Astros' Victor Caratini: Homers in extra-inning loss
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Caratini went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Thursday's 6-4 extra-inning loss to the Athletics.
Caratini delivered a game-tying blast off Mason Miller in the eighth inning. This was Caratini's second straight contest with a homer, and he's hit safely in his last three games. The catcher is at a .261/.327/.405 slash line with five long balls, 17 RBI, 17 runs scored and seven doubles over 171 plate appearances. In addition to his catching duties, he's picked up starts at first base and designated hitter as manager Joe Espada continues to find room for him in the lineup. That playing time should remain steady as long as Houston's outfield is thinned out by injuries, limiting the options for players available to take turns at DH.
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Astros' Victor Caratini: Caps huge inning with homer
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Caratini went 3-for-4 with a three-run home run and an additional run scored Wednesday in an 11-4 victory versus the Athletics.
The Astros put together a seven-run sixth inning, and Caratini's three-run blast to left field accounted for the team's final runs in that explosive frame. The veteran backstop began June in a 3-for-35 tailspin through 10 games, but he appears to be turning things around, going 5-for-8 over his past two contests. While Caratini continues to serve as Yainer Diaz's backup behind the plate, he's been in the lineup frequently with additional starts at both DH and first base, and he's put up a decent .718 OPS with four homers, 14 RBI and 16 runs through 167 plate appearances.
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Astros' Victor Caratini: Idle Friday
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Caratini is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Twins, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Caratini will get the night off Friday after making three consecutive starts -- two at DH and one at catcher. In his absence, Yainer Diaz will catch and Jose Altuve will DH.
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Astros' Victor Caratini: Racks up three hits Thursday
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Caratini went 3-for-4 with one RBI in Thursday's 9-2 win over the Mariners.
Caratini has logged multiple hits in four of his last seven games, though he has just two RBI in that span. The catcher is up to a .287/.367/.448 slash line with three home runs, six RBI, 12 runs scored and five doubles across 98 plate appearances this season. His strong hitting has earned him a near-everyday role in the absence of Yordan Alvarez (hand). While Alvarez's eventual return will negatively impact Caratini's playing time, he could still hit his way into some extra games since fellow catcher Yainer Diaz is batting just .231 this season.
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Astros' Victor Caratini: Taking seat Wednesday
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Caratini is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rays.
Caratini was behind the dish for the first two games of the series, but he'll get a breather for the Wednesday afternoon contest while Yainer Diaz handles the catching duties. Until Yordan Alvarez (hand) returns from the injured list, the Astros should have regular spots in the lineup available for both Diaz and Caratini at either catcher or designated hitter. Caratini had started in nine of the Astros' previous 11 games.
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Astros' Victor Caratini: Benefiting from Alvarez's absence
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Caratini will start at catcher and bat sixth in Wednesday's game against the Royals.
Caratini has been a beneficiary of Yordan Alvarez's (hand) recent move to the injured list, which has freed up a regular spot in the lineup at designated hitter. The Astros haven't settled on any one player to replace Alvarez, but because top backstop Yainer Diaz has been included in the DH rotation, Caratini has seen his playing time pick up. Caratini will be making his fourth start in five games Wednesday.
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Astros' Victor Caratini: Launches two-run homer
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Caratini went 3-for-5 with a two-run home run in Saturday's 13-9 loss to the Reds.
Caratini finished off the Astros' six-run third inning with a two-run homer off Brady Singer. It was Caratini's second home run of the season, both of which have come over his last five starts. He is slashing .255/.356/.431 with nine runs scored, two home runs and four RBI this season.
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Astros' Victor Caratini: Getting fourth start of season
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Caratini will start at catcher and bat sixth in Wednesday's game against the Mariners.
Caratini will receive his fourth start through the Astros' first 12 games of the season while Yainer Diaz gets the afternoon off. Diaz has mustered a lowly .200 OPS through 36 plate appearances, but after batting .299 with 16 home runs in 148 games in 2024, he likely has a long leash as the Astros' No. 1 backstop.
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Astros' Victor Caratini: Sitting Sunday
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Caratini is absent from Sunday's lineup against Cleveland.
Cesar Salazar will start behind home plate and bat ninth in the Astros' regular-season finale while Yainer Diaz is the DH. Since Sept. 1, Caratini has slashed .261/.329/.377 with two home runs and eight RBI across 76 plate appearances.
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Astros' Victor Caratini: Drives in three runs Saturday
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Caratini went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run, an additional run and a walk against the Angels in Saturday's 10-4 victory.
Caratini blew the game open for Houston in the third inning, belting a three-run shot off Angels starter Reid Detmers to increase the Astros' lead to 6-1. It was the third straight start for Caratini, who played first base Saturday after serving as Houston's catcher Thursday and Friday. Caratini is batting .289 (13-for-45) with five RBI through 15 games in September.
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Astros' Victor Caratini: On bench for second straight
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Caratini is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Reds.
Caratini had seen an uptick in playing time lately while the Astros continue to rotate a number of different players at first base, but he'll hit the bench for a second straight matchup against a right-handed pitcher. The lefty-hitting Jon Singleton has started at first base in both of those games and looks to be the Astros' preferred option for now, though he doesn't have much job security.
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Astros' Victor Caratini: Getting day off
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Caratini is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Royals.
Caratini picked up starts at first base and catcher Friday and Saturday, respectively, but he'll hit the bench for the finale. Yainer Diaz will work behind the plate Sunday, while Jon Singleton gets the nod at first base. The Astros are likely to rotate Caratini, Singleton and Zach Dezenzo at first base until somebody performs well enough to take control of the job.
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Astros' Victor Caratini: Resting Friday
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Caratini is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Orioles.
After making back-to-back starts behind the dish, Caratini will get the night off Friday. With Yainer Diaz seeing more work at first base, Caratini should see plenty of action behind the plate in the closing weeks of the regular season.
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Astros' Victor Caratini: On bench for second straight game
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Caratini is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rays.
Caratini's playing time had been trending up while the Astros had shown more of a willingness to play Yordan Alvarez in left field of late, but the former now finds himself on the bench for the second day in a row. Assuming Alvarez gets the bulk of his starts at DH moving forward, Yainer Diaz will continue to serve as the Astros' top backstop, which closes off Caratini's path to steady starts.
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Astros' Victor Caratini: Swats solo home run
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Caratini went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 8-2 loss to the Athletics.
Caratini put the Astros on the board in the third with a solo home run to right field off Osvaldo Bido. The long ball was his first hit since being activated off the injured list Monday after being out for just over a month with a strained left hip. The 30-year-old is slashing .257/.294/.459 with five homers, 18 RBI, 14 runs and a 5:16 BB:K in 119 plate appearances.
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Astros' Victor Caratini: Rehab moved to Double-A
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Caratini (hip) will continue his minor-league rehab assignment at Double-A Corpus Christi on Friday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Caratini went 2-for-5 in two games with the Astros' Florida Complex League affiliate. The catcher has been on the shelf since June 21 and was initially given a three-to-four week timetable for his return. Caratini is on track to rejoin the Astros before the end of July.
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Astros' Victor Caratini: Starting rehab assignment
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The Astros sent Caratini (hip) to the rookie-level Florida Complex League on Tuesday to begin a rehab assignment.
Caratini has been shelved since late June with a left hip flexor strain but has been cleared for rehab games. The veteran catcher shouldn't need an extended rehab assignment before being activated from the 10-day injured list, with a return early on in the second half a likely outcome.
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Astros' Victor Caratini: Running and throwing
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Caratini (hip) has resumed running and throwing while rehabbing in Houston, MLB.com reports.
This is the first report of Cartini resuming baseball activity since he landed on the injured list June 21. He's expected to join the Astros for their weekend series against Minnesota, and it's anticipated he'll participate in batting practice at that time. Though this is positive news, Cartini is still expected to be sidelined through the All-Star break.
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Astros' Victor Caratini: Out up to four weeks
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Astros general manager Dana Brown said Sunday that Caratini (hip) could be out for 3-to-4 weeks, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Caratini landed on the 10-day injured list Friday after sustaining a left hip flexor strain Wednesday against the White Sox. A four-week timeline would put Caratini's return after the All-Star break. Prior to hitting the shelf, the 30-year-old catcher was slashing .248/.287/.429 with four home runs and 17 RBI over 115 plate appearances.
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Astros' Victor Caratini: Headed to IL
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Caratini (left hip flexor strain) was placed on the 10-day injured list Friday, retroactive to Thursday.
Caratini was lifted from Wednesday's game against the White Sox with soreness in his left quad, but imaging revealed he's in fact dealing with a left hip flexor strain. Cesar Salazar should see some catching work behind Yainer Diaz while Caratini is sidelined.
