Washington Nationals
(Photo : REUTERS)

In last Thursday night's game between the Washington Nationals and the Houston Astros, the pitchers from the Nationals hit Astros batters a number of times.  And overall Astros batters have been hit than any other team this spring.

This could be the price they're paying after Major League Baseball's investigation revealed the team used an elaborate sign-stealing scheme on their way to the 2017 World Series.

Ramon Santos stated on Wednesday that a breaking ball "just got away from him" after striking Astros third baseman Alex Bregman in the back. Bregman became the seventh Houston batter hit in a total of five games.

MLB: Spring Training-St. Louis Cardinals at Houston Astros
(Photo : Reuters)

Dusty Baker, the manager of the Astros, claimed on Monday when José Altuve, the second baseman, was set down throughout the game's fifth inning versus the Detroit Tigers, that it only happened because he was hit in the foot and that it was nothing since it wasn't done intentionally.

If the batters from the Astros persist to wear pitches during the regular season, then they could end up beyond the William Hill sportsbook record for having been hit several times, and a hitter from Houston might get benched this season due to injury. An MLB-high 95 pitches hit the New York Mets last season and MLB had an average of only 66.

The fact is, five games is a remarkably short period of time to be hit by as many pitches. According to the MLB, the Cincinnati Reds, known for the six hit-by-pitches in a total of four games, have the lead in the spring's hit-by-pitches-per-game. 

Albeit, they are not guilty of cheating in recent years. Despite all that, the Cincinnati Reds' stats are still suspicious even though the Astros' scandal remains the center of attention.

According to Baker, there is no other meaning behind the hit-by-pitch by Altuve on Monday, but he pleads to Rob Manfred, an MLB Commissioner, to defend his team from people who want to take matters into their own hands.

Baker also said that he is depending on the end of the apparently deliberated reprisal rumors that got to him to the hands of the league. He also added that in life, if you have deliberately planned anything, you will always get sort of scolded or criticized.

He hopes that before anyone gets harmed, the league will try to stop this issue and that all parties should stop the back-and-forths before anything else happens since it does not contribute anything good for the game and it isn't something children should see.

Baker's appeal was made following comments from several pitchers who proposed that all players from the Astros should face consequences for their violations and offenses and should not be granted immunity.

Mike Clevinger, a pitcher from the Cleveland Indians, said in January that he does not believe it's going to be a pleasant few at-bats for several boys and it shouldn't be.

Ross Stripling, a pitcher from the Los Angeles Dodgers, was asked if he would hit a batter from the Astros on purpose if he had the chance. He responded that he would agree to do it and that it would be on his mind, but at the right time and in the right place.

Manfred also hopes that he has made it greatly transparent and explicit that the act of vengeance will not be allowed.

He added that in this current situation, it is risky and won't contribute to anything.

The teams who weren't involved when the issue on sign-stealing was taking place from 2017 to 2018 joined in criticizing the hitters from Astros with taunts and ridicules this spring.

When fans witnessed the 2017 World Series MVP, George Springer, swinging and missing a pitch from Justin Wilson during the Met's spring game on Wednesday, fans in the Port St. Lucie, Fla. training stadium, let him know just how pleased they were.

Just like Springer, who hasn't hit by a pitch yet, teammates Osvaldo Duarte, Aledmys Díaz, Dustin Garneau, Jake Meyers, Bregman, Altuve, and Alex De Goti, haven't been so unlucky.