SEPTEMBER 3, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM
YAINER DIAZ #21 - CATCHER - HOUSTON ASTROS
16 HR •
84 RBI •
.299 AVG
16 HR
84 RBI
.299 AVG
Yainer Diaz joined elite company. Can he finally crack Astros' everyday lineup? In Saturday's 5-4 loss to the Yankees, Diaz became the seventh Astros rookie to hit 20 home runs in their first full season.
Takes seat in series finale Diaz is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Red Sox.
Impact Diaz will head to the bench after starting in the first two games of the series in Boston and going 1-for-8 with two walks, two runs and an RBI. He'll have a more crowded path to playing time moving forward after the Astros activated Michael Brantley from the 60-day injured list Tuesday, but manager Dusty Baker will likely look to find ways to keep Diaz's bat in the lineup so long as the rookie remains productive. Diaz has compiled a .917 OPS over 36 games since the All-Star break.
AUGUST 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Swats pinch-hit home run Diaz went 2-for-2 with a two-run homer in Sunday's 17-4 win over the Tigers.
Impact Diaz entered the game as a pinch hitter for Martin Maldonado in the eighth inning and had the luxury of facing backup catcher Carson Kelly with the Astros already up 12-0. It was his sixth home run this month and his 19th of the year, which set an Astros record for most home runs in a season for a catcher. Despite the breakout rookie season, Diaz is still in a time share behind the dish with veteran Martin Maldonado but has been extremely productive even with the limited playing time. The 24-year-old is now slashing .284/.304/.537 with 48 RBI, 39 runs and an 8:55 BB:K in 313 plate appearances.
AUGUST 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Heads to bench Sunday Diaz is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Tigers.
Impact Though Diaz is on the bench for Sunday's series finale, expect the Astros to find a way for him to stick in the lineup on a near-everyday basis. He had started in each of the last nine games, slashing .316/.350/.553 with five extra-base hits. Even with Jose Abreu having recently returned from the injured list, the Astros can keep Diaz's bat in the lineup by deploying Yordan Alvarez in the corner outfield more often or giving top catcher Martin Maldonado more frequent days off.
AUGUST 27, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Still has regular job Diaz went 0-for-4 with a walk Saturday against the Tigers.
Impact Diaz didn't have a remarkable game, but his role in the Houston lineup appears secure. He's started all four games since Jose Abreu was activated from the injured list, playing twice at catcher and twice serving as the designated hitter. Diaz will need to be productive at the plate to keep his playing time, as his presence in the starting lineup will likely either push Jose Abreu to the bench or force Yordan Alvarez to play the outfield.
AUGUST 27, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Racks up three hits Diaz went 3-for-5 with one RBI in Wednesday's 7-5 extra-inning loss to the Red Sox.
Impact Diaz extended his hitting streak to seven games, a span in which he's gone 12-for-31 (.387) with three home runs and seven RBI. The 24-year-old has seen a bit more playing time this week with Yordan Alvarez (finger) battling an injury. Diaz is up to a .286/.302/.541 slash line with 18 home runs, 18 doubles, 46 RBI and 37 runs scored across 82 contests this season. He continues to provide cover at catcher, designated hitter and first base.
AUGUST 24, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Late add to Tuesday's lineup Diaz was a late addition to Tuesday's lineup against the Red Sox, starting at designated hitter and batting cleanup, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Impact Yordan Alavarez injured his left index finger in his door at home Tuesday, so he was a late scratch, with manager Dusty Baker expressing hope that he would be back in the mix Wednesday. Diaz has been playing pretty regularly at first base, designated hitter and catcher, and he is hitting .321 with five home runs in 16 games this month.
AUGUST 22, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Not starting Tuesday Diaz is not in the lineup Tuesday versus the Red Sox.
Impact After being in the starting lineup four straight games, Diaz will be on the bench. The 24-year-old went 7-for-18 with five extra-base hits during the four game stretch.
AUGUST 22, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Julio Rodríguez's historic stretch lands him atop Ben Verlander's team of the week
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Nabs third straight start Diaz will start at catcher and bat cleanup in Sunday's game against the Mariners.
Impact After going 4-for-8 with a solo home run and a pair of doubles in the first two games of the series while making starts at first base, Diaz will move behind the dish for Sunday's finale as top backstop Martin Maldonado gets a day off. Though Diaz is without a clear path to an everyday role at any one spot, expect the Astros to find ways to keep his hot bat in the lineup at first base, catcher or designated hitter. Since the All-Star break, Diaz ranks fourth among all Astros hitters with a .976 OPS.
AUGUST 20, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Pops 16th homer Diaz went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run Tuesday against the Marlins.
Impact Diaz drew the start behind the plate for the third time in Houston's last six games. He has earned that increase in playing time at the plate, as he's maintained a .299 batting average with six homers, 20 RBI and 12 runs scored across 77 at-bats since the All-Star break. Diaz has also gotten sporadic looks at designated hitter, even since the return of Yordan Alvarez.
AUGUST 16, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Homers in win Diaz went 1-for-5 with a three-run home run in Friday's win over the Yankees.
Impact After spending most of his recent games batting in the bottom third of the order, Diaz was moved up to fifth in the lineup and delivered early as his first inning shot off of struggling Yankees starter Luis Severino gave the Astros a lead they would not relinquish. The 24-year-old catcher is now up to 14 home runs on the season and has blasted four of those homers since the all-star break. He continues to split time behind the plate with Martin Maldonado, but his superior offensive production could continue to lead to more at-bats as the Astros battle to win the AL West.
AUGUST 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Yainer Diaz, Yordan Alvarez homer off Luis Severino to help Astros beat Yankees 7-3
Yainer Diaz hit a three-run homer in the first inning off a struggling Luis Severino, Yordan Alvarez homered in the fifth to knock out the right-hander and the Houston Astros beat...AUGUST 5, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
On bench Thursday Diaz is out of the lineup Thursday against the Yankees.
Impact Martin Maldonado will start at catcher and bat ninth as the Astros open a big four-game series at Yankee Stadium. Diaz should start at least two of the games, whether behind the plate or as the DH.
AUGUST 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
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Productive day at the plate Diaz went 2-for-5 with one double, a two-run home run, an additional RBI and an additional run scored in Saturday's victory over Tampa Bay.
Impact Diaz tagged starter Taj Bradley for a two-run shot in the second inning, marking the 24-year-old's 13th homer of the season and his third in the past six games. However, he didn't stop there, plating Chas McCormick on a fifth-inning double off Calvin Faucher. Over his last 16 games, Diaz is 15-54 (.278) with five home runs and 13 RBI.
JULY 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Lifts late homer Diaz went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's 13-5 loss to the Rangers.
Impact Diaz's blast came in the ninth inning with the Astros trailing by 10 runs, so it had little consequence on the game. The 24-year-old will need to continue making an impact with the bat, as the return of Yordan Alvarez (oblique) Wednesday likely means that Diaz's primary path to at-bats as the designated hitter has been cut off. He could still push for more time behind the dish -- Diaz is batting .263 with a .774 OPS through 61 contests, compared to Martin Maldonado's .170 average and .548 OPS over 76 games. Diaz has added 12 homers, 28 RBI, 25 runs scored and 13 doubles.
JULY 27, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Heads to bench in Alvarez's return Diaz is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rangers.
Impact Diaz had started each of the last three games -- with the last two coming as a designated hitter -- but he'll cede his spot in the lineup to Yordan Alvarez (oblique), who was reinstated from the 10-day injured list Wednesday. Unless the Astros are willing to pull the plug on the struggling Martin Maldonado as their primary catcher, Diaz will likely be limited to a part-time role moving forward after he had been a near-everyday player for Houston since the beginning of June.
JULY 26, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Smacks homer in win Diaz went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's 3-2 win over the Athletics.
Impact It was a needed two-hit effort for Diaz, who had sat out two straight games and is starting to lose playing time to Jake Meyers at designated hitter. The reduced playing time seems a bit undeserved -- Diaz is 13-for-53 (.245) with four multi-hit efforts, four homers and seven RBI through 15 contests in July. He's maintained a solid .266/.286/.492 slash line with 11 homers, 24 RBI, 24 runs scored and 12 doubles through 210 plate appearances overall. Diaz's path to a starting role will likely get tougher with Yordan Alvarez (oblique) likely to return Monday, which could make the DH spot even more competitive going forward. Chas McCormick, Corey Julks and Meyers may also be impacted by Alvarez's return.
JULY 23, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Sits again Saturday Diaz is out of the lineup Saturday against the Athletics.
Impact Diaz also sat out of Friday's game in Oakland, though there's no word of any injury. Martin Maldonado is catching for the Astros on Saturday and Corey Julks will take a turn as the designated hitter.
JULY 22, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Not in lineup Friday Diaz is not in the lineup for Friday's game at Oakland.
Impact Diaz started at catcher in Thursday's series opener versus the Athletics and went 0-for-3. Martin Maldonado is behind the plate Friday and David Hensley will take a turn as the Astros' designated hitter.
JULY 21, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Astros catcher Yainer Diaz powered his way to the majors, both mentally and physically Everyone agrees Astros' Yainer Diaz can hit. Now he's working on his defense with the same intensity that got him and his bat to the majors.
JULY 21, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM
Sitting Wednesday Diaz is not in the starting lineup versus the Rockies on Wednesday.
Impact Diaz will get a breather after he went 1-for-4 with an RBI double in Tuesday's 4-3 loss. Kyle Tucker will slot in at designated hitter while Jake Meyers enters the lineup in center field and bats eighth in the series finale with Colorado.
JULY 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Reaches base three times Diaz went 2-for-4 with a walk, an RBI and two runs scored Saturday against the Angels.
Impact Diaz was out of the lineup for Houston's first game after the All-Star break, but he returned to hit seventh and serve as the designated hitter Saturday. He entered the game in a short-term slump, having hit just .216 across his previous 10 contests and 37 at-bats. Diaz has shown some impressive power across 193 plate appearances this season by maintaining a .224 ISO. However, he boasts just a 2.6 percent walk rate, limiting him to a .285 on-base percentage. It remains to be seen whether that will be enough to keep him in the lineup regularly as the catcher once Yordan Alvarez (oblique) is able to return.
JULY 16, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
