3 Astros who won’t be on the roster by September 1

Astros rumors: Jake Meyers may not have a spot if Michael Brantley returns healthy

Before this idea gets too far, one thing needs to be prefaced. This move can only happen if Michael Brantley returns looking healthy, confident and durable. This is also dependent on when and if Brantley is to make his 2023 debut. He has recently begun taking batting practice on the field, but there’s still little information about his return date. Jake Meyers is safe on the Astros lineup and in their outfield while Brantley is on the IL.

With that being said, when and if Brantley is to make his 2023 debut, Jake Meyers seems like the odd man out of the outfield. This would come down to two players, those being Meyers and outfield mate Chas McCormick. On the season, Meyers has fewer home runs and RBIs than McCormick while also having worse numbers across the entire slash line. McCormick also provides better depth as he’s played all three outfield spots this year compared to Meyers solely playing in center field.

This decision and potential roster move likely won’t upset many Astros fans as it will only happen with the return of Michael Brantley. Brantley has been an All-Star in four of his last five full healthy seasons, with the one exception being the Covid shortened 2020 season that didn’t have an All-Star Game. Meyers will likely be a part of the Astros roster after September call ups, but expect his demotion when Brantley is healthy.