Astros Reliever Out For Playoffs After Punching His Locker

It seems to happen every year. A pitcher takes himself out by punching... something/anything in frustration. This time, Houston Astros right-hander Phil Maton has eliminated himself from the Astros' playoff roster by taking out his troubles on a locker.

Astros reliever Phil Maton fractured his fifth metacarpal bone after punching his locker.

He is out for the postseason. pic.twitter.com/eCPs8s8fFN

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 11, 2022

Maton fractured his fifth metacarpal bone in his hand after punching his locker. It happened after his final outing of the regular season last Wednesday, and he had surgery on Monday. The real crime apparently that led to his ill-fated punch: giving up a hit to his younger brother Nick Maton of the Philadelphia Phillies. 

Maton called the bone-headed move "selfish." “It’s one of those things that I hope doesn’t affect our team moving forward,” said Maton.

The 29-year-old finished the season with a 3.84 ERA, a 1.25 WHIP and a 73:24 K/BB ratio. 

If it makes Maton feel any better about missing out on the playoffs, Astros general manager James Click said the team had actually been debating whether to include Maton on the postseason roster even before his injury. So his scrap with the locker made the decision an easy one. 

Hey, the Astros could look at it this way: slugging lockers is at least a step up from banging garbage cans. 

Photo: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports