Cam

Smith

It’ll be interesting to see how the Astros go about navigating their outfield. They’ve already indicated that Yordan Alvarez will see more left field time and that Jose Altuve is again slated to play both second base and left field. The club still has Jake Meyers in center, with breakout prospect Zach Cole and Jacob Melton also options there. Another big bat would be nice, but shutting out Smith, who could be greatly improved as a sophomore, might be a mistake, and Sánchez, if he isn’t moved, would probably do solid work against righties, even though he was a disappointment after being picked up from Miami.

No word yet on the reason for the late scratch. Cam Smith entered the lineup in right field with Zach Cole sliding over to cover center. Expect the Astros to provide an update on Meyers’ status shortly.

No word yet who he’s replacing. It might be Taylor Trammell, unless someone is going on the IL. Cole, 25, has hit .353/.459/.745 with five homers in 15 games since being promoted to Triple-A last month. He came in at .267/.363/.505 in Double-A. If the Astros are trying to catch lightning in a bottle here and intend to play Cole fairly regularly, then Cam Smith will receive even fewer starts.

After his triple off the bench last night, Smith was starting Sunday for the third time in four games. This showing, though, won’t help his chances of being in there Tuesday against José Berríos. Smith has started just three of the last nine times the Astros have faced right-handers.

Smith has not shown much power in his rookie campaign, but he was able to connect on his eighth homer of the season, and first since June 28. The 22-year-old has been awful in August with a .385 OPS coming into Wednesday, but it’s plausible that the talented outfielder will start to see more hits dropping — and dropping over the fence — over the final 25-plus games.

With Yordan Alvarez hopefully on the way back and Jake Meyers also due to return at some point, there’s a chance Smith might finish this season in Triple-A. He’s batting just .156/.222/.200 since the All-Star break, and he hasn’t homered since June 28.

Sánchez has been dropped to the lower third of the lineup card with Houston facing a left-handed starter for the first time since his arrival at last month’s trade deadline. Cam Smith gets the nod in right field for Saturday afternoon’s matinee at Yankee Stadium with Carlos Correa being bumped up to the second spot in the lineup.

Smith takes a seat after starting 12 of the last 15 games for Houston since July 23. The 22-year-old former top prospect has experienced the usual rookie growing pains at the highest level, alternating sizzling-hot stretches with frustrating cold spells. He’s in the middle of a frosty period at the moment, batting .151 (8-for-53) with zero homer and 16 strikeouts over his last 15 contests. It’ll be Jesús Sánchez taking over in right field on Saturday afternoon in his place.

Smith is batting .123/.217/.160 in his last 21 games. He was leading off 10 days ago and batted cleanup as recently as last Wednesday, but he’s all of the way down at the bottom tonight. The last time he hit ninth was on May 17.

Smith is 4-for-35 since the All-Star break, and he also went 0-for-9 in the series against the Rangers immediately before the break. There’s no taking him out of Houston’s lineup right now, but leading off seems like a stretch.