SAN DIEGO — Few managers are more aggressive than Joe Espada. His Houston Astros have already taken 100 pinch hit plate appearances and have 310 instances of a reliever throwing more than one inning. Only three bullpens have done it more.Espada prioritizes platoon matchups and makes use of each person on a 26-man roster that, after an underwhelming trade deadline, still requires reinforcements.On Friday, Espada deployed the Astros’ one deadline acquisition out of position. Daulton Varsho “is still our center fielder,” Espada maintained, but he started in left field at Petco Park due to Jake Meyers’ inexperience at any position other than center field.Prioritizing Meyers’ comfort over that of Varsho — for whom Houston traded right-hander Spencer Arrighetti and his three years of team control — is a curious move, but starting Meyers is not. The San Diego Padres started left-hander Robbie Ray, and Espada wanted to stack his lineup with as many right-handed hitters as possible.That Meyers is Houston’s best right-handed option is an indictment of its nonexistent outfield depth, a problem that has persisted since the preseason and has not been addressed.
Now, the Astros are trying again.Houston is in active conversations about acquiring a right-handed outfield bat, according to multiple sources speaking on the condition of anonymity for their candor to discuss internal matters.Two names of particular interest, according to sources, are Rob Refsnyder and Austin Hays, who were designated for assignment this week to clear spots for players acquired at the trade deadline. Jorge Soler, whom the Los Angeles Angels released amid their fire sale, seems another logical fit.The Astros’ rationale for seeking a right-handed bat is twofold: improving their bench options late in games and giving their coaching staff freedom to form a platoon in left field with either Taylor Trammell or LaMonte Wade Jr., who hit left-handed.Refsnyder has long been renowned for his success against left-handed pitching, so much so that this winter the Seattle Mariners signed him to a one-year, $6.25 million contract to serve as a platoon player. Last season with the Boston Red Sox, Refsnyder had a .959 OPS in 138 plate appearances against southpaws. Hays has a career .816 OPS against lefties.The Astros, meanwhile, have received 238 plate appearances this season from right-handed hitting outfielders against left-handed pitching. They have produced a .192 batting average and .633 OPS.Houston has exhausted its list of internal outfield options, though Brice Matthews should afford some help when he is activated off the injured list. Still, Matthews has a 31.4 percent strikeout rate and profiles more as a pure defensive replacement than someone who should take a pinch hit plate appearance or be part of a platoon.Prospect Lucas Spence is back in Triple-A Sugar Land after going 6-for-37 in his first taste of major-league life. Zach Dezenzo, who was demoted after Wednesday’s game, has 31 strikeouts in 75 major-league at-bats this season.Meyers took Dezenzo’s spot on the Astros’ active roster. He started on Opening Day in center field but endured such profound struggles that Houston optioned him to Triple-A Sugar Land in July. In his first 83 plate appearances there, Meyers posted a .676 OPS.That the Astros had no other choice but to call him up accentuates a situation they are trying to address.
