

HOUSTON — Houston Astros center fielder Jake Meyers, who missed games on Monday and Tuesday with a right calf ailment, re-injured his right leg before a pitch was thrown on Wednesday.
Shortly after he ran out to center field for the top of the first inning, Meyers required attention from Astros assistant athletic trainer Eric Velazquez and manager Joe Espada.
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Meyers exited the field in obvious distress, putting an arm around Velazquez for support as the duo walked toward a loading dock in right field. Players who sustain injuries during games are often brought into the clubhouse.
Meyers exited the game with what the Astros described as right calf tightness. Following Houston’s 4-2 loss against the Guardians, Espada said the club would get more tests done during the team’s off day on Thursday.
In a brief interview before he left the clubhouse, Meyers said “I felt good going into the game and (it) just tightened up going out to my position.”
Meyers missed the Astros’ first two games against the Guardians, but did work with the strength and conditioning staff before both games. On Tuesday, Espada said Meyers felt “better” but still had some tightness when he changed directions while running.
Before Wednesday’s game, Meyers worked out in right field under the eye of Espada, head athletic trainer Jeremiah Randall and strength coach Hazael Wessin. Following Meyers’ running, the four men huddled for a conversation, which ostensibly gave Espada enough comfort to pencil him into the starting lineup.
Losing Meyers for any length of time would stagger an already injury-ravaged Astros lineup. Designated hitter Yordan Alvarez hasn’t played since May 2 with a right-hand fracture, while shortstop Jeremy Peña remains sidelined with a left-rib fracture he sustained in late June.
Known primarily for his prolific defense, Meyers is amid a breakout offensive season that has helped Houston’s lineup compensate for underperformance by Christian Walker and Yainer Diaz.
Meyers entered Wednesday slashing .308/.369/.405 and, according to Baseball-Reference, worth 2.6 WAR. Among Astros, only Peña boasted a higher batting average and on-base percentage.
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Meyers has raised his batting average by 89 points since last season. None of the sport’s 173 qualified hitters has a better improvement. Only Maikel Garcia and Will Smith have increased their on-base percentage more than the .083 jump Meyers made between last year and this one.
If Meyers must miss prolonged time, attention will turn to another injured outfielder. Chas McCormick, on the injured list since May 30 with a left-oblique strain, played in his third minor-league rehab game on Wednesday and perhaps could be activated on Friday. The Astros are off on Thursday and, presumably, McCormick will play another game that night.
Walker is also expected back from paternity leave on Friday, offering some support to a lineup that can ill afford any more attrition.
(Photo: Alex Slitz / Getty Images)
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