The Matt Thomas Show with Ross - Brian McTaggart Discusses Astros Injury Woes Amid Tough Stretch

Episode Date: May 7, 2026

Brian McTaggart Discusses Astros Injury Woes Amid Tough Stretch

we spend 10 quality minutes with our friend Brian McTaggart. Brian's videos are becoming way too popular. Apparently so I've got to put my face on these Twitter videos. Instagram, the man is all over the place. And I think, Brian, you're going to have to start watching more of batting practice because the last

two times the Astros took batting practice before night games. They sent two guys in the injured list. What's going on down on that plate at about 545, 6 o'clock? Yeah, that was crazy. I think Crayas was actually inside the hitting tunnel. You know, a lot of players now don't like to hit on the field, so Correa was hitting inside. So I wouldn't have seen that one anyway, because apparently he crumbled to the ground.

Diaz, I, yeah, did not see that one at all when he was swinging and had to stop. But it's unfathomable that two days in a row, they lose a guy in batting practice and one of their starters, position players, and a key player. It's just you think, just when you think they've had enough injuries and they can't get any more than that happens. And it's, it's, it, I, I'm speechless. I've never seen anything like this. That's the thing, Brian, is that we're being asked the same questions you are. Well, you change the medical staff out. You change out the physical strength and conditioning. You do all the subtle behind the scene things that we don't see. We have to assume they're all professionals of their job. They've got training to it. Do you want to just chalk this up to a second year of unbelievable,

terrible lack of luck, or do you think there's even another deep dive within the organization that has to be done because of the number of injuries that have happened to this team so far this year? Well, I mean, they changed head trainers. They trained, changed their head strength and conditioning coach. They've brought in other other people to the medical staff. I mean, they've made a lot of changes to their medical staff and it's still happening. So I mean, I lean on the side of this is just a crazy coincidence. I mean, I don't think there's, I can't imagine there's anything going on with the Astros that is getting all these guys injured. I mean, you know, Krea looks like he just rolled his ankle, I guess, taking a swing.

I mean, you know, whose fault is that? It's nobody's just, you know, it's just unfortunate luck. And, you know, D.S. swings the bat and feels an oblique. I mean, Diaz is in good shape. As far as I know, he does all their workouts and their plans. And I guess, I guess there's no firm answer. But, you know, two years in a row, they've had more injuries than anybody. I know it's frustrating and everyone wants answers,

and the answer might be, it's just the way it is. There is no answer. All right. Speaking of injuries, McCuller's nail, what do we know about what happened yesterday? His ability to stay out there was good. Unfortunately, he was just throwing stuff that was easily hitable as the Dodgers took two out of three.

But what do we know about Lance right now in the nail and whether or not it will impact the way he makes his next appearance? Well, I mean, apparently, you know, he's leading off the third inning against Freeland, the nine-hole hitter in the third inning, the part of his nail tore off on his pointer finger nail on his right hand. They came out there and looked at it. He said, I don't have my curveball anymore, but let me try to finish this inning. I can make quality pitches. They said, okay, just because they really can't afford their starter to go two innings. And then he couldn't get out of the third inning because he said he was a pitch down. So he was asked directly if it's

going to impact his next start. He said, we'll see. So, It would not shock me considering the struggles that Lance has had if they put him on the injured list. The problem is, who do you replace him with? I mean, they bring up Jason Alexander and, you know, he gets knocked around. They're just at the end of their starting pitching debt. They just don't have anybody anymore. So just because of all these injuries.

So, and, you know, EMI is going to come back and start against Seattle just because kind of what I did yesterday. look, I mean, this guy is not injured. He's throwing 97. He's making a ton of money. You either get guys out in the big leagues or you don't. So sink or swim time. And so that's where they're at with him.

So it's just nothing about this feels really good if you're the Astros, but it's just where they're at. Brian McTaggart with us here on Sports Talk 790. And that's what I was going to come to you with come to you next, Brian McTaggart. Is Tatsui I, how were you surprised? my, how were you surprised at all that they kind of made that decision to just throw him in there? Or is it, like you said, it's just a necessity and you've got to go out there and get some outs and earn this contract? Yeah, I wasn't surprised.

I mean, you know, what more can you do? Let's give him another Meyer League start. And, you know, he walks four guys and, okay, now what? You know, they sign him here to get major league hitters out. And that's what he's going to have to figure out a way to do. His first two winnings, it's sure. Greenland. I mean, I was not there. I was watching the Astros play at Dyken, but apparently his first two innings weren't bad, and then the rails sort of came off. But he mentioned

something about the pitch clock. And I mean, we've heard everything now. We've heard pitch clock, the mound, the balls, eating schedule, you know, you name it. At some point, you're just going to have to go out there and man up and get guys out. And that's the point of the season we're at. And they're in a really tough part of their schedule right here. I mean, they just finished playing to Dodgers. You know, Cincinnati was playing well. You know, they were in first a few days ago. Now they're in last, but they're still over 500.

You know, the Mariners just took a series from the Braves, so they're sort of on the come. So there's really no soft landing spot at this point. You're just going to have to go out there and get major league hitters out. That's what we're paying you to do. So it's time to go do that. If it keeps trending in this way, how much grace do either of Joe Espada or Dana Brown get in terms of the injuries and the situation they are.

on like how thin of ice do you feel like both of those guys are on? Yeah, that's tough because I, depending any of this on Joe Espada, I don't think is fair. I mean, you take away the amount of players. We're talking five starting position players, three members of your

starting rotation who are in the rotation to start the season and your All-Star Closer. You take them away and there's not a manager around. This is going to have this team in first place or, you know, play much better than they are now. That's just the way it is. So, but I get it.

It's some, you know, people want answers. People want accountability. Jim Crane has never made a move with a manager or a general manager in the middle of the season. So I, that, that, I think we're too early for that stuff. I think at the All-Star break, maybe there, maybe that's the time that the crane will, you know, sit down and evaluate things. I have not asked him about this.

I've not had the chance to talk to them about, you know, what do you think of the state of the team right now and where they're at? So it's really hard to say it's all speculation. But my gut just tells me I don't think we're to that point. And I think it would be really, really unfair for Joe, just with all the injuries that they've had. It's just he's running guys out there who, you know, should be in the minor leagues. And there's, you know, that's not an indictment on him. That's just the roster that he's been given.

And specifically on Dana Brown, Matt and I were talking about this in the last segment. If, I mean, what do you think the prospects of him in terms of, of also the draft that you have coming up in terms of, could you just tell us how that goes? How involved is Dana Brown? Is he making the picks? Is it like director of scouting? And is the board built? Like what would that entail if it weren't Dana Brown running the draft?

Well, you know, Dana was brought here because of his draft record. One of the reasons, I mean, he's a scout at heart. He had some really good drafts with the Braves. And so I would, the draft is what in July. So I would find it hard to believe they would make a move. I mean, Dana's very, very involved in the draft. I mean, they brought in Derek Ladeneer, who's, you know, one of the top evaluators a couple of years ago.

And he's very involved as well. So, you know, there's a lot of voices that are involved in their draft selection process. But Dana's up there as well. Now, if they did make a move, a general manager, would they still, would they still have capable guys who can make draft picks? Yeah, I mean, they have a lot of pretty good talent evaluators that Dana brought in. I mean, these are Dana's guys. So, you know, do you remove that?

If you remove Dana, then, you know, do other guys stay? I mean, these are all questions. I just don't have an answer to. So it's sort of uncharted waters at this point. It certainly is uncharted waters. But let's put this in perspective here. You have been hanging around the American League West, despite the fact that your team is under 500.

the division isn't good. But how important are these, look, every game is important, but the next seven at home after you go to this trip to Cincinnati will be against all division teams, that feels like to me next week is a very important week for figuring out whether you are just hanging around and thankfully you're hanging around or there will be some separation between the top

and the bottom teams in the American League West. Yeah, I agree. I mean, you look at the standings here, like, you know, they're not even, you know, it's a quarter mark of the season yet, you know, they're still sort of in a spot to where if they could get it together, they could make a little bit of a move here. But you're right.

I mean, this is a big homestand coming up. They had a three-and-three road trip to Baltimore and Boston. I mean, you take a 500 road trip. You know, you lose two or three to the Dodgers who are, you know, the best team in the world. So now you've got to start stacking some series wins again. You're going to slowly start to get some guys back off the IL here. Pena is really close. I think we'll see him.

Nick's homestand, you know, haters a couple of weeks. weeks away, you know, my is coming back, what he's going to give you. You know, I'm not sure that they've got the Senzo back. So they, you know, a little bit more of a capable player than they had at that spot, you know, a week ago. So, but at some point, you're going to have to win two out of every three win series. But if they had, if they have a poor home stand against the Mariners and the Rangers and really get buried in the standings, and it starts to look like it's just not going to happen. Then, you know, even then, you know, maybe Crane, you know, has some difficult conversations.

But having not talked to him about this, it's hard for me to know what he's thinking. Before I let you run, the ESOC Paredes holding on to him. It wasn't because the Astros were not trying to kick the tires. I'm making a move with him during spring training. They just needed him because of necessity, because of ailments and whatnot.

Now the Cray is out. I would assume unless the Astros are in a full cell mode, and that could still be a month from now that Isok Paredes, doesn't worry about what gear he's going to wear for at least the next 30 to 45 days. Yeah, I don't think he's going anywhere. I mean, they tried to trade him.

They couldn't find a match. So, and, yeah, I mean, they, you know, all we talked about all winter was this, the surplus of infielders that they have. And then, you know, what happened, Pena was hurt, you know, right off the bat, didn't play every day. And then even Paredes left the team for three days, you know, for the death of his grandparent. And now here, Correa's out. So, you know, they need him.

I mean, he's a guy that's still very young, a guy that's not making a lot of money. So he's not going anywhere. He's going to be at third base the rest of the season. And, you know, a guy they'll go into next year, you know, probably looking to be in the middle of their lineup as well. So if they would have traded him, yeah, I don't know what they would have got for him, but they would have been in, I'm guessing they would have got younger players, maybe minor league players who aren't ready now. So it would be in a lot worse spot than they are. So I think that was a silver lining.

for them for sure holding on to Paredes. And back to Eamide to wrap it up here. This is a situation where he's just got to get out. This is the money that was being spent. I'm curious how Scott Boris, and you've had a chance to deal with him a little bit. What is Scott, what's going through Scott's mind right now

as to wrap up this young man's first four-a-end American baseball? Yeah, I don't know. I mean, I haven't talked to Scott about EMI, but, yeah, I mean, I think you're right. He just got to throw strikes. Just put good guys out. Don't walk guys. Throw in the zone.

I mean, the fact that, you know, he's pretty much a two-pitch pitcher. And Dana Brown said the other day that he would like to see him, yeah, you know, throw those two pitches. But, you know, maybe open up a little bit more of the arsenal as well. Because as you throw two pitches, you know, you can get predictable. If you're a starter, for a reliever, you can get away with it. So, you know, maybe there's some pitch uses things they can change. But, you know, I'm sure Boris is probably frustrated. He wants the best for his clients.

But, you know, he may has got his money. He's got a lot of money. and I'm sure, you know, if I was in his situation, I would not like my ERA. I would not like the fact that I'm walking so many guys every nine innings. And, you know, I want to go out here and shove and show people that I can do this. So, and I get there's a transition period. But, I mean, he was at spring training, the entire spring. He pitched with the pitch clock.

He looked really good. It's the, you know, it's the same game that it is now. It's just, you know, the lights are brighter. So maybe it's something between the years. I don't know. But you're right. He's just got to go out there and throw it. strikes and give the team a chance to win.

And he hasn't been doing that. And in two of the three starts that he made in the big leagues, he didn't do that. Tags, great stuff as always, friend. Thank you for the visit. We'll talk with you again next Thursday.