Chas McCormick DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

The Houston Astros placed outfielder Chas McCormick (oblique) on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to May 30) on Saturday with a left-oblique strain and recalled infield prospect Shay Whitcomb from Triple-A Sugar Land in a corresponding move. Oblique injuries can be tricky to recover from, so there's a good chance McCormick isn't ready to go when he's eligible to come off the IL. The 30-year-old veteran has hit .256 (11-for-43) in limited playing time as a bench option for the Astros this year with no homers and only two RBI. Whitcomb, the team's No. 15 prospect per MLB Pipeline, will return to the big leagues after going 9-for-41 (.220) with three doubles and five RBI in his first 20 MLB games in 2024. The former fifth-rounder in 2020 out of UC San Diego has swung the bat very well at Sugar Land, clubbing 18 homers, including five in his last three games. He could be worth a deep-league pickup if he plays regularly in Houston.

Houston Astros outfielder Chas McCormick (hand) was activated from the 10-day injured list on Tuesday and has been added to the team's roster for the wild-card series this week at Minute Maid Park against the Detroit Tigers. McCormick is not in the starting lineup for Game 1 on Tuesday, but he is back with the team to provide outfield depth after suffering a fractured right hand in the middle of September. The 29-year-old will most likely see at-bats versus left-handed pitching, although he's not starting against lefty Tarik Skubal, who won the American League pitching Triple Crown this year. McCormick had his best year in the big leagues last year but failed to replicate that success in 2024, as he finished the regular season hitting .211 (51-for-242) with a career-low five home runs, 27 RBI and eight stolen bases in a career-low 94 games. In just seven September games, he went 9-for-23 (.391) with a double and three RBI for the 'Stros.

Houston Astros outfielder Chas McCormick (hand) will not accompany the team to Cleveland for their series this weekend against the Guardians to close out the regular season, according to manager Joe Espada. McCormick will stay in Houston to work with the team's doctors and training staff. He will take live at-bats and will hope to be included on the team's roster for the first round of the playoffs, which begins next week. The 29-year-old outfielder has been sidelined since the middle of September, when he fractured his right hand. He had been hot at the plate before his injury, but overall this year, McCormick has struggled to a .211/.271/.306 slash line with only five homers, 27 RBI and eight stolen bases in 242 at-bats. With Yordan Alvarez (knee) nursing a right-knee sprain, Jason Heyward is benefitting from regular playing time to close out the season in Houston's outfield.