstop is now slashing .250/.278/.397 with 29 RBI and 21 runs scored across 216 plate appearances this year.
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Astros' Yainer Diaz: Smacks fifth homer
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Diaz went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Tuesday's 8-5 win over the Cardinals.
Diaz's third-inning blast gave the Astros a 6-1 lead, which was ultimately enough for the win. The catcher sat out the first two games of June, and he's responded with homers in back-to-back contests after going 39 contests without a long ball. He's up to five homers, 28 RBI, 20 runs scored, 10 doubles and a .249/.277/.383 slash line through 213 plate appearances this season. With his bat coming around, Diaz should be able to maintain a starting role at catcher over Victor Caratini.
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Astros' Yainer Diaz: Sitting in second straight game
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Diaz is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Twins.
Diaz will give way to Victor Caratini behind the plate for the second day in a row while he's in the midst of a prolonged slump at the plate. Dating back to May 1, Diaz is slashing .200/.213/.259 over a stretch of 25 games. Given that he's valued mainly for his contributions at the plate rather than as a pitch framer and game caller, Diaz's lengthy dry spell with the bat looks to be costing him playing time. The Astros have already pulled back on using Diaz as a designated hitter on days he doesn't catch; he started seven games at DH between March and April, but he hasn't made a start as the DH since May 17.
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Astros' Yainer Diaz: Getting breather Saturday
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Diaz is not in the starting lineup Saturday versus the Twins.
Diaz will get a day off after he went 0-for-3 in Friday's 6-1 loss to Minnesota. Victor Caratini will handle the catching duties while batting ninth.
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Astros' Yainer Diaz: Not starting Thursday
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Diaz isn't in the Astros' lineup for Thursday's game against the Mariners, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Diaz has slashed just .207/.221/.268 since the beginning of May, and he'll now sit down for the final game of Houston's series in Seattle. Victor Caratini will take over behind the plate and bat seventh.
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Astros' Yainer Diaz: Absent from lineup
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Diaz is absent from the lineup for Monday's contest in Seattle.
Victor Caratini will do the catching for Framber Valdez. Diaz -- who had started the last three games and five of the last six -- has just a .501 OPS in May.
Diaz is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Angels.
He'll be getting a breather for the series finale after starting behind the dish Monday and Tuesday while going 3-for-8 with a pair of doubles, two runs and an RBI. Victor Caratini will handle the catching duties Wednesday.
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Astros' Yainer Diaz: Gets break Sunday
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Diaz is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against Milwaukee.
The 25-year-old will cede catching duties to Victor Caratini as the Astros finish out their series against the Brewers. Diaz has started four of the last five games for Houston, going 3-for-18 with three RBI in that stretch.
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Astros' Yainer Diaz: Starting to find some power
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Diaz went 1-for-4 with a double, three RBI and a run scored Thursday against the Athletics.
Diaz has hit well for average this season, but he has struggled to find much power as he has just a .119 ISO. He's started to show more pop of late, tallying three of his eight doubles on the campaign in his last nine games. Despite the lack of extra-base knocks, Diaz has managed 16 runs scored and 21 RBI across 42 games and comfortably remains Houston's top option behind the dish.
Diaz is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Guardians.
Diaz will rest after he had drawn starts in each of the past six games (four at catcher, two at designated hitter). Victor Caratini will replace Diaz behind the dish Wednesday.
