HOUSTON -- To help make another deep postseason run, the Astros needed a catcher and got one: Martin Maldonado. His job? Catch the strongest pitching staff in baseball and be a "weapon," as manager AJ Hinch described his role for the American League West leaders.
"They know how to win," Maldonado said of his new club before Friday's series opener against the Rangers at Minute Maid Park. "They find a way to win. As a player, that's where you want to be."
Maldonado, an American League Gold Glove Award-winning catcher in 2017, appeared in 78 games behind the plate for the Angels this season, and he led all AL catchers with 77 starts entering Friday, along with posting the second-best caught stealing percentage among all Major League catchers at 40 percent, behind only Royals All-Star Salvador Perez (42.