Martín Maldonado - Page 5 - MLB News, Rumors, & Updates | FOX Sports

Reaches 10-homer mark Maldonado went 1-for-2 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's 7-5 extra-inning loss to the Red Sox.

Impact Maldonado is hitting .234 (11-for-47) in August, with four extra-base hits and eight RBI across 15 contests. That's a better average than his .180 mark for the year, and he's at a poor .568 OPS even with the improved power output of late. The veteran catcher has added 26 RBI, 25 runs scored, 10 homers and 10 doubles through 93 contests as the Astros' top backstop.

AUGUST 24, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Moves to bench Sunday Maldonado is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mariners.

Impact Yainer Diaz will get the nod behind the plate while Maldonado rests after catching each of the last three contests. Despite going hitless during that three-game stretch to bring his batting average down to .172 for the season, Maldonado still appears to be the Astros' preferred backstop due mostly to his skills as a pitch framer and game caller.

AUGUST 20, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

On bench Tuesday Maldonado is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Marlins.

Impact Maldonado has a .715 OPS through 28 at-bats in August and will take a seat Tuesday after starting the previous two contests. Yainer Diaz will step in behind the plate to catch for Cristian Javier.

AUGUST 15, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting Saturday Maldonado will hit the bench for the second time in three games Saturday against the Angels.

Impact Yordan Alvarez's return from an oblique injury in late July bumped Yainer Diaz from the designated hitter spot and into more of a competition with Maldonado behind the plate. Prior to Alvarez's return, Maldonado started 75 of 102 games behind the plate (74 percent). With Alvarez back in the fold, Maldonado has gotten the nod 10 times in 16 games, or 62.5 percent of the time. That's still enough to make him the clear primary backstop, but his .181/.249/.317 slash line leaves him with minimal fantasy value even in that role.

AUGUST 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Takes seat Wednesday Maldonado is not in the lineup Wednesday versus the Guardians.

Impact Yainer Diaz will start behind the plate and bat eighth after Maldonado caught Framber Valdez's no-hitter Tuesday night against Cleveland. Maldonado is the better defensive option of the two Houston backstops, but Diaz carries far more offensive upside.

AUGUST 2, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Gets Monday off Maldonado is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Guardians.

Impact Yainer Diaz will get the nod behind the plate in the series opener while Maldonado rests. The 36-year-old started at catcher in five of the Astros' six games last week, going 4-for-15 with a solo home run and a double.

JULY 31, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Day off Saturday Maldonado isn't starting Saturday against the Rays, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports

Impact Maldonado is 4-for-11 with a home run across his last four games, and he'll catch a breather Saturday. Yainer Diaz will take over behind the plate and bat eighth.

JULY 29, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Marcus Semien and Martin Maldonado both get ejected after Adolis Garcia's grand slam

Marcus Semien and Martin Maldonado both get ejected after Adolis Garcia's grand slam

JULY 28, 2023 • FOX SPORTS

Astros' Martín Maldonado smacks a RBI double to tie the game vs. Yankees

Astros' Martín Maldonado smacks a RBI double to tie the game vs. Yankees

JULY 27, 2023 • FOX SPORTS

Receives rest day Maldonado is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Athletics.

Impact Yainer Diaz will step in behind the plate while Maldonado rests in the series finale. The veteran backstop started at catcher in both of the past two games and went 0-for-7 with four strikeouts, bringing his season-long batting average down to a career-worst .163.

JULY 23, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Takes seat Thursday Maldonado is not in the lineup Thursday at Oakland.

Impact Yainer Diaz will start at catcher and Corey Julks will serve as the Astros' designated hitter as they open a four-game set versus the Athletics. Maldonado continues to offer solid defense behind the plate at age 36, but he's slashing just .168/.244/.295 on the year.

JULY 20, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting Tuesday Maldonado will sit Tuesday versus the Rockies.

Impact Maldonado will get a breather after he went 2-for-12 with a double, two RBI and a run scored while starting all three of the Astros' games during their series with Angels. Yainer Diaz will take over behind the plate and bat sixth in the series opener with Colorado.

JULY 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Astros catcher Martín Maldonado shows off ELITE skill turning an Angels bunt into a double play in the sixth inning

Astros catcher Martín Maldonado shows off ELITE skill turning an Angels bunt into a double play in the sixth inning

JULY 15, 2023 • FOX SPORTS

Martín Maldonado crushes a solo homer to trim the Astros' deficit against the Mariners

Martín Maldonado crushes a solo homer to trim the Astros' deficit against the Mariners

JULY 9, 2023 • FOX SPORTS

Pops go-ahead homer Maldonado went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Saturday's 3-2 win over the Mariners.

Impact Maldonado provided a clutch hit, giving Houston the lead with his eighth-inning solo shot. Prior to Saturday, he had gone 0-for-18 with one walk over his last six games. The catcher is batting a career-low .169 with a .540 OPS, six homers, 14 RBI and 16 runs scored through 66 contests. He hasn't lost much playing time despite his poor numbers, as the Astros appear content to let Yainer Diaz get the bulk of his at-bats at designated hitter while Yordan Alvarez (oblique) is out.

JULY 9, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Martin Maldonado's homer in eighth gives Houston Astros 3-2 win over Seattle Mariners

Martín Maldonado hit a tiebreaking solo home run in the eighth inning to lift the Astros to a 3-2 victory over the Mariners.

JULY 9, 2023 • FOX SPORTS

Martin Maldonado's homer in eighth gives Houston Astros 3-2 win over Seattle Mariners

Maldonado saves the day with go-ahead 8th-inning blast in Astros' win HOUSTON -- Catcher Martín Maldonado slugged a go-ahead homer into the Crawford Boxes off reliever Andrés Muñoz in the eighth inning to send...

JULY 9, 2023 • MLB.COM

Astros' Martín Maldonado talks game-winning homer against the Mariners

Astros' Martín Maldonado talks game-winning homer against the Mariners

JULY 9, 2023 • FOX SPORTS

Martín Maldonado CLOBBERS a GO-AHEAD solo home run to put the Astros ahead of the Mariners

Martín Maldonado CLOBBERS a GO-AHEAD solo home run to put the Astros ahead of the Mariners

JULY 9, 2023 • FOX SPORTS

Sitting Wednesday Maldonado is not in the starting lineup Wednesday versus the Rockies, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Impact Maldonado will take a seat after he went 0-for-13 with a run scored, a walk and five strikeouts in the four-game series with Texas. Yainer Diaz will take over behind the plate and bat fifth against Colorado.

JULY 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Not in lineup Thursday Maldonado is not in the lineup Thursday at St. Louis.

Impact Yainer Diaz will catch and bat fifth versus the Cardinals and right-hander Adam Wainwright. Bligh Madris is serving as the Astros' designated hitter and batting seventh.

JUNE 29, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Slugs fifth homer Maldonado went 1-for-2 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 4-2 loss to the Cardinals.

Impact The 36-year-old backstop took Jordan Montgomery deep in the third inning, briefly giving the Astros a 2-1 lead. Maldonado's offensive output continues to dwindle -- he's hitting below .190 for the third straight season but has only five homers and 11 RBI in 58 games, and his .295 SLG would be his worst mark since 2015.

JUNE 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Not starting Saturday Maldonado isn't in the Astros' lineup Saturday against the Dodgers.

Impact Maldonado is 3-for-13 with an RBI and a run scored across his last five games, and he will get a breather Saturday. While he rests, Yainer Diaz will take over at catcher and bat fifth.

JUNE 24, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Out of lineup Maldonado will sit Saturday against the Reds.

Impact Maldonado's .547 OPS on the season is low even by his standards; he hasn't finished with a lower mark since all the way back in 2013. That hasn't affected his workload, however, as his 51 starts behind the plate rank sixth in the league. Yainer Diaz will catch for Brandon Bielak on Saturday.

JUNE 17, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Goes yard in win Maldonado went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's win over the Nationals.

Impact Maldonado's only hit of the night was a big one, after he took Chad Kuhl deep to left to begin the bottom of the seventh. It was his first hit in six games since June 3 and his first home run since May 22. Maldonado's struggles have continued at the plate again this year. He's slashing just .188/.271/.295 with four homers, nine RBI, 12 runs and a 14:53 BB:K over 170 plate appearances.

JUNE 14, 2023 • ROTOWIRE