Third baseman Isaac Paredes was absent from the Houston Astros lineup for the first time in nearly two months Wednesday for their series finale against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Paredes had started every game since June 14 for Houston. Manager Joe Espada said it was a scheduled day off for Paredes, giving him back-to-back rest days with a team off day Thursday. Paredes entered the day in a 4-for-36 funk over his last nine games.
“I think physically he’s fine,” Espada said. “I just see a little more of trying to do a little bit too much at the plate. He’s gotten some big at-bats, he’s gotten some big hits for us, big hit-by-pitches, some big walks. Just a little mental break for him I think will benefit him today and tomorrow.”
Paredes ranked third among Astros position players in bWAR entering Wednesday and was tied for third in OPS-plus among their active hitters. He has regularly batted behind Yordan Alvarez since late June, an important spot given opponents’ tendency to pitch around Alvarez — the majors’ leader in OPS — and the traffic created by leadoff man Jeremy Peña and Alvarez.
No Houston hitter has taken more plate appearances with runners in scoring position than Paredes this season. Only Christian Walker has logged as many with runners on base.
“I don’t think Paredes sees it as pressure,” Espada said. “I think he is meant to hit in those spots, just his personality and how calm and collected he is. … I just see that he just kind of needs a little mental break. He’s been playing a lot.”
Jose Altuve moved up the lineup to bat third behind Alvarez for the finale against the Blue Jays. Altuve entered the day with multiple hits in five of his last seven games, a stretch in which he was 11-for-28, a .393 average.