Heyward has gone just 3-for-24 with no homers and six strikeouts through 12 games this spring, and it's still unclear how the Padres will approach playing time in left field, per Dennis Lin of The Athletic.
When San Diego signed Heyward and Connor Joe on the same day in early February, the expectation was that the pair would form a platoon in left field. However, Heyward's struggles this spring and the impressive play of other outfield options may have shifted that approach. Joe has slashed .333/.487/.500 and appears to be a lock for the roster, though Lin suggests that the Padres may want to sit him against most right-handers. Meanwhile, Gavin Sheets has had a huge spring, batting .318 and tying for first among all players during the exhibition slate with six home runs, and Tirso Ornelas (.827 OPS), Oscar Gonzalez (.904 OPS) and Brandon Lockridge (.826 OPS, six steals) have all made a compelling case for a roster spot as well. San Diego could make room on the roster for at least four of that group, and it helps that both Joe and Sheets can play first base, while the team's playing time at DH also remains up in the air. The Padres may want to deploy the left-handed bat of either Sheets and Ornelas -- assuming they make the roster -- on a frequent basis given their impressive performances during the Cactus League slate.
Heyward agreed to terms on a contract with the Padres on Friday, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reports.
Heyward got off to a rough start with the Dodgers last season, slashing just .208/.289/.393 across 197 plate appearances before being released by the team in late August. He was able to latch on with Houston and ended the regular season on a relatively positive note, going 12-for-55 with four homers and nine RBI over 24 regular-season games. Now in San Diego, the 35-year-old will likely form a platoon in left field with Connor Joe, who also signed a one-year pact with the Padres on Friday.
Heyward is out of the lineup for Friday's game against Cleveland.
Heyward will dodge a same-hand matchup with southpaw Joey Cantillo, leaving left-field duties to Mauricio Dubon. Heyward is slashing .216/.273/.471 in 55 plate appearances for Houston.
Heyward went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Mariners.
Heyward delivered a go-ahead blast in the fifth inning, and the Astros held the lead the rest of the way. This was Heyward's second straight game with a homer, and he's gone deep four times over his last 11 games while hitting .310 (9-for-29) in that span. The outfielder has reached the 10-homer mark for the second year in a row after missing it for three consecutive seasons. He's added a .214/.290/.418 slash line with 37 RBI, 33 runs scored and five stolen bases over 85 contests between the Astros and the Dodgers.
Heyward went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Monday's 6-1 loss to the Mariners.
Heyward got the Astros on the board in the eighth inning with his third homer in his last 10 games. In that span, he's gone 8-for-26 (.308) with five RBI. The veteran outfielder is up to a .212/.290/.406 slash line with nine homers, 35 RBI, 32 runs scored and five stolen bases over 246 plate appearances between the Astros and the Dodgers this year. Heyward may see more steady playing time in the short term while Yordan Alvarez is sidelined by a knee sprain, which is expected to keep him out for the rest of this series versus the Mariners.
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Astros' Jason Heyward: Idle Saturday
Rotowire
Heyward is out of the lineup for Saturday's game against the Angels.
The lefty-hitting Heyward will take a seat Saturday against southpaw Reid Detmers and the Halos. In his last seven games, Heyward is 7-for-20 (.350) with two home runs. Mauricio Dubon will bat ninth and play left field.
Heyward is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Angels, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
The left-handed hitting Heyward had started each of the last four contests, but he'll grab a seat for this one as the Angels send southpaw Jose Suarez to the hill. Yordan Alvarez is in left field for Houston.
Astros' Jason Heyward: Picks up fourth consecutive start
Rotowire
Heyward will start in right field and bat seventh in Wednesday's game against the Padres.
Heyward has picked up starts in five consecutive matchups with right-handers and should have a relatively clear path to a strong-side platoon role in left field with Ben Gamel (fibula) recently joining Chas McCormick (hand) on the injured list. Since signing with Houston on Aug. 29, Heyward has slashed .235/.278/.441 with two home runs, six RBI, six runs and one stolen base in 16 games.
