Michael Brantley's injury has opened two paths for the Houston Astros. His injured list placement has offered more starts in left field to Aledmys Daz and Chas McCormick, but it also hints at a need of another bat at the trade deadline with Yordan lvarez's lingering hand sorene s.Through 16 games in Thon Maker Jersey July, McCormick is slashing .292/.424/.500 with an improved walk rate. The righty has reached 11 times via a free pa s to his 11 strikeouts his best strikeout-to- Matthew Dellavedova Jersey walk ratio of any month this season.Given the early struggles of Jake Meyers, it would behoove the Astros to not option McCormick or package him in a trade if the team doesn't add an experienced center fielder.Daz is also quietly providing fire power in July with a .302/.383/.585 slash line. The righty has slugged three home runs and six doubles through 53 at-bats while also walking seven times to his 12 strikeouts.Both McCormick and Daz are showing glimpses of everyday players in response to Brantley's absense with improved plate discipline. Down the stretch and into October, these two offer the most a surance off the bench based on recent succe s.Scroll to continueYordan lvarez took Sunday off due to right hand sorene s which placed him on injured Giannis Antetokounmpo Jersey list prior to the All-Star break.More off days will slip into Ray Allen Jersey lvarez's schedule over the next month while the Astros are in position to add an offensive weapon at the trade deadline or continue to offer starts to McCormick and Daz.The lefty has been the best in baseball in terms of OPS (1.075), slugging percentage (.668) and hard hit percentage (62.1%), but as the Astros scored eight runs without him, an extra hard-hitting bat could still push them over come October.First baseman already as the club could add Oscar Robertson Jersey a switch-hitting power bat who sits 14th in OPS in Major League Baseball. A darkhorse outfielder, Michael Conforto, also after going unsigned this offseason due to injury concerns.There are numerous levels to the Astros' plans, but in the shadow of Brantley's injury, Houston's bench has responded effectively.More From SI's Inside The Astros: