9 Jack Mayfield 3B

Mayfield was claimed off waivers by the Braves on Friday.

The 30-year-old was designated for assignment by the Astros earlier in the week, and the Braves opted to scoop him up off waivers. Mayfield appeared in 47 games over the past two seasons and had a .170/.198/.283 slash line with two homers and 30 strikeouts in 112 plate appearances.

Mayfield was dropped from the Astros' roster ahead of the division series against the Athletics, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic reports.

Mayfield did not play a part in either wild-card game against the Twins, so it's no surprise that he was deemed surplus to requirements heading into the next round. The Astros will add a reliever, Luis Garcia, in his place.

Mayfield started at shortstop and went 1-for-2 with an RBI in Saturday's 6-1 loss to the Rangers.

One day after clinching a postseason berth, the Astros gave several regulars a rest day, including shortstop Carlos Correa. Mayfield was one of four backups in the lineup. The RBI was just his third of the season and first since Aug. 25.

Mayfield entered Tuesday's game after Carlos Correa left with an ankle injury. He went 0-for-1 and played shortstop for the final three innings of a 4-1 win over the Rangers.

Correa's injury has been diagnosed as a bone bruise and X-rays were negative. If the injury forces Correa to sit, Mayfield is a possible replacement, particularly with Aledmys Diaz (quadriceps) dealing with an injury.

Mayfield started at third base and went 0-for-1 with a walk in Wednesday's 3-2 loss to the Athletics.

Mayfield got the start even though Alex Bregman was on the active roster. The Astros are bringing back Bregman from a hamstring injury at a measured pace, and his absence from the starting lineup was part of a predetermined plan.

Mayfield is in the lineup for Friday's game against the A's, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic reports.

Mayfield started just once over an eight-game span after being recalled Aug. 16, but he got the nod at third base Monday and will start there Friday for the third time in four games. He and Abraham Toro figure to continue sharing the third-base duties in some fashion until either Aledmys Diaz (groin) or Alex Bregman (hamstring) returns.

The Astros recalled Mayfield from their alternate training site Sunday, Julia Morales of AT&T SportsNet Southwest reports.

He'll assume the active roster spot of outfielder Michael Brantley (quadriceps), who was placed on the 10-day injured list Saturday. Mayfield will provide depth at second base, third base and shortstop, but he's not expected to see regular at-bats unless one of Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman and Carlos Correa misses time.

Mayfield was optioned to the Astros' alternate training site Thursday, Julia Morales of AT&T SportsNet Southwest reports.

Mayfield entered the starting lineup just once during his time on the major-league roster, but he'll lose his spot in the majors as the active roster goes down to 28 players. The 29-year-old went 1-for-4 with two strikeouts and one run in two appearances with the Astros to begin the season.

Mayfield started at shortstop and went 1-for-3 in Sunday's 6-5 extra-innings win over the Angels.

Mayfield made his first start of the season while Carlos Correa got the day off. Mayfield is filling in as the team's utility infielder with Aledmys Diaz (groin) on the injured list, but he's rarely used. Other than Sunday's start, Mayfield has made one appearance as a pinch runner and scored a run.

Mayfield has been named to Houston's 30-man roster, Julia Morales of AT&T SportsNet Southwest reports.

With Carlos Correa and Jose Altuve entrenched in the middle of Houston's infield, Mayfield will fill a reserve role in 2020. The 29-year-old struggled in his big-league debut last season, slashing .156/.169/.328 in 26 games.

Mayfield was added to the Astros' 60-man player pool Sunday.

Mayfield can play second base and shortstop, but the Astros are entrenched in the middle with Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa. Additionally, Aldemys Diaz is a multi-positional infielder who is the primary backup in the middle. Mayfield made his MLB debut in 2019 and looked overmatched at the plate, batting .156/.169/.328 over 65 plate appearances.

Mayfield was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock on Thursday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Mayfield struggled in his big-league debut in 2019, hitting .156 with a 24.6 percent strikeout rate in 65 plate appearances. With Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa and Aledmys Diaz all ahead of him on the depth chart, Mayfield doesn't project to play a significant role for Houston in 2020.

Mayfield hit .125 (3-for-24) with a double and six strikeouts over 13 Grapefruit League appearances.

Middle infield injuries in 2019 forced the Astros to call up Mayfield in June. That enabled him to experience the first MLB action of his career, but Mayfield looked overmatched in 65 plate appearances, hitting .156 with a 24.6 percent strikeout rate. That he was 28 years old at the time of his MLB debut should indicate where Mayfield stands in the organization. The health of the middle infield -- Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa and Aledmys Diaz -- is the key factor in determining whether Mayfield will open the season with Houston. Even if one of that trio is hurt, the Astros could survive without needing to call up Mayfield.

Mayfield went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in a loss to the Angels on Thursday.

Mayfield collected the first hit in his latest big-league stint the fifth inning, drilling a long ball to left field to temporarily tie the score. The 28-year-old belted 28 homers and batted .287 in 100 games with Triple-A Round Rock this season but has enjoyed considerably less success in the majors, hitting only .136 with a pair of homers and 16 strikeouts in 59 at-bats.

Mayfield was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock on Saturday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

With expanded rosters, Mayfield is at best the third option on the depth chart at the middle-infield positions. He is a decent defender, but his bat is a little light, especially by Houston's standards. Look for him to play sparingly down the stretch.

Mayfield was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock on Thursday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

The Astros purchased the contract of Abraham Toro from Triple-A after they lost Wednesday's game despite a dominant start from Justin Verlander. Mayfield simply wasn't providing enough offensive punch, so he will have to wait until September before he gets another chance in the majors.

Mayfield started at shortstop for the injured Carlos Correa (back) and went 1-for-4 with a double and a run scored in Tuesday's 6-3 win over Detroit.

The Astros placed Correa on the injured list Tuesday, so Mayfield's name should be written into several lineups while Correa is unavailable. The injury is not considered a serious one.

Mayfield replaced shortstop Carlos Correa after Correa left Monday's game with back discomfort.

Mayfield started at second base to give Jose Altuve a break but needed to adjust when Correa departed after his first-inning at-bat. Correa is listed as day-to-day, so Mayfield, who was called up to replace injured utility infielder Aledmys Diaz (head), could get some at-bats while Correa mends.

Mayfield was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock on Monday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Mayfield will provide the Astros with infield depth while Aledmys Diaz (head) spends time on the injured list. The 28-year-old Mayfield has struggled during his limited time in the majors this season (.143/.163/.310 in 43 plate appearances), though he's been hot since the start of August at Triple-A, slashing .333/.353/.730 with seven home runs in 15 games. Cy Sneed was sent to the minors in a corresponding move.

Mayfield was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock on Friday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The announcement that Carlos Correa (ribs) and Aledmys Diaz (hamstring) would be out through the All-Star break was expected to give Mayfield some job security in the short term, but he'll instead find his way back to Triple-A. Mayfield did little offensively to convince the Astros he should stay with a .143/.163/.310 slash line through 43 plate appearances. His return to the minors suggests the Astros feel Myles Straw's ability at shortstop will suffice in a pinch.