Myles Straw
YEARTEAMGABRHitsRBIDTHRBBSOSBCSEAVGOBPSLUG
2020Pacemakers311171729973015349100.2480.3330.359
2021Manatees00000000000000.0000.0000.000
2022Manatees10838245104301712587125310.2720.3680.338
2023Manatees2411520100120000.1820.2500.273
MLB Player Data
DateNewsComment
Mar 25 2024Straw cleared waivers Sunday and will report to Triple-A Columbus, Paul Hoynes of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw was waived Friday, and unsurprisingly, no other teams were interested in putting in a claim for an outfielder who hit a paltry .239 and slugged just .302 over parts of three seasons in Cleveland. He has strong speed and defense, but it'll likely take an injury to another Guardians outfielder for Straw to get back in the majors.
Mar 23 2024Straw is not on the Guardians' Opening Day roster, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Guardians placed Straw on waivers Friday, and the team has now officially announced its intentions to begin the season without him as part of its outfield unit. Straw is owed roughly $20 million over the next three years, so he will most likely clear waivers and head to Triple-A while Cleveland keeps Estevan Florial, Tyler Freeman and Ramon Laureano as its options in center field.
Mar 22 2024Straw has been placed on waivers by the Guardians, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw will undoubtedly clear waivers given that he's still owed about $20 million, but he has options remaining and it sounds like he could be left off the Opening Day roster. If that's the case, the Guardians would appear ready to roll with a combination of Estevan Florial, Ramon Laureano and Tyler Freeman in center field.
Mar 10 2024Straw (illness) is starting in center field and batting second in Sunday's Cactus League game against the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 29-year-old has been battling a viral infection for nearly two weeks, but he'll return to game action Sunday. Straw had a .238/.301/.297 slash line with 20 steals in 147 games last season and remains the favorite to start in center field Opening Day, but Estevan Florial is also pushing for the job.
Feb 29 2024Straw is being held out of action due to a viral infection, Paul Hoynes of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It's not clear how long Straw has been under the weather, but he last played in a Grapefruit League game Tuesday. Consider him day-to-day. Straw is attempting to hold off Estevan Florial for the Guardians' center field job.
Oct 1 2023Straw went 2-for-3 with a steal and a walk in Saturday's 8-0 loss to the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw reached base three times in the contest but was left stranded on each occasion as the Guardians got shut out on the road. The center fielder has now recorded two hits in four consecutive games, though he's surprisingly failed to score or drive in a run over that stretch. He also swiped a bag for the second straight game to give him 20 stolen bases for the season, with 10 of those coming in September.
Sep 29 2023Straw went 2-for-4 with a stolen base in Friday's 7-5 win over the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw is showing some life at the plate with three straight multi-hit efforts. Before this burst, he'd gone just 6-for-46 (.130) over his first 18 games in September. The center fielder has maintained decent speed with 19 steals in 25 attempts this season, but his paltry .235/.297/.294 slash line with one home run, 29 RBI and 52 runs scored has left plenty to be desired. Despite the poor numbers, he's played in 146 contests.
Sep 24 2023Straw is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against Baltimore. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw has a .130/.173/.174 slash line through 18 games in September and will head to the bench Sunday. Ramon Laureano will man center field and bat fifth.
Sep 21 2023Straw is not in the lineup for Thursday's contest against the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Guardians are going with Ramon Laureano in center field and Will Brennan in right. Straw and Laureano have now alternated starts in center each of the last seven games.
Sep 19 2023Straw is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw is 2-for-19 with a walk, an RBI and a stolen base in his past 10 games and will head to the bench for Tuesday's contest. Ramon Laureano will take over in center field and bat fifth.
Sep 18 2023Straw will start in center field and bat ninth in Monday's game against the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw looked to be moving into more of a part-time role earlier this month, but he appears to have since settled back in as the Guardians' preferred option in center field while Ramon Laureano has found himself on the bench more frequently. However, since he's slashing just .114/.158/.143 thus far in September, Straw is far from guaranteed to hold down a regular lineup spot for the rest of the season.
Sep 4 2023Straw is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Guardians are going with Ramon Laureano in center field and Will Brennan in right. Straw has now been on the bench for two of the last three contests for Cleveland.
Sep 2 2023Straw is not in Saturday's lineup against the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw is hitting .250 with three runs, two RBI and one steal over his last 10 games. Will Brennan will start in right field with Ramon Laureano shifting to center field.
Aug 29 2023Straw is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game at Minnesota. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw has a .459 OPS in his past nine games and will head to the bench after making four straight starts. Ramon Laureano will take over in center field and bat cleanup against Twins righty Pablo Lopez.
Aug 28 2023Straw went 1-for-4 with a walk, an RBI, a stolen base and a run scored in Sunday's 10-7 extra-innings win over the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw went eight games between steals, hitting. 286 (6-for-21) in that span. The outfielder is up to 16 thefts on the season, five shy of matching his total from 152 games last year. He's added a .239/.305/.300 slash line with a home run, 25 RBI, 47 runs scored, 15 doubles and three triples while regularly hitting at the bottom of the order. The Guardians have faced five southpaws in their last seven games, helping the right-handed hitting Straw to stay in the lineup, though he's also started against both right-handers in that span.
Aug 20 2023Straw is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ramon Laureano will pick up the start in center field while Straw heads to the bench after starting in four of the past five games. Straw is slashing just .247/.301/.306 in 30 games since the All-Star break and could be at risk of losing playing time to Laureano if he's unable to stage a major turnaround at the plate over his next handful of starts.
Aug 15 2023Straw went 1-for-2 with two walks, two stolen bases and a run scored in Tuesday's 3-0 win over the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Amid reduced playing time in August, Straw has hone 7-for-28 (.250) with three walks and three steals over 10 games this month. The outfielder is now at a .237/.303/.301 slash line with a home run, 15 steals, 23 RBI, 44 runs scored, 15 doubles and three triples over 114 contests. Ramon Laureano is hitting just .174 since the Guardians claimed him off waivers from the Athletics, which may be the only reason why Straw hasn't lost his starting job in center field altogether.
Aug 13 2023Straw isn't in the Guardians' lineup Sunday against Tampa Bay. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw is 2-for-8 with a home run and three RBI during Cleveland's series against the Rays and will sit out the series finale Sunday. Ramon Laureano will take over in center field and bat third.
Aug 11 2023Straw ended a long homerless drought with a solo shot in Friday's loss to the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw hadn't gone deep since August of 2021 when he homered off of Jason Adam in the eighth inning Friday, ending a 298-game homerless drought. The speedster also added a single and an additional run scored in this one.
Aug 9 2023Straw is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After an 0-for-3 showing in Tuesday's 1-0 win, Straw is now hitting .242/.284/.274 in 22 games since the All-Star break. The newly acquired Ramon Laureano will pick up the start in center field Wednesday, and he could end up eating into Straw's playing time if Straw continues to languish at the plate.
Aug 4 2023Straw went 1-for-3 with a stolen base and a run scored in Friday's 4-2 win over the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw had been in a brutal slump entering Friday's game, going 1-for-20 across his last 20 contests. The Guardians' deadline moves and the subsequent promotion of Oscar Gonzalez has started to cause Straw to sit out more often. Manager Terry Francona appears to be trying to limit both Straw and Gonzalez against right-handed pitchers, while Will Brennan has provided cover in center field when Straw sits out. It's a warranted drop in playing time for Straw, who has a punchless .234/.300/.294 slash line with 13 steals, 20 RBI, 41 runs scored and no home runs through 107 games this season.
Aug 2 2023Straw is absent from the lineup Wednesday against the Astros. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Will Brennan will start in center field and bat cleanup versus the Astros and right-hander Ronel Blanco, with Oscar Gonzalez covering right field and hitting seventh. Straw has slashed just .197/.253/.239 over his last 80 plate appearances dating back to July 4 and his season OPS is down to .593.
Jul 30 2023Straw is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the White Sox, Andre Knott of Bally Sports Ohio reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw has started 98 games in center field for Cleveland this season, but he has two hits in his past 20 at-bats and will sit Sunday for the second time in the past three contests. Will Brennan will shift to center field while Oscar Gonzalez starts in right.
Jul 28 2023Straw isn't in the Guardians' lineup Friday against the White Sox, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw is 0-for-10 with three strikeouts across his last three games, so he'll take a day off Friday to regroup. Will Brennan will slide over to center field in Straw's absence, allowing Oscar Gonzalez to start in right field and bat seventh.
Jul 23 2023Straw is out of the lineup for Sunday's game versus the Phillies, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw has a .793 OPS in eight games since the All-Star break but will hit the bench for Sunday's series finale. Will Brennan will shift to center field while David Fry receives a start in right.
Jul 20 2023Straw went 2-for-3 with a double, one run scored and two steals in Wednesday's loss to Pittsburgh. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The center fielder singled to lead off the top of the fifth before swiping both second and third base and eventually coming around to score on a double from Amed Rosario. Straw added a double in his next at-bat and has now hit safely in four straight contests. He's batting .500 (6-for-12) over that stretch while his two steals Wednesday were his first since May 18.
Jul 17 2023Straw is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw will take a seat in the series opener while manager Terry Francona opens up a spot in the outfield for David Fry for the second time in three games after Fry slugged a home run in Sunday's 6-5 loss to the Rangers. Will Brennan will shift over to Straw's usual spot in center field while Fry covers right field.
Jun 25 2023Straw is out of the lineup for Sunday's game versus Milwaukee. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw started the past 28 games but will hit the bench Sunday against Brewers ace Corbin Burnes. Will Brennan will slide over to center field with Gabriel Arias starting in right.
Jun 10 2023Straw went 3-for-6 with a double and one run scored in Friday's 10-9 extra-innings win over the Astros. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw has shown some improved hitting lately, going 11-for-39 (.282) over his last 10 games. He has four multi-hit efforts in that span after having none of them from May 5-29. The light-hitting outfielder still has no home runs this year while slashing .240/.313/.309 with 10 stolen bases, 11 RBI and 25 runs scored over 61 contests. He hasn't attempted a steal since May 18 -- that's not good for fantasy when his primary claim to relevance is his speed.
May 23 2023Straw is not in the Guardians' lineup for Tuesday's game versus the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Chicago is throwing tough righty Dylan Cease, so it's not a bad time for a rare day off for Straw. Will Brennan will slide over to center field and Gabriel Arias will play right.
May 18 2023Straw went 0-for-2 with a steal in Thursday's 3-1 victory over the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw took second without a throw in the seventh inning, but was stranded in scoring position. The center fielder did not collect a hit, but reached on a walk and fielder's choice Thursday. The 10 stolen bases makes Straw a fantasy candidate. However, he doesn't provide value anywhere else with a .231 average. Plus, he hasn't hit a home run since 2021.
May 14 2023Straw went 0-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base in Saturday's 8-6 win over the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw started the season well, but he's hitting just .118 through 11 games in May. His steal was his first since April 29 -- it's tough for the outfielder to be a speed threat when he's struggling to get on base. He's down to a .226/.312/.266 slash line for the season while adding nine steals, nine RBI, 14 runs scored and five doubles without a home run through 38 contests.
Apr 30 2023Straw went 2-for-3 with two walks, a stolen base and two runs scored in Saturday's 8-7 extra-inning loss to the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw went 14 games without earning a free pass before his two-walk game Saturday. The outfielder's steal was his first since April 15, and he's up to eight thefts in nine tries this season. He's enjoying a rebound this year with a .276/.364/.310 slash line, seven RBI, 12 runs scored and three doubles through 26 contests. Straw will likely never hit for much power, but he can be a solid one-tricky pony with his speed if he gets on base often enough.
Apr 5 2023Straw went 2-for-4 with a walk, two runs and a stolen base in Wednesday's 6-4 extra-inning win over Oakland. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw continued his strong start to the season, extending his hitting streak to six games and reaching base three times overall. The speedy outfielder also swiped his fifth bag of the campaign, tying him for the top mark in the majors. Straw's speed is tantalizing, but he posted a poor .291 on-base percentage last season en route to 21 thefts. By contrast, Straw has reached in over half of his plate appearances thus far in 2023, and he should be an elite source of steals if he can continue to find ways to get on base.
Apr 3 2023Straw went 2-for-3 with a double, two runs scored, one RBI and two steals in Monday's win over Oakland. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw got on base and swiped second in each of the eighth and ninth innings. He also ripped a two-run double in the fourth. The speedy outfielder is 5-for-16 with four stolen bases through five games this season.
Apr 2 2023Straw went 1-for-2 with two walks and a stolen base in Sunday's 5-4 extra-inning win over the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw has hit safely in three straight games while regularly slotting in at the bottom of the order. He's 3-for-13 with three walks, two steals and two runs scored over four contests this season. Straw had a decent 9.2 percent walk rate in 2022, but he struggled to a .291 on-base percentage. He'll need more than just good plate discipline to be more than a speed-only option in fantasy.
Apr 1 2023Straw went 1-for-4 with a walk, two runs scored and a stolen base in Friday's 9-4 win over the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Cleveland went 3-for-3 on steal attempts in total against Cal Raleigh and Seattle's pitchers, and given the Guardians' speed up and down the lineup, they could be one of the clubs that benefits most from MLB's rule changes to boost the running game. Straw's grip on the starting job in center field could be tenuous, especially if Will Brennan produces when given the chance. After stealing 21 bags in 2022 despite a .291 OBP, Straw figures to be active on the basepaths again this season.
Mar 3 2023Straw (knee) is in the Guardians' lineup for Friday's Cactus League game versus the Brewers, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw had been set for his Cactus League debut Thursday after missing time with soreness behind his right knee, but he was a late scratch due to wet field conditions. However, it's dry at Goodyear Ballpark in Arizona on Friday, so he's back in there in center field and at the top of the batting order.
Mar 2 2023Straw (knee) was scratched from the Guardians' lineup Thursday as a precaution due to wet field conditions, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw had been slated for his Cactus League debut, but the team thought better of it following some rain at Goodyear Ballpark in Arizona. The good news is that Straw appears to be over the right knee soreness which has slowed him early on in camp. Joe Lampe has taken Straw's spot in center field Thursday.
Feb 21 2023Straw won't be available for the first couple Cactus League games for the Guardians this spring due to soreness behind his right knee, Paul Hoynes of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Manager Terry Francona pointed out that the team is just being cautious with its center fielder. Especially considering Straw derives most, if not all, of his value from defense and baserunning, it makes sense not to push things with his legs early on in camp. Straw finished 2022 with a .564 OPS, zero home runs and 21 stolen bases while winning his first Gold Glove.
Oct 4 2022Straw went 1-for-3 with a run and a stolen base in a 5-3 win Tuesday over Kansas City. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw reached on a bunt single, stole a base and scored in the fifth inning. It was his 21st stolen base in 22 attempts this season and 14th straight successful try. The 27-year-old has been excellent at the plate of late and has a .326/.373/.389 slash line with six stolen bases in his last 27 games.
Oct 2 2022Straw is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Royals, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw has a .519 OPS over his past seven contests and will take a seat Sunday. Will Benson will man center field and bat eighth in Straw's place.
Sep 28 2022Straw isn't in the lineup Wednesday against the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw has been an everyday player for the Guardians recently but will rest after he went 3-for-15 with two runs, two stolen bases, an RBI, a walk and three strikeouts over the last four games. Will Brennan is taking over in center field and batting eighth.
Sep 27 2022Straw went 1-for-5 with an RBI and a stolen base in Tuesday's 6-5 extra-innings loss to the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw has recorded three steals in his last eight games, though he's hit just .241 (7-for-29) in that span. His steal Tuesday got him up to 20 for the year, a mark he's reached in each of the last two seasons since becoming a full-time player. The 27-year-old has also been caught stealing just once this year while adding a .218/.289/.272 slash line, 29 RBI, 70 runs scored, no home runs, three triples and 22 doubles in 146 contests.
Sep 25 2022Straw went 2-for-4 with a run scored and a stolen base in Sunday's 10-4 victory over the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw singled and came around to score in the third before he singled and stole second base in the fifth. The multi-hit effort was his seventh this month and the stolen base his 19th on the season. Straw is hitting .321 (27-for-84) in September with four stolen bases and 13 runs scored but has just five RBI and no home runs in the month.
Sep 19 2022Straw went 1-for-2 with a triple, three runs scored, two walks and a stolen base in Monday's 11-4 win over the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw scored three runs in a game for the third time this season and first time since April 20. He's now riding an eight-game hitting streak, going 12-for-26 (.462) with seven runs scored and a 4:4 K:BB during that stretch. The speedy outfielder is up to 18 steals in 19 attempts while scoring 66 runs and knocking 24 extra-base hits through 139 games.
Sep 17 2022Straw isn't starting the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw started in center field during Saturday's matinee and went 1-for-2 with two runs and two walks. Will Benson is taking over in center field and batting seventh during the nightcap.
Sep 16 2022Straw went 3-for-4 with a run scored in Thursday's 8-2 loss to the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw's bat has woken up recently, as he's 9-for-18 with a pair of doubles, a stolen base and two runs scored over his last five games. He's produced five multi-hit efforts through 13 games in September, lifting his season slash line to .212/.281/.263 through 134 contests. The light-hitting outfielder hasn't hit a home run, but he's added 17 steals, 25 RBI and 60 runs scored.
Sep 11 2022Straw went 3-for-4 with one run scored and one steal in Sunday's 4-1 win over the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The speedy outfielder was busy on the bases Sunday as he recorded three hits and a steal, his 17th on the season. While the three hits were a positive sign, all three were singles. Straw has now failed to record an extra-base hit in his last 93 at-bats and is slugging just .253 on the season.
Sep 5 2022Straw went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a stolen base in Monday's 6-5 extra-inning win over the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw delivered an RBI single in the second inning and added another hit and a steal in the ninth. The outfielder has had an awful last few weeks, going 10-for-89 (.112) in 27 contests since the start of August. He's occasionally lost playing time in center field to Will Benson, though it's fair to say Straw is still drawing more starts than he should given his extended slump. For the season, the 27-year-old is slashing just .199/.274/.249 with no home runs, 24 RBI, 57 runs scored and 16 steals through 125 games.
Sep 2 2022Straw is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw has a .227 OPS in 24 games since the start of August and will head to the bench Friday for the third time in Cleveland's past four contests. Will Benson will start in center field and bat ninth.
Aug 31 2022Straw isn't starting Wednesday against the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw has gone 0-for-10 with three strikeouts over his last 10 games and will take a seat for a second consecutive matchup. Will Benson is starting in center field and batting ninth.
Aug 30 2022Straw isn't in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Orioles, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw has gone hitless in three straight games and is slashing a dreadful .095/.117/.108 since the beginning of August. Will Benson is the center fielder Tuesday.
Aug 25 2022Straw is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw was scheduled to sit Sunday against the White Sox before the game was postponed, and he was back in the lineup Tuesday when the Guardians resumed their schedule. The 27-year-old has an abysmal .109/.134/.125 slash line with four RBI and two stolen bases through 18 games in August.
Aug 21 2022Straw is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw will take a seat for the series finale after going 1-for-14 with a walk, a run and an RBI while starting in each of the Guardians' last four contests. Will Benson replaces Straw in center field.
Aug 15 2022Straw went 1-for-3 with a walk, two stolen bases and two runs scored in a 4-1 win over the Tigers in the first game of Monday's doubleheader. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw entered the game in an 0-for-22 slump, and he hadn't drawn a walk in that span. He hadn't stolen a base since July 4, but the two-steal effort Monday gave him 15 in 16 attempts this season. Through 110 contests, Straw is slashing .207/.284/.263 with 22 RBI and 56 runs scored, though his recent struggles could lead to a reduction in playing time if he can't build off Monday's effort.
Aug 12 2022Straw is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw is 0-for-14 with an RBI over the past four games and will take a seat for Friday's contest in Toronto. Will Benson will man center field for Cleveland in the series opener.
Aug 4 2022Straw isn't starting Thursday against the Astros. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw is getting a rare day off after he went 0-for-11 with an RBI and three strikeouts. Will Benson is taking over in center field and batting seventh.
Jul 12 2022Straw is out of the lineup for the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader with the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rookie Alex Call will pick up his first career MLB start as a replacement in center field for Straw, who is resting after he was included in the lineup in each of the Guardians' previous seven contests. Straw drew a walk and came around to score in the Guardians' 4-1 win in Game 1, but an 0-for-2 showing dropped his season average to .210.
Jul 11 2022Straw went 2-for-4 with three RBI in Monday's 8-4 win over the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw hasn't had the opportunity to generate many RBI from either the top or the bottom of the order his year. This was just his second game all season with multiple RBI, a feat he accomplished with a two-run single in the first inning and an RBI single in the fifth. The outfielder has hit safely in six straight games, going 10-for-23 (.435) with a double and a run scored in that span. For the season, he's slashing only .211/.301/.262 with 13 RBI, 45 runs scored and 13 stolen bases in 82 contests.
Jul 9 2022Straw went 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored in Saturday's 13-1 win over the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw has started to find his swing again, going 7-for-16 (.438) across his last four games. With the Guardians in control of this contest, he exited for pinch runner Oscar Mercado in the sixth inning. After spending a week below the Mendoza Line, Straw's batting average is up to .206 with Saturday's three-hit effort. He's added 45 runs scored, 13 stolen bases, 10 RBI, 13 doubles and a triple in 80 contests. The speedy outfielder is still getting on base too infrequently to make consistent use of his best tool.
Jul 4 2022Straw is not in the lineup for Game 2 of Monday's doubleheader against the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw has not lost much playing time despite being mired in an extended slump, but he will not start both games on Monday's schedule. Oscar Mercado will start in center field in Straw's place.
Jul 2 2022Straw went 0-for-4 with an RBI and a stolen base in a 13-4 loss to the Yankees in Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw didn't record a hit in either game of the twin bill, but he made a contribution in the matinee with an RBI on a fielder's choice. He hasn't had a multi-hit effort since June 22, and the lackluster hitting is likely to keep him at the bottom of the order until he can turn things around. He's slashing .196/.290/.247 with 12 steals, 10 RBI, 44 runs scored, 12 doubles and a triple through 74 contests, but the soft-hitting Straw has yet to swat a home run this year.
Jul 1 2022Straw went 1-for-2 with an RBI and a pair of walks in Thursday's 5-3 win over the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw had a positive finish to an otherwise unimpressive June, a month in which he hit .149 (14-for-94). He added a pair of steals, three RBI, 10 runs scored and three doubles, but the outfielder's slump cost him the leadoff spot in the lineup. For the season, Straw is slashing .202/.298/.255 with no home runs, nine RBI, 44 runs scored and 11 stolen bases. Hitting at the bottom of the order drastically reduces his fantasy potential, especially considering he adds next to nothing in the power categories.
Jun 28 2022Straw is out of the lineup for the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader with the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw will take a seat for the first time since June 16, ending a stretch of 11 consecutive starts. Richie Palacios will enter the Cleveland outfield in the nightcap as a replacement for Straw, who went 0-for-2 with a walk and a run scored in the Guardians' 3-2 win in Game 1.
Jun 23 2022Straw will start in center field and bat ninth in Thursday's game against the Twins, Andre Knott of Bally Sports Ohio reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw's inclusion at the bottom of the order confirms that he's lost hold of the leadoff gig against both left- and right-handed pitching. After ceding leadoff duties to the lefty-hitting Steven Kwan both of the past two days when the Guardians opposed right-handed starters (Joe Ryan and Sonny Gray), Straw will give way to the righty-hitting Owen Miller atop the lineup Thursday against Twins southpaw Devin Smeltzer. The move down in the lineup comes while Straw has produced a lowly .143/.211/.171 slash line to go with two extra-base hits (both doubles), two stolen bases, eight runs and one RBI over his first 19 games of June.
Jun 16 2022Straw is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Rockies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The slumping Straw will sit for the second time in five games while Steven Kwan shifts over to center field and Richie Palacios enters the lineup in left. Through 13 games in June, Straw has slashed .146/.196/.146 with two stolen bases, six runs and one RBI.
Jun 11 2022Straw is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the A's. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw went 3-for-28 (.107) over his last seven games, so he will get a day off to clear his head. Steven Kwan will start in center field in Straw's place.
Jun 8 2022Straw went 1-for-4 with a walk, a run scored and two stolen bases in a 6-3 win over the Rangers during the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He also made a contribution in the nightcap, going 0-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. Straw handled his usual leadoff duties in both games, and while his 37 runs plus 11 steals in 12 attempts on the season have value, his .228/.330/.286 slash line, zero homers and seven RBI make him tough to roster in shallower formats.
Jun 1 2022Straw isn't starting Wednesday against the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw will get a rare day off after he went 1-for-12 with two runs and two walks over the last three games. Richie Palacios, Steven Kwan and Oscar Gonzalez will start in the outfield from left to right.
May 28 2022Straw went 1-for-3 with a stolen base, two runs scored and a pair of walks in Saturday's 8-1 win over the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw's steal was his first since May 13. He's struggled a bit at the dish since then, going 10-for-42 (.238) with only one multi-hit effort in his last 11 games. The outfielder is up to 9-for-10 in stolen base attempts this year while adding a .242/.342/.312 slash line, 32 runs scored, six RBI and no home runs in 42 contests. He's also posted nine doubles and a triple.
May 20 2022Straw went 3-for-4 with a double and two runs scored in Friday's 6-1 win over the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw singled and scored in the sixth inning followed by a double and another run scored in the eighth. Since his last multi-hit game on May 7, he'd been stuck in a 3-for-31 skid over his last nine appearances. The 27-year-old outfielder is now slashing .254/.354/.328 with eight doubles and 26 runs scored through 36 games.
May 13 2022Straw went 0-for-2 with three walks, a steal and a run scored in Friday's 12-8 loss to Minnesota. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw swiped his eighth bag of the year but he's now fallen into an 0-for-16 slump over his last five appearances. The speedy outfielder is slashing .243/.353/.313 through 136 plate appearances. He's collected four stolen bases in May but he owns a .139 average during that stretch.
May 11 2022Straw is not in the starting lineup Wednesday versus the White Sox, Andre Knott of Bally Sports Ohio reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw will get a breather Wednesday after starting three straight games, going hitless in 13 at-bats over those contests. Oscar Mercado will start in center field and bat ninth as the Guardians try and take the rubber match.
May 8 2022Straw went 2-for-3 with a walk, two runs scored and a stolen base in an 8-3 loss to the Blue Jays in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The speedy center fielder was then on the bench to begin the nightcap, although he eventually checked into the game as a defensive sub in the seventh inning and went 0-for-1. Straw is taking his duties as Cleveland's leadoff hitter seriously -- his 13.7 percent walk rate is more than three points higher than last year, helping to fuel a .280/.376/.360 slash line that comes with 21 runs scored and seven steals in 27 games.
May 7 2022Straw will sit for the second half of Saturday's doubleheader against the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw went 2-for-3 with a walk in the afternoon contest and scored two of Cleveland's three runs. He'll rest for the nightcap as Oscar Mercado starts in center field.
May 5 2022Straw went 1-for-9 with a walk, a stolen base and a run scored across both games of Wednesday's doubleheader versus the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw remains perfect on the basepaths this season, recording six steals in as many attempts, with two of those thefts coming in the last three games. The outfielder is slashing .272/.370/.348 with five doubles, a triple, three RBI and 18 runs scored in 24 contests from his spot atop the Guardians' order.
May 1 2022Straw went 1-for-4 with a walk and a stolen base in a 7-3 win against Oakland on Sunday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw reached base twice with a single and theft in the second inning and a walk in the sixth. The stolen base places him in a tie with three others for fourth most in MLB while the 27-year-old's .388 OBP ranks top 30 in MLB.
Apr 30 2022Straw went 3-for-5 with two doubles and two runs in a 9-8 victory against Oakland on Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw singled and scored in the third inning and doubled in the seventh and eighth, scoring following the former. The 27-year-old has shown impressive on-base chops since coming over from Houston last season with a .368 mark in 80 games and has gone 4-for-7 with three doubles and two walks over his last two games.
Apr 21 2022Straw is out of the lineup Thursday against the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw is off to an excellent start to the season, as he already has 13 runs and four steals while batting .318 with a .434 OBP. Oscar Mercado will get the start in center field.
Apr 17 2022Straw went 2-for-5 with a triple, an RBI double and a run scored in Saturday's 4-2 loss to the Giants. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw led off the bottom of the first inning with a triple and scored on a Jose Ramirez sacrifice fly. In the fifth, Straw knocked in Owen Miller with a double. He entered Saturday with just one extra-base hit before muscling up twice in the contest. He's added four stolen bases and 10 runs scored while slashing .333/.450/.455 out of the leadoff spot in eight games.
Apr 13 2022Straw went 4-for-5 with a stolen base, a walk and a run in Wednesday's win over the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw was able to reach base multiple times for the fourth straight contest and fifth time in six games this season. The 27-year-old was also able to swipe his fourth bag of 2022, tying with Luis Robert for the MLB lead in stolen bases. Overall, Straw has the potential to produce a career-year as long as he's hitting atop the Guardians' lineup.
Apr 12 2022Straw went 1-for-3 with two walks, two runs scored and a stolen base in Tuesday's win over the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw ranks second in steals in the early going with three successful thefts, one behind Luis Robert of the White Sox. While he only has one extra-base hit, Straw is doing a nice job setting the table for Cleveland with five walks in as many games.
Apr 11 2022Straw went 1-for-4 with a walk, a stolen base and two runs scored in Monday's 10-7 win over the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw continues to do well in a table-setting role, going 4-for-17 with three walks in four games, leading to six runs scored. The center fielder has also notched a pair of stolen bases so far. With hot-hitting rookie Steven Kwan and superstar third baseman Jose Ramirez hitting behind him in the order, Straw just needs to keep getting aboard to do what he does best -- running.
Apr 9 2022Straw signed a five-year, $25 million extension with the Guardians on Saturday, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The extension also includes a pair of team options, so Straw could be under team control through 2028 after previously being set to reach free agency after 2025. Straw hit .271/.349/.348 with four homers and 30 steals in his first full season last year while playing strong defense in center field.
Apr 7 2022Straw went 2-for-4 with a walk, a stolen base and a run scored in Thursday's 3-1 loss to the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw's biggest asset is his speed, and it only took him two plate appearances to get his first stolen base of the season. He and Steven Kwan were the only Guardians batters to reach base multiple times in this Opening Day contest. Straw established himself as an everyday major-leaguer last season with 30 stolen bases to go with a .271/.349/.348 slash line in 158 contests. Expect the 27-year-old to regularly patrol center field and bat leadoff as long as he continues to get on base at a solid clip.
Apr 2 2022Straw has gone 9-for-27 with two doubles, a stolen base and five runs scored through nine Cactus League games. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw played his way back onto the fantasy radar with 30 stolen bases in 158 games last season between Houston and Cleveland. He also did well with a .349 on-base percentage, but his fantasy appeal remains limited. The Guardians' hitting is questionable outside of Straw, Jose Ramirez, Franmil Reyes and Amed Rosario. Steals, runs scored and maybe average should be pluses for Straw, but he won't add many homers or RBI despite an everyday role as the Guardians' projected leadoff hitter.
Oct 3 2021Straw went 1-for-5 with a stolen base and a run scored in Sunday's 6-0 win over Texas. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The outfielder singled, stole second and scored on an Amed Rosario to give Cleveland a quick lead in the first inning. Straw ended the year with 30 steals, tied for fourth in the majors with St. Louis' Tommy Edman and Baltimore's Cedric Mullins. Through 638 plate appearances, Straw posted a .271/.349/.348 slash line with four home runs, 48 RBI and 86 runs scored in 158 games between Cleveland and Houston. The 26-year-old figures to retain his speed in 2022, although he shouldn't be expected to experience a power surge.
Sep 30 2021Straw went 1-for-5 with an RBI, a stolen base and a run scored in Wednesday's 10-5 loss to Kansas City. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The outfielder is now 29-for-35 in stolen base attempts this year. Straw has posted a solid .287/.361/.381 slash line with a pair of home runs, 12 stolen bases, 13 RBI and 37 runs scored since he was traded from Houston to Cleveland at the trade deadline. He's settled in as Cleveland's main leadoff hitter and center fielder.
Sep 26 2021Straw went 4-for-5 with a double, one RBI and a steal in Sunday's 5-2 loss to the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw reached on an error in the fifth inning and swiped third base. He later knocked an RBI single in the seventh. The 26-year-old outfielder was a nightmare for White Sox's pitching staff over the last three games, going 7-for-13 (.538) with two extra-base hits. Straw is now slashing .272/.350/.347 with 31 extra-base hits and 28 steals.
Sep 24 2021Straw will sit Friday against the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw sits after starting both halves of Thursday's doubleheader. He recorded just one hit in those two contests and is now 1-for-14 with five strikeouts over his last four games. Bradley Zimmer slides to center field Friday, with Oscar Mercado starting in right.
Sep 21 2021Straw went 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored in the first game of Monday's doubleheader against the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Cleveland only managed six hits in total against Brady Singer in a 7-2 loss during the matinee, but Straw collected half of them. He wasn't able to repeat the performance in the nightcap however, going 0-for-3 as his team got swept. The 26-year-old is batting a solid .284 through 19 games in September with a .407 OBP and five steals in six attempts, but he's displayed his usual lack of power (zero homers, two doubles and only two RBI).
Sep 19 2021Straw is not in the lineup Sunday against the Yankees. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw had a .608 OPS with an RBI, four runs and three steals while starting the past nine games, and he'll head to the bench Sunday. Oscar Mercado, Bradley Zimmer and Harold Castro will start from left to right in the outfield.
Sep 15 2021Straw went 3-for-5 with a pair of runs scored in Wednesday's 12-3 win over the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw busted out of a 2-for-16 skid with a double and two singles, the two-bagger ending his string of 17 consecutive games without an extra-base hit. The 26-year-old Straw has stabilized Cleveland's revolving door in center field since coming over in a trade with Houston, hitting .286 with a .378 on-base percentage in 193 plate appearances. He's also a perfect 10-for-10 in stolen-base attempts with his new club.
Sep 10 2021Straw went 0-for-3 with two walks, three stolen bases and a run scored in Friday's 10-3 loss to Milwaukee. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 26-year-old continues to be a force on the basepaths. He stole second and third in the first inning before adding another steal in the fourth. Straw is now 27-for-32 in stolen base attempts this year while contributing a solid .269/.351/.345 slash line with four home runs, 44 RBI, and 70 runs scored across 542 plate appearances.
Sep 8 2021Straw isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw drew starts in each of the last three games and went 6-for-12 with two runs, two stolen bases, an RBI and two walks. Bradley Zimmer will shift to center field while Daniel Johnson starts in right.
Sep 6 2021Straw went 3-for-4 with a stolen base in Monday's 5-2 loss to Minnesota. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 26-year-old was one of two Cleveland batters, along with Franmil Reyes, to get on base multiple times in the contest. Straw has added three stolen bases while batting .333 (9-for-27) across his last seven games. For the season, he owns a .269/.347/.347 slash line with 24 steals, four home runs, 44 RBI and 68 runs scored through 526 plate appearances.
Sep 5 2021Straw went 1-for-3 with a pair of walks, an RBI, a stolen base and two runs scored in Sunday's 11-5 win over Boston. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The outfielder performed well as a table-setter Sunday, and he's now reached base safely 11 times in his last five games (five hits, six walks). Straw is up to 23-for-28 in stolen base attempts after his theft Sunday. He's slashing .265/.344/.343 with four home runs, 44 RBI and 68 runs scored across 522 plate appearances between Cleveland and Houston this season.
Sep 4 2021Straw will sit Saturday against the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw sits after starting 20 straight games, a stretch in which he hit .250/.344/.357 and stole three bases. Bradley Zimmer slides to center field in his absence, with Daniel Johnson starting in right.
Aug 29 2021Straw went 1-for-4 with an RBI single, a walk and a stolen base in Sunday's 7-5 win over Boston. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The outfielder hadn't stolen a base since Aug. 18, an unusually quiet stretch for him on the basepaths. He's hit a modest .250 (10-for-40) in his last nine games, including a home run and three doubles. Straw is up to 22 steals, four homers, 43 RBI, 64 runs scored and a .265/.339/.347 slash line in 497 plate appearances between Cleveland and Houston this season.
Aug 26 2021Straw went 1-for-5 with a solo home run during Thursday's win over the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw opened up the scoring by taking Jordan Lyles deep with a 334-foot shot in the first inning. The 26-year-old has found success at the plate since being traded from the Astros, batting .291/.354/.437 with two long balls, raising his season total to four.
Aug 21 2021Straw went 3-for-4 with a walk, two doubles, three runs scored and an RBI in Friday's 9-1 win over the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Angels pitching just couldn't keep the 26-year-old leadoff hitter off the bases, setting the stage for a rout. Straw has found another gear since being traded from the Astros, slashing .313/.389/.450 through 20 games for Cleveland with one homer, four steals, six RBI and a whopping 17 runs.
Aug 18 2021Straw went 1-for-4 with a double, two walks, one RBI, a stolen base and two runs scored in Wednesday's 8-7 extra-innings loss to Minnesota. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The speedy outfielder did a little of almost everything in Wednesday's contest. Straw's speed continues to be effective atop Cleveland's batting order -- he's stolen four bases in 19 games since he was traded from Houston. The 26-year-old owns a .267/.344/.342 slash line with three home runs, 39 RBI, 58 runs scored and 21 stolen bases in 26 attempts through 455 plate appearances.
Aug 15 2021Straw went 1-for-4 with a double, a walk, a stolen base and a run scored in Saturday's 6-4 loss to Detroit. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The outfielder continues to hit well atop Cleveland's order, slashing .305/.369/.441 in 15 games since he was traded from Houston. Straw has added three stolen bases, a home run, three RBI, 11 runs scored and five doubles in that span. The 26-year-old continues to enjoy a near-everyday role, and he'll hit leadoff again while patrolling center field Sunday.
Aug 11 2021Straw isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Athletics. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw has been relatively effective at the plate recently, and he's recorded multi-hit performances in three of his last five games. During that time, he's gone 9-for-24 with two doubles, four runs, two RBI, a stolen base and a walk. Bradley Zimmer will take his place in center field and lead off.
Aug 7 2021Straw went 3-for-5 with two RBI and a stolen base in Friday's 6-1 win over the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 26-year-old is off to a good start to his Cleveland tenure, and Straw may be the answer for the team both in center field and in the leadoff spot. Through seven games since the trade from the Astros, he's slashing .296/.321/.444 with a homer, two steals in two attempts, three RBI and four runs.
Aug 5 2021Straw is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw will take a seat after he started in center field in his first five games with Cleveland since being acquired from the Astros ahead of last week's trade deadline. He led off each of the past three contests -- all against left-handed starting pitchers -- and went a collective 3-for-13 with a double and a stolen base over that time. Oscar Mercado will replace Straw in the Cleveland outfield Thursday.
Aug 2 2021Straw went 2-for-5 with a stolen base and two runs scored in Monday's 5-2 extra-inning win over Toronto. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 26-year-old hasn't missed a bit since he was traded from Houston to Cleveland. Straw is on a five-game hitting streak, going 7-for-22 (.318) with a home run, four RBI and seven runs scored in that stretch. He appears to be locked in as the replacement for Cesar Hernandez atop Cleveland's batting order against left-handed pitching while holding a near-everyday job in center field.
Aug 1 2021Straw went 1-for-3 with a solo homer in Sunday's loss to the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Sunday was Straw's second game with Cleveland after being acquired at the trade deadline from Houston. He launched a 409-foot solo shot in the third inning, his third long ball of the year. The speedy outfielder is slashing .261/.337/.333 through 378 plate appearances.
Jul 30 2021Straw was traded from Houston to Cleveland on Friday in exchange for Phil Maton, Mark Berman of Fox 26 reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Fortunately from a fantasy standpoint, Straw gets dealt to a team with one of the least impressive outfield depth charts in the majors, so he should see at least as much playing time as he was getting with Houston. He is an excellent defensive center fielder and logged a .262 batting average and .339 on-base percentage with 17 steals in 98 games. It's even possible he could work his way into the leadoff spot with Cleveland.
Jul 29 2021Straw went 2-for-5 with an RBI, two runs and two steals in Wednesday's 11-4 win over the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw's thefts were his 16th and 17th stolen bases of the season, putting him on track to easily eclipse 20. He's always been an active runner in the minors, including a 70-steal season in 2018, but there isn't as big a need of that skill with Houston's powerful lineup. The center fielder had an impressive stretch at the plate leading up to the All-Star break but has struggled since the start of the second half. Straw entered Wednesday's contest batting just .194 (6-for-31) over 11 games.
Jul 25 2021Straw is not in the lineup Sunday against the Rangers, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw will receive a day off after starting the past four games and going 4-for-14 with a walk, a run and two stolen bases. Chas McCormick will roam center field Sunday for Houston.
Jul 21 2021Straw went 1-for-4 with a steal and a run scored in Tuesday's 9-3 win over Cleveland. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw reached on an infield single in the fifth and would end up scoring off a base hit from Michael Brantley as part of a six-run inning. The 26-year-old notched his 14th steal of the year but only his second this month, which is largely due to the fact that he's been struggling to get on base. After a scorching month of June, Straw has just two hits in eight games since July 9 and his slashing .220/.319/.293 with three extra-base hits, four RBI, seven runs scored and a 6:10 BB:K over 15 games in July.
Jul 19 2021Straw isn't starting Monday against Cleveland. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw will get a breather after he went 0-for-6 with two strikeouts across the last two games. Chas McCormick will take his place in center field and bat seventh.
Jul 17 2021Straw went 1-for-3 with a walk, a double and three RBI in Friday's 7-1 win over the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw broke open the game when he sent a bases-clearing double to right field in the seventh inning. The 26-year-old outfielder, who is getting his first opportunity as a starter in 2021, has overcome a middling start to fit right in with Houston's bigger offensive stars. Since June 9, Straw is slashing .320/.407/.430 with six steals and 19 runs over 30 games.
Jul 11 2021Straw will not start Sunday against the Yankees, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The speedy outfielder went hitless across seven at-bats during the first two games of the series. He'll sit for the second time in four games Sunday, as Chas McCormick mans center field and bats sixth Sunday.
Jul 8 2021Straw isn't starting Thursday's game against the Athletics, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw is in the midst of a six-game hitting streak, and he's gone 7-for-21 with a double, five runs, an RBI and a stolen base during that time. Chas McCormick will start in center field and bat seventh.
Jul 4 2021Straw went 1-for-2 with a double, three walks, a run scored and a stolen base in Saturday's 3-2 win over Cleveland. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 26-year-old thrived in the leadoff role, crossing the plate in the first inning after driving the game's first pitch for a double and then swiping his 13th bag of the year in the ninth with the Astros looking for some insurance runs. Straw has been locked in since the beginning of June, slashing .323/.415/.434 with two homers, seven steals, 11 RBI and 19 runs in 29 games.
Jun 30 2021Straw went 0-for-2 with two walks and a stolen base in Tuesday's 13-3 loss to the Orioles. He was also caught stealing once. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw saw an end to his seven-game hitting streak, but he extended an on-base streak to 10 games and has inched up to a .349 OBP. Being better at getting on base was a goal he set for himself in spring training, and he's succeeded on that front. The other aim -- 50 steals -- will be harder to reach. He's stolen 12 bases thus far, but Straw appears to be striving for that lofty objective. He's attempted four steals in the last five games.
Jun 29 2021Straw went 2-for-4 with a walk, a run and two RBI in Monday's 9-7 loss to the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With a pair of base knocks, Straw extended his hitting streak to seven games. The outfielder has delivered multi-hit performances in four of those contests and has lifted his batting average from .251 to .273 during the streak. He's also collected two steals in those contests to improve his team-leading total to 11 on the season.
Jun 27 2021Straw went 2-for-4 with a walk and a stolen base in Sunday's 2-1 extra-inning loss to Detroit. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The speedy outfielder enjoyed the weekend series against Detroit, going 7-for-12 with three walks, two stolen bases and three runs while playing in three of four games. Straw is slashing .270/.343/.337 with 11 steals in 15 attempts, two home runs, 25 RBI and 33 runs scored across 287 plate appearances.
Jun 26 2021Straw isn't in the lineup for Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader against Detroit, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw has reached base in each of his last six appearances, and he's 10-for-25 with a homer, seven runs, two RBI, two stolen bases and three walks during that time. Chas McCormick will take over in center field and bat eighth.
Jun 25 2021Straw is not in the starting lineup Friday against the Tigers, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw enters Friday on a four-game hit streak, during which he's gone 8-for-19 with six runs scored. He'll get his first breather since June 12 as Chas McCormick takes over in center field.
Jun 24 2021Straw went 4-for-6 with three runs scored and a stolen base during Thursday's win over the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: All of his hits were singles, but Straw seems to be heating up as of late, tallying nine hits over the last four games with one homer in that span. Across 71 games this season, the 26-year-old is slashing .264/.335/.333 with two long balls while swiping 10 bags.
Jun 23 2021Straw went 2-for-4 with a solo home and a second RBI in Tuesday's 3-1 win over Baltimore. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw was the hitting star for Houston's powerful lineup. He belted a second-inning solo blast, his second of the season, then delivered the go-ahead and winning run in the top of the seventh. In between those two events, Straw made a diving catch on Cedric Mullins' sinking liner in the third inning to save that frame from snowballing. The center fielder has turned around his season since early May, hitting .297 with a .352 on-base percentage over 142 plate appearances since May 10.
Jun 20 2021Straw went 2-for-4 with a run scored and a stolen base in Saturday's 7-3 win over the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw tallied a pair of singles and stole second in the sixth inning. He scored in the fourth frame on a Michael Brantley double. The 26-year-old is slashing .253/.323/.316 and leads the Astros with nine steals. The speedster primarily contributes with his elite baserunning skills, as he has very little power. He has 27 runs and 23 RBI in 255 plate appearances this season.
Jun 17 2021Straw went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in an 8-4 win over Texas on Wednesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw's fourth-inning long ball may have been overlooked in a game that featured eight homers, including two apiece by three different players, but it was significant in that it represented his first round-tripper since his 2018 rookie campaign. Straw's forte is clearly his speed, so fantasy managers who roster him should be doing so mostly for potential stolen bases. Straw has eight thefts in 12 attempts this season and has also contributed 26 runs, 23 RBI and nine doubles.
Jun 14 2021Straw went 2-for-3 with a walk, a double, an RBI and a stolen base in Sunday's 14-3 win over the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw reached base three times in the win and is slowly raising his OBP. Over the last 28 games, the center fielder is 31-for-99 (.313) with an on-base percentage of .364. That's bumped him up to .328 for the season, up from .296 at the start of this recent stretch. His main goal entering the season was to get on base, and it looks like he's achieving that after a slow start. His other goal -- 50 steals -- appears to be unattainable at this point, as Straw has eight steals through 61 games.
Jun 12 2021Straw is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw sits after going 5-for-12 in his last three games. Chas McCormick will start in center field in his absence.
Jun 10 2021Straw went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI in Wednesday's 8-3 win over Boston. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw joined Houston's 17-hit parade Wednesday and is 6-for-13 with four RBI over the last five games. He's been mired in the low .200s for most of the season, but the center fielder has slowly built up to .245 following a 25-game stretch in which he's hit .295 (26-for-88).
Jun 6 2021Straw is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Blue Jays, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw had a productive game in Saturday's loss to Toronto, tallying a single, walk, two RBI and stolen base in the matchup. He'll get a breather in the series finale as Chas McCormick takes over in center field.
Jun 5 2021Straw went 1-for-3 with a walk, two RBI and a stolen base in Saturday's 6-2 loss to the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The outfielder is in a bit of a groove at the plate, batting .286 (12-for-42) over the last 12 games with three RBI, six runs and two steals. Straw's lack of power and spot at the bottom of the Houston order put a significant damper on his fantasy ceiling, but in deep formats his seven stolen bases on the year have some value.
Jun 4 2021Straw went 3-for-4 with a double, a hit by pitch and two runs scored in Friday's 13-1 win over Toronto. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw entered Friday in a 2-for-17 rut at the plate in his last five games. He snapped the slump with a productive effort at the dish. The 26-year-old has a .241/.311/.289 slash line with no home runs, 17 RBI, 20 runs scored and six stolen bases across 210 plate appearances. He's added a triple and seven doubles this year.
May 31 2021Straw went 1-for-4 with a stolen base and a run scored in Monday's 11-2 win over Boston. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The speedy outfielder had been caught in all three of his previous stolen base attempts in May before finally notching his sixth steal Monday. Straw hasn't done much else this season -- he has no home runs, 16 RBI, 16 runs scored and a .237/.309/.283 slash line in 195 plate appearances. He hadn't successfully stolen a base since April 28.
May 30 2021Straw, who was thrown out while attempting to steal Friday, has been caught four times in nine attempts in 2021. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Friday's caught-stealing was the third consecutive for Straw, who has not stolen a base during the month of May. As such, manager Dusty Baker wants him to consider changes to his baserunning strategies, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. "To me, his jumps are good, but I think I've been talking to him about getting another step, another step on your lead," Baker said. "If you're getting back to first base too easily, or you never get picked off, that means your lead isn't large enough." Straw, who had two hits in Saturday's loss to San Diego but did not attempt a steal, set a preseason goal to swipe 50 bags.
May 22 2021Straw is not starting Saturday's game against the Rangers, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw has struggled offensively this season at the bottom of Houston's lineup, but he has hit .300 in his last 10 games. Oddly, the speedster has not stolen a base in that span, but the increased offensive production of late remains a positive sign for the 26-year-old. Chas McCormick gets the start in center field Saturday.
May 20 2021Straw went 3-for-5 with a run scored in Wednesday's 8-1 win over the Athletics. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw has multiple hits in three of the last five games, going 8-for-20 during that run to raise his average 28 points to .236. With so much firepower in the lineup, the Astros don't need Straw to hit like former center fielder George Springer, but they would like to see him get on base with more consistency. Straw's job is safe for now, but if his slow start lingers, the club may eventually promote Jose Siri, who is slashing .400/.438/.778 at Triple-A Sugar Land.
May 15 2021Straw went 2-for-3 with a walk, two RBI and a run scored in Friday's 10-4 win over the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw was part of a rare uprising from the bottom of the order. The normally anemic trio of Kyle Tucker, Straw and Martin Maldonado were a combined 6-for-10 with seven RBI and four runs scored. Straw has hit safely in three of the last four games, going 5-for-15 during that stretch to raise his season average to .220.
May 12 2021Straw isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Angels, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw had gone 2-for-19 with a double, two RBI, three walks and four strikeouts in his last six games. Chas McCormick will take over in center field and bat eighth.
May 11 2021Straw went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI in Monday's 5-4 loss to the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: On a night when the Astros had issues delivering men in scoring position, they got rare production from a member of the lower third of the order. Straw, who entered the game with one hit and zero RBI over his last 15 at-bats, delivered an RBI single in the second inning and an RBI double in the fifth. Straw was never meant to be a true replacement for George Springer in center field, but the Astros surely hoped for something more than his current .214/.302/.268 slash line. Houston ranks 29th in MLB with a .541 OPS from its center fielders.
Apr 29 2021Straw went 2-for-2 with a walk, a stolen base and an RBI in Wednesday's 7-5 win over the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw reached base all four times he stepped up to the plate in Wednesday's come-from-behind win. He singled home a run in the second to give the Astros a 2-0 lead and followed that up with another single, a hit by pitch and a stolen base, and then a walk in the eighth. Straw is now tied for fourth in baseball with five steals, though he's slashing a mere .228/.303/.278 with nine RBI, nine runs scored and an 8:16 BB:K. The 26-year-old doesn't possess much power, so he'll need to do a better job of getting on base while remaining active on the basepaths to maintain fantasy relevance.
Apr 27 2021Straw went 1-for-4 with a stolen base and a run scored in Monday's 5-2 win over Seattle. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw put himself in scoring position when he stole his fifth base of the season in the second inning but was stranded on second. He later reached base on a fielder's choice and came around to score on a Jose Altuve single. Straw's five steals are tied for fourth in MLB with several others.
Apr 26 2021Straw batted leadoff and went 0-for-3 with a walk in Sunday's 4-2 loss to the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw stepped in at leadoff while Carols Correa was rested for the first time this season. The leadoff spot has been a rotation since Jose Altuve was placed on the COVID-19 protocols list. With Altuve set to return Monday, Straw should return to his normal eight-hole in the order.
Apr 25 2021Straw went 2-for-5 with two doubles and two runs scored in Saturday's 16-2 win over the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw has a modest three-game hitting streak, going 4-for-13 (.308) during that stretch. Now that Houston's major players are back from the COVID-19 protocols list, Straw's .509 OPS becomes less noticeable, and the returnees may help to increase his production.
Apr 22 2021Straw (illness) is starting Thursday's game against the Angels, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw sat out Wednesday's game against the Rockies due to COVID-19 vaccine side effects, but he was never placed on the injured list and will return to the lineup for Thursday's series opener. Straw has gone 2-for-14 with one RBI and five strikeouts in his last four games.
Apr 21 2021Updating a previous report, Straw is excluded from the lineup for Wednesday's game in Colorado due to side effects from a second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine he received earlier this week, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Manager Dusty Baker said Straw first experienced the side effects in Tuesday's 6-2 loss, when he finished 0-for-4 with two strikeouts and uncharacteristically failed to flag down a C.J. Cron fly ball that went for a run-scoring double. The Astros aren't placing Straw on the COVID-19 injured list, so the team is seemingly hopeful that he'll be ready to go for the four-game series with the Angels this weekend after getting Wednesday off. Chas McCormick replaces Straw as the Astros' center fielder and leadoff man for the series finale in Colorado.
Apr 18 2021Straw batted ninth and went 2-for-4 in Saturday's 1-0 win over the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw batted leadoff the first two games following the team placing Jose Altuve on the COVID-19 protocols list, but he was back to the bottom third of the order with Kyle Tucker atop the lineup. Houston manager Dusty Baker will likely juggle the lineup over the course of the next week, as Altuve and the others are not expected back until Thursday at the earliest.
Apr 14 2021Straw will start in center field and lead off Wednesday against the Tigers, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Regular leadoff hitter Jose Altuve was one of five Astros position players placed on the COVID-19 injured list Wednesday, so Straw will get the opportunity to handle table-setting duties for Houston for the first time this season. It's unknown how much time Altuve or any of the other four players placed on the COVID-19 IL might need to clear MLB's health and safety protocols, so Straw could make for an intriguing speculative pickup for fantasy managers looking for a boost in stolen bases and runs. While hitting out of the bottom third of Houston's lineup in each of the club's first 11 games, Straw has already collected three steals in four attempts.
Apr 11 2021Straw went 0-for-4 with a run scored and a stolen base in Saturday's 7-3 loss to Oakland. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw put himself in scoring position with a seventh-inning steal and came home on Jose Altuve's double. The swipe was Straw's second in three attempts.
Apr 9 2021Straw went 1-for-3 with two RBI and a stolen base in Thursday's 6-2 win over Oakland. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw's speed is his greatest asset, and he'll need to reach base consistently for fantasy managers to cash in on it. He's reached base safely in six straight contests, including five times via the walk, and has a .357 on-base percentage to start the season. If he maintains the high OBPand continues to take walks, Straw could make a big impact in steals.
Apr 7 2021Straw batted eighth and went 1-for-3 with a walk in Tuesday's 4-2 win over the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw has reached base safely in five of the first six games, a stretch that includes five walks, but he's been a forgotten member in the productive Astros lineup. When he's started games, Straw has batted eighth and overall is hitting .200 (4-for-20) with no extra-base hits and one RBI. He hasn't been much of a replacement for the departed George Springer, but his limited production hasn't hurt the team. Houston can get by with his defense and middling production for now.
Mar 30 2021Straw cleared all COVID-19 protocols Tuesday and will be able to travel to Oakland with the Astros ahead of Thursday's season opener versus the Athletics, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw missed the final three days of Astros camp while embedded in the protocol, but due to the brevity of his absence, he should be ready to go for Opening Day without any restrictions. He's expected to serve as the Astros' everyday center fielder, likely batting eighth or ninth in most games.
Mar 27 2021Straw was removed from the lineup Saturday against the Mets due to health and safety protocols, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw's absence is seemingly related to COVID-19, though it's not clear that he has the virus himself, with Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reporting that he's out due to contact tracing. If he's able to clear the protocols soon, he may not miss Opening Day. If he does miss time, Chas McCormick or Jose Siri could earn a temporary starting role in center.
Mar 25 2021Straw isn't expected to lead off this season, as Jose Altuve appears to have manager Dusty Baker's endorsement instead, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It never made all that much sense for Straw to be in the leadoff mix, as he projects to be easily the worst hitter among the Astros' expected regulars, but he earned some buzz in mid-March nonetheless after being mentioned as a leading candidate for the role. It appears as though the Astros have decided against making their lightest-hitting starter their plate-appearance leader, but he's expected to fill an everyday role nonetheless. Straw should still be able to help fantasy teams out with his speed, though he'll have fewer opportunities to run than he would as the leadoff hitter.
Mar 23 2021Straw started in center field, batted eighth, and went 2-for-4 with a double, two stolen bases, an RBI and a run scored in Monday's spring game against the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw was part of a lineup that looked like a preview of the regular season -- minus catcher Martin Maldonado and third baseman Alex Bregman -- and they all played nine innings. Manager Dusty Baker has not declared Straw the starter in center field, but the 26-year-old has put up strong spring numbers. Straw is 12-for-35 with three doubles, one triple, one walk, three stolen bases and two runs scored.
Mar 10 2021Manager Dusty Baker said Wednesday that Straw and Carlos Correa are the "leading candidates" to bat leadoff Opening Day for Houston, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 26-year-old is in line to take over the starting job in center field for the departed George Springer, and he may also be able to secure Springer's old spot atop the Astros' lineup. Straw has only 224 plate appearances in the majors, but he has obvious potential on the basepaths as he recorded 54 steals in 132 games at Triple-A between the 2018 and 2019 seasons. Correa struggled in 2020 but was a consistent producer at the plate through his first five big-league seasons, so he could be the safer bet for the job. Straw is 7-for-16 with one double, one triple and one stolen base through seven spring games and may need to continue that strong performance to earn the leadoff job.
Mar 9 2021Straw said he believes he can steal between 50 and 60 bases if given everyday playing time, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The speedy Straw is favorite to take over for the departed George Springer as Houston's primary center fielder and leadoff batter, but he'll need to prove he deserves it. Astros manager Dusty Baker is giving him the chance. Straw's started five of the first seven Grapefruit League games and batted leadoff in four of them, going 5-for-10 with a double, a triple and a stolen base. While the 26-year-old will need to improve upon his career .327 on-base percentage if he wants to reach those lofty steal totals, he's off to a promising start this spring.
Mar 3 2021Straw went 1-for-2 with a stolen base in Tuesday's spring game against the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: This was Straw's second Grapefruit League game and second time he started in center field and batted leadoff. He's projected for both roles in 2021, but the speedy Straw will need to hit better than last year's .500 OPS. Thus far, he's rapped out three hits in four spring at-bats, and Tuesday's steal was his first.
Mar 1 2021Straw started in center field, batted leadoff and went 2-for-2 in Sunday's spring game against the Marlins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw's audition to take over center field in the wake of George Springer's departure got off to a good start. He's worked extensively during the offseason on altering his swing plane, per Brian McTaggart of MLB.com, which he feels has come along this spring. "That's one of the biggest things for me," Straw said. "Even in practice, whether in the cage or live BPs, it's starting to feel a lot better." As for being the team's leadoff hitter, Straw's shown good on-base ability in the minors (.394 OBP) but struggled in that area during 2020, when he slashed .207/.244/.256 in 33 games.
Feb 14 2021Straw will be given the opportunity to become Houston's starting center fielder, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With George Springer now in Toronto, the Astros need to fill a huge gap in the lineup. Not only was Springer the starting center fielder, he was Houston's leadoff batter. Entering training camp, the center field job is Straw's to lose, and he could be in the mix as a leadoff hitter. The 26-year-old batted atop the order five times in 2020, and old-school manager Dusty Baker may want a traditional speedster like Straw batting first.
Sep 22 2020Straw started in center field and went 0-for-4 in Monday's 6-1 loss to the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw got the start in place of a resting George Springer, who according to Statcast data was a high risk for injury. Springer is expected to finish out the season in center field.
Sep 6 2020Straw entered Sunday's game after Josh Reddick left with an elbow injury. He went 0-for-1 in a 9-5 loss to the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: George Springer moved from center field to right while Straw took over for Springer after Reddick left in the sixth inning. It's unclear how much time Reddick will miss with what's being described as a contusion.
Aug 26 2020Straw went 1-for-8 with an RBI over both ends of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw filled in at center field for the injured George Springer (elbow), who is limited to defensive duty only. With Wednesday's series finale postponed due to an approaching hurricane and a scheduled off day Thursday, Springer will have three days to heal before Friday's series opener against Oakland.
Aug 25 2020Straw entered Monday's game after George Springer was removed due to an elbow injury. He went 1-for-1 with a double, two RBI and a run scored in an 11-4 win over the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Springer was plunked by a pitch on the elbow during the sixth inning and was removed from game. Straw entered as a pinch runner and scored a run, then roped a two-run double an inning later. With a doubleheader scheduled Tuesday and Springer unlikely to play, Straw is in line for two-games worth of plate appearances.
Aug 21 2020Straw went 2-for-3 with an RBI double, a stolen base and a walk in Friday's 4-3 loss to the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The speedy Straw reached on an infield single and stole second in the second inning. In the sixth, he plated Taylor Jones with a double. Straw attempted another steal in the eighth, but he was caught that time. He's now 5-for-7 in stolen base attempts, to go with four RBI and three runs scored across 49 plate appearances.
Aug 18 2020Straw was a late addition to the starting lineup Tuesday after George Springer (wrist) was scratched. He went 2-for-5 with a stolen base and an RBI in a 2-1 win over Colorado. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw's addition was quite fortuitous as he delivered the game-winning run in the bottom of the 11th inning. It was the third RBI for Straw, who is batting .167 with a .389 OPS over 45 plate appearances. With Springer's wrist acting up and Michael Brantley (quadriceps) on the injured list, Straw may get a steady stream of at-bats in the short term as an outfielder.
Aug 16 2020Straw is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mariners, Julia Morales of AT&T SportsNet Southwest reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Prior to the series with Seattle, Straw had started in center field in the Astros' preceding six contests, but he'll likely be on the bench on a more permanent basis moving forward now that George Springer has been able to move past a wrist injury. Straw should still rank as manager Dusty Baker's preferred pinch-running option off the bench, but his lack of consistent at-bats will make it tough to roster him outside of AL-only formats.
Aug 8 2020Straw started in place of the injured George Springer (wrist) in Friday's extra-innings loss to the Athletics. He went 1-for-5 and batted eighth. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Springer received good news Friday when an MRI revealed he did not suffer a fracture. Houston manager Dusty Baker described Springer as day-to-day but did not offer any hints to his availability for the weekend. That means Straw may remain a starter in center field until Springer is ready to resume action.
Aug 7 2020Straw entered Thursday's game for an injured George Springer, who left with a strained wrist. He went 0-for-1. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Springer sustained the wrist strain in the fourth inning when he laid out to snare a line drive. He stayed in the game but eventually was removed in the seventh. Houston manager Dusty Baker was not optimistic about Springer's availability for Friday's series opener in Oakland, according to Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle, so Straw could enter the lineup in center field. He has three stolen bases in just 12 plate appearances, so there's always a chance Straw provides value as a fill-in.
Jul 30 2020Straw went 1-for-5 with an RBI and two stolen bases in Wednesday's 4-2 extra-innings loss to the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw started in center field in place of George Springer, who has a sore knee and entered the game 1-for-20 overall. Springer, who entered as a pinch hitter during Wednesday's game, gets the benefit of a team day off Thursday and could return in time for Friday's series opener in Los Angeles against the Dodgers. Straw's biggest asset is his speed, which could be a factor for fantasy teams if he were to receive more consistent playing time.
Jul 29 2020Straw is starting in center field and batting eighth Wednesday against the Dodgers in place of George Springer (knee soreness), Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw, who is probably the fastest player on the team, had not made his season debut due to a hamstring issue, according to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. It's good to know there was a reason for his absence, as he seemed poised for a super utility role this season. If Springer needs more than Wednesday and Thursday (scheduled off day) off, Straw could continue to start in center field.
Jul 19 2020Straw is starting in center field and leading off in Sunday's intrasquad game, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He had been absent from camp for almost a week as he awaited the results of a COVID-19 test, but he presumably tested negative and is back in game action. Straw should serve in a super utility role this season and could be a solid source of steals, batting average and on-base percentage on a part-time basis.
Jul 15 2020Straw was unable to participate in Tuesday's workout while awaiting COVID-19 test results, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Barring a positive result, Straw is expected to be part of the Astros' 30-man active roster on Opening Day next week.
Jun 30 2020Straw has been added to the Astros' 60-man player pool. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw had been considered on the roster bubble during spring training, but the expanded roster makes him a likely inclusion to start the season. The question then becomes whether he remains on the active roster in the weeks following the opening of the season, when rosters are reduced from 30 to 28, then 28 to 26. Houston will have Yordan Alvarez and prospect Kyle Tucker as spare outfielders, which could preclude Straw from being on the final 26-man roster. Alvarez, however, is not good defensively and will serve as the primary designated hitter, so there might be space for Straw, who can also play the infield.
Jun 26 2020Straw is expected to serve as a reserve outfielder for the Astros, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: When the Astros traded Jake Marisnick to the Mets during the offseason, an opportunity swung wide open for Straw, who brings a few skills to the roster. His 30.1 feet-per-second sprint speed was the fourth fastest in the big leagues last season -- he also went 8-for-9 when attempting to steal -- and he's considered a good defensive replacement option. Additionally, Straw adds positional versatility. He made his first MLB appearances on the infield in 2019, playing 26 games at shortstop and four games at second base.
Mar 21 2020Straw led the Astros with three home runs and tied for the lead with five RBI. He went 9-for-21 with three walks and seven runs scored (.429/.500/.857) over 11 spring games. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Teammates lauded Straw for the way he pulled the ball during Grapefruit League action, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. Known for his speed, Straw drove the ball better this spring than in the past. He will take over the spot as the fourth outfielder, occupied by Jake Marisnick in 2019, and added shortstop to his portfolio last season.
Feb 26 2020Straw went 2-for-3 with two home runs and three RBI in Wednesday's spring game against the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw is known for his legs, not his power, so Wednesday's show was a rare sight. The 25-year-old has a total of five home runs and 180 stolen bases over five seasons. He's had some experience in the majors, including 56 games (eight steals in nine attempts) in 2019, and is poised to become the Jake Marisnick replacement. That means a fourth outfielder with speed while adding the ability to play the infield.
Oct 12 2019Straw is not on the roster for the ALCS, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw was available off the bench for the ALDS, but will now miss the ALCS as the Astros added an extra arm to their bullpen. The 24-year-old did not make an appearance during the ALDS despite his pinch-running abilities.
Sep 9 2019Straw went 3-for-3 with an RBI and three runs Sunday in the Astros' 21-1 win over the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Straw managed to put together a nice box-score line in only four innings' worth of action, a testament to how soundly the Astros thumped the Mariners in the series finale. The 24-year-old isn't expected to see many starts in September, but he'll likely rank as the Astros' top pinch-running option and could provide some useful stolen-base production for fantasy managers in deeper mixed and AL-only leagues.
Aug 27 2019Straw was optioned to Triple-A on Tuesday, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic reports.
Aug 22 2019Straw started in left field and went 0-for-3 in Wednesday's 2-1 loss to the Tigers.
Aug 21 2019Straw was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock on Wednesday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. He's starting in left field and hitting ninth against the Tigers,
Aug 14 2019Straw was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock following Tuesday's doubleheader, Julia Morales of AT&T SportsNet Southwest reports.
Aug 13 2019Straw will be promoted from Triple-A Round Rock to serve as the 26th man for Tuesday's doubleheader against the White Sox, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Aug 1 2019Straw was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock on Thursday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Jul 24 2019Straw will start at shortstop and bat ninth Wednesday against the Athletics, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 12 2019Straw entered Thursday's game after Alex Bregman was removed with an injury to his chin. He went 1-for-2 in a 5-0 loss to Texas.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 6 2019Straw started at shortstop and went 0-for-2 with a walk and a stolen base in Friday's 5-4 loss to the Angels.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 30 2019Straw started at shortstop for the second time in three games Saturday and went 1-for-4 with a run scored in a 6-5 win over the Mariners.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 22 2019Straw started in left field and went 1-for-3 with a walk in Friday's 4-1 loss to the Yankees.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 15 2019Straw entered Friday's game after Jake Marisnick departed with a left knee injury. He walked in his lone plate appearance and scored a run.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 6 2019Straw is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Mariners, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 2 2019Straw started in left field and batted leadoff Saturday against the Athletics. He went 0-for-4 in a 5-1 win.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 2 2019Straw went 3-for-4 with a walk, three stolen bases and three runs scored during Sunday's 6-4 win over the Athletics.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 2 2019Straw went 3-for-4 with a walk, three stolen bases and three runs scored during Sunday's 6-4 win over the A's.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 29 2019Straw was recalled by the Astros on Wednesday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 16 2018Straw was promoted to Triple-A Fresno on Saturday.Straw had a strong start to the season for Double-A Corpus Christi, hitting .327/.414/.390, with 35 steals in 65 games. He makes a lot of contact and can do damage on the bases, but his near complete lack of power (just three career homers in four minor-league seasons) likely makes him no more than a bench outfielder at the big-league level.
Jun 16 2018Straw was promoted to Triple-A Fresno on Saturday.Straw had a strong start to the season for Double-A Corpus Christi, hitting .327/.414/.390, with 35 steals in 65 games. He makes a lot of contact and can do damage on the bases, but his near complete lack of power (just three career homers in four minor-league seasons) makes him likely no more than a bench outfielder at the big-league level.
May 28 2018Straw, 23, maintains a .360/.455/.433 batting line and has gone 31-for-36 on stolen-base attempts over 215 plate appearances at Double-A Corpus Christi this season.With 81 steals in parts of three professional seasons entering 2018, Straw's aptitude as a baserunner has never been in question, but a dearth of power and modest hit tool dimmed the 23-year-old's outlook. At least in the latter area, Straw has demonstrated major growth in his first full season in the Texas League, as the outfielder has exhibited exceptional bat-to-ball skills (13.0 K%) while continuing to walk at a high rate. Unless Straw ends up tapping into more power, it's unlikely that he'll ever emerge as an everyday player in the majors, but the skills he currently possesses might be enough for him to become a quality bench option down the line.