2B Jose Altuve, who had been arguably the top hitter on the Astros this year, moved into the heart of the order for the first time in his career, hitting in the No. 3 spot Friday. Brad Mills liked the fit of PNC Park, home of large gaps and lots of room to drop singles, for Altuve’s contact style. He said Altuve could remain there through the weekend but wanted to wait on deciding for sure.
LF J.D. Martinez was out of the starting lineup a second consecutive game as he tries to work out of a 1-for-32 slump through nights off and some early work in the afternoons. Martinez was part of a large group of Astros taking early batting practice Friday with the team having scored seven runs in four games coming in to Pittsburgh. Manager Brad Mills said he will return Martinez to the lineup soon.
RHP Brett Myers improved to 9-for-9 in save chances with a perfect ninth Friday, and the bullpen collectively lowered its ERA to 2.70. “There’s a lot of good arms down there,” manager Brad Mills said. “A lot of good guys, a lot of good pitchers and they’re working well together. There’s a lot of confidence from everybody that they’re doing a great job.”
OF Justin Maxwell became the first Astros player since RHP Roy Oswalt to wear No. 44, as he switched to his old minor league number, which he asked for and received from bullpen coach Craig Bjornson. By previous rather loose standards set by the club, Oswalt would seem a natural to have his number retired, and this move does not preclude that, though the existence of a new Walk of Fame may temper the number of retired jerseys.
CF Jordan Schafer provides one of the few significant base-stealing threats on the roster.
RHP Bud Norris pitched his best outing of the season Friday, using his second straight sixth-inning escape to do it. This time it was a bases-loaded no-out jam that he maneuvered around to get out with six scoreless innings after he’d had trouble as the game got later in a few April starts. “You have to learn from the bad ones and remember the good ones and try to be out there and have confidence in yourself,” Norris said.
