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The aftermath of the Houston Astros’ sign-stealing scandal has spilled onto the field as 2020 Spring Training begins with an aggressive surge of hit-by-pitches.
Following Commissioner Rob Manfred’s report confirming the Houston Astros utilized a camera-based system to steal signs during their 2017 World Series run, the franchise has become a lightning rod for on-field retaliation. Astros hitters have been struck by pitches seven times in their first five games of Spring Training, signaling a volatile start to the season as the league grapples with the fallout of the cheating scandal.
- Astros hitters were hit by pitches seven times during their first five games of 2020 Spring Training, including third baseman Alex Bregman on February 26.
- Offshore sportsbooks have responded to the tension by setting the over/under for total Astros hit-by-pitches in the 2020 season at 80.5, significantly higher than the 2019 league average of 66.
The Growing Physical Retaliation
The frequency of hit-by-pitches during the opening week of camp follows intense public condemnation from MLB peers. Players including Mike Trout and Andrew Heaney voiced frustration regarding the perceived lack of individual player discipline within the league’s official report. This wave of criticism fueled widespread speculation that opposing pitchers would take retribution into their own hands, targeting Houston’s lineup despite the physical risks involved. Alex Bregman and George Springer currently sit as the favorites at betting windows to be hit most frequently throughout the year.
Commissioner Rob Manfred warned all clubs in mid-February that intentional beanings are “really dangerous” and “will not be tolerated” by the league.
Managerial Stance and League Oversight
New Astros manager Dusty Baker has publicly expressed his desire for the team to move past the scandal and focus on the upcoming campaign. While Baker hopes the Commissioner’s stern warnings regarding player safety will deter further retaliation, he acknowledged that the true temperature of the league will not be fully realized until the intensity of the regular season begins. The organization faces a unique challenge in navigating a schedule where opponents remain vocal about their disdain for the club’s actions during the 2017 season, with some figures like former Astros pitcher Ken Giles openly discussing the possibility of returning their World Series rings.
With William Hill oddsmakers monitoring the situation, all eyes are on how the league’s pitchers handle the Astros during their first high-profile regular season series, as the club faces an immediate gauntlet that will prove whether those early exhibition beanballs were just frustration or a sign of an 83.5-HBP season pace.
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