PT TOMORROW: AL West—Can a timeout salvage Villar?

Houston Astros

Jonathon Villar (SS, HOU) has split the last eight SS starts through Tuesday with Marwin Gonzalez (3B/SS, HOU), perhaps partially due to the lingering effects of a bruised thumb sustained vs. CHW two weeks ago. But Villar's brutal 12-for-77 in May (.156 BA) hints that there may be more here that meets the eye. We noted Villar's strengths and considerable floor here just before Opening Day; a look under the hood now two months later offers conflicting data and a mixed bag.

For one, Villar's 24% LD% in May coupled with a 20% h% points to the obvious. And for the season, Villar is hitting with more authority than he did as a 2013 rookie, as suggested by 5 HR and a 121/124 PX/xPX—and as his minor league track record indicated...

Almost!

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