The Houston Astros suffered their first blow on Friday night when they announced Isaac Paredes would miss the game with an injury. Paredes has been the team's best hitter this season, batting .255 with 15 home runs and 42 RBIs. However, that wasn't the only injury concern of the night, as Jacob Melton also left mid-game with an apparent ankle issue.
Joe Espada provided an update after the game via Brian McTaggart. Paredes has a left hamstring injury, which should only keep him out of the lineup for a couple of days and not result in a stint on the injured list. Melton's ankle injury appears to be a more significant issue, as he has a "pretty good" right ankle sprain, and the extent of the injury won't be known until the tests are complete.
Melton isn't as valuable a hitter as Paredes, but he is still a depth piece in the lineup that the Astros now need to fill. The front office may have already been considering ways to upgrade Melton's position, and this injury could accelerate the process.
As one injury takes Melton out of the lineup, the Astros could soon see the return of Chas McCormick. McCormick strained his oblique at the end of May, but swung a bat for the first time on Friday. It's a small step in the right direction, but his return, according to the team, is still scheduled for July.