HOUSTON — Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman is unlikely to play in this weekend’s series against the Chicago White Sox with what he described as swelling in his right elbow.
Bregman underwent an MRI that he said showed “no damage of any ligaments or anything like that.” Manager Joe Espada said Bregman told the team of his elbow problems after Wednesday’s 2-1, extra-inning win against the Tampa Bay Rays.
“It’s just something I’m going to have to take a few days for,” Bregman said. “Obviously, it’s pretty unfortunate because I’m swinging the bat well right now.”
Bregman said he slept on his arm awkwardly “a few days ago” and “just kind of played through it.” After the 2018 season, Bregman underwent arthroscopic surgery to remove bone chips in the same elbow.
That the Astros did not place Bregman on the injured list Friday further suggests it will be a short-term injury. Bregman said he “hasn’t really felt it that much during baseball activity, more so elsewhere.”
“It’s not that I couldn’t play through it anymore, it’s just that I need to nip it in the bud,” he said.
Bregman, a pending free agent playing in his platform year, has authored a total turnaround after an abysmal first two months.
Since May 13, Bregman has raised his OPS from .534 to .764, a 79-game stretch in which he’s slashing .288/.340/.526 across 350 plate appearances.
According to FanGraphs, Bregman has been worth 3.4 wins above replacement during that streak. Among third basemen, only José Ramírez and Matt Chapman have been more valuable.