Astros release Asia-bound outfielder Velázquez

It sounds like Brandon Woodruff would have opened tonight if he hadn’t finished last night’s game. As is, May will make his second start of the postseason after pitching in relief his last three times out. He’s surrendered five runs in eight innings thus far in October. The Brewers figure to be very aggressive tonight with all of their key relievers having enjoyed back-to-back days off.

Vilade started over Aranda at first base against a lefty on Monday. That Mesa committed a miscue in that one might factor into him taking a seat tonight, but on paper, going to Vilade against a righty seems like a bit of a downgrade both offensively and defensively. The Rays’ lineup as they try to extend the series: DH Yandy Díaz, 1B Aranda, 3B Junior Caminero, C Liam Hicks, CF Jonny DeLuca, LF Chandler Simpson, RF Vilade, 2B Richie Palacio and SS Taylor Walls.

It’s the first change of the World Series for the Brewers, but they’re going with the same nine while facing a fourth straight righty. Frelick moves up despite taking a hard fall on his troublesome right shoulder late last night. He’s 4-for-11 with a homer through three games, compared to 2-for-11 for Mitchell. The lineup: LF Jackson Chourio, 1B Jake Bauers, DH Christian Yelich, C William Contreras, 2B Brice Turang, RF Frelick, SS Cooper Pratt, CF Mitchell and 3B David Hamilton.

Rocco Baldelli might have been the favorite for the gig before withdrawing from consideration. Now it’s down to Espada, who spent the last three years managing the Astros, and Kanzler, the Cubs’ farm director who would be managing for the first time. A decision should come before the end of the week.

He also had a bone chip removed. Hoffman missed the final weekend of the season, going on the IL with forearm inflammation. It was his first absence of any sort since 2022. He’s expected to resume throwing in eight weeks and should have a normal spring training, if there happens to be a normal spring training. Barring an expensive signing, he seems like the current favorite to close for the Twins next year.

The team says Velázquez is on his way to play in Asia next season. One imagines those foreign player spots in Japan and Korea will be filled pretty quickly this winter, as fringy major leaguers weigh the guaranteed paycheck versus the possibility of a lengthy lockout. The 27-year-old Velázquez hit .188/.257/.406 with six homers in 113 plate appearances for the Cardinals and Astros this year. He’s a lifetime .208/.282/.429 hitter with 37 homers in 728 plate appearances since debuting with the Cubs in 2022.

Anderson was taken by the Red Sox in the third round of the 2023 MLB Draft out of high school, and his first two full professional seasons were just fine. However, he broke out a bit this season, hitting .273/.373/.453 with nine home runs and 46 RBI in 85 games at High-A. In 12 games in the AFL, he’s hitting .349/.491/.674 with three home runs, 14 RBI, and a 16/12 K/BB ratio. One of his home runs was a 115.2 mph grand slam on October 9th, which is the second-hardest-hit ball in the league this season. Anderson is primarily a third baseman, but has played first base in AFL games as well, and could play either corner infield spot at Double-A for the Red Sox to begin the 2027 season.

Peete has been the star of the Arizona Fall League so far. The 21-year-old is hitting .365/.459/.731 in 13 games with two home runs, four triples, nine RBI, 10 steals, and a 15/9 K/BB ratio. Peete missed two months of the 2026 season with an illness, but he has a real chance to start 2027 at Triple-A and be just one step away from making his MLB debut. He’s looking like a major win for the Cardinals, who acquired him from the Mariners for Brendan Donovan last offseason.

In 10 AFL games, Walcott is hitting .231/.319/.385, but he does have 11 RBI and eight steals. The 20-year-old missed the majority of the season after undergoing elbow surgery, so he needs to continue to get his timing back at the plate, but his raw tools are on display. He should start the 2027 season at Triple-A but has a real shot to fight for MLB at-bats.

The 22-year-old is hitting .283/.400/.435 in 12 games in the AFL with five extra-base hits, 13 RBI, seven steals, and a 12/8 K/BB ratio. He played 128 games at Double-A this season, slashing .285/.321/.403 with nine home runs and 27 steals. He doesn’t walk a lot, but he also makes a lot of contact and can play either position on the left side of the infield. He should start 2027 at Triple-A and could push for an MLB call-up with a good season.