Jason Castro dropped from Astros roster due to COVID-19 protocols
HOUSTON, TX - OCTOBER 16: Jason Castro #18 of the Houston Astros hits a solo home run in the ninth inning during Game 2 of the ALCS between the Boston Red Sox and the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on Saturday, October 16, 2021 in Houston, Texas.
ATLANTA (AP) - Backup catcher Jason Castro was dropped from the Houston Astros’ World Series roster before Game 4 on Saturday because of Major League Baseball’s COVID-19 protocols.
He was replaced by Garrett Stubbs.
Castro was placed on the COVID-19 related injured list. Unlike a player replaced due to injury, Castro is eligible to return if he is cleared.
Castro, 34, was 0 for 2 in Game 1 against Atlanta and 0 for 1 in Game 2. He hit a go-ahead single in the ninth inning off Boston’s Nathan Eovaldi to help the Astros win Game 4 of the AL Championship Series.
Castro is a member of the players’ association’s eight-man executive subcommittee supervising collective bargaining with MLB.
Stubbs hit .176 in 34 at-bats during the regular season. He has not appeared in a big league game since Sept. 16 and last played at any level on Sept. 30 for the Triple-A Sugar Land Skeeters.