Houston Astros

Bregman will be back in the lineup Thursday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Bregman was given the night off Wednesday as a way to reboot a dormant bat. Since the first four-hit game of his career April 11 against the Twins, the young third baseman had gone 3-for-21. Manager A.J. Hinch had dropped him from second to fifth in the batting order Tuesday, so the manager is looking to get him on track. Bregman is hitting .214 through 18 games.

Gonzalez went 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored in Wednesday's 7-1 win over the Mariners.

Like many in the Astros' lineup over the past week, Gonzalez has been quieted by opposing pitchers. He entered Wednesday's game in a 2-for-20 slide before he delivered a go-ahead, two-run single in the seventh inning that ignited a six-run inning. The two-hit night raised his season batting average to .186. It would be easy to dismiss his breakout 2017 campaign as a fluke event, but in the middle of this powerful offense, we suggest patience.

Sipp (oblique) was activated off the disabled list Wednesday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Sipp was in uniform and available, but did not pitch in Wednesday's game at Seattle. He returns to become the lone left-hander in the bullpen after dealing with soreness in his right oblique. Prior to the injury, he allowed one earned run on two hits and two walks while striking out two over 2.1 innings.

Cole (2-0) allowed just one unearned run on five hits and two walks with five strikeouts through seven innings to pick up the win Wednesday over the Mariners.

For the first time all season, Cole didn't reach double-digit strikeouts, but it didn't stop him from going seven strong innings for the fourth time in a row. Cole has also yet to allow more than five hits or two runs in any start. The 27-year-old is looking like a steal of an acquisition for the Astros, as he has delivered nothing but ace-level performances to start his Houston career.

Bregman is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Mariners.

Bregman will head to the bench for the first time all season after starting each of the first 18 games and going 15-for-70 (.214) with a homer and a stolen base. Marwin Gonzalez will slide to third base in his stead, with Derek Fisher drawing a start in left field as a result.