ESSAY: Where is Mike Fiers? This true Astros fan wants to see him on the mound

FILE - In this May 25, 2019, file photo, Oakland Athletics pitcher Mike Fiers works against the Seattle Mariners in the first inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif. Fiers and the Athletics might have reason to be downright mad. They won 97 games each of the past two seasons to finish as the second-place team in the AL West behind the Houston Astros, whom Fiers called out in November in a story by The Athletic for a sign-stealing scheme that led to season-long MLB suspensions for Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow and manager AJ Hinch. Fiers insisted at Fan Fest that he is moving forward, declining to address anything regarding what he did by speaking out or even his role cleaning up the sport. He said he owes that to his teammates. (AP Photo/Ben Margot, File) (Ben Margot, Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

HOUSTON – I don’t know about you, but this Houston Astros fan has been looking forward to seeing Mike Fiers on the mound against my team.

You probably don’t need to be reminded, but Fiers was the whistleblower in the Astros sign-stealing scandal.

Recommended Videos



The Oakland right hander did not pitch during the season-opening four-game series between the A’s and the Astros.

And it does not appear he will be in the rotation for the three-game series that starts Thursday at Minute Maid Park.

Oakland has Cole Irvin, Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas listed as the starters.

Oakland Athletics pitcher Mike Fiers ponders a question during an interview with the media on Friday, Jan. 24, 2020, in Oakland, Calif. Fiers, the Oakland pitcher and whistleblower in the Houston Astros sign-stealing scandal, appeared with teammates and manager Bob Melvin at team offices. Fiers has not spoken publicly about the sign stealing since the story was published in The Athletic in November. (AP Photo/Ben Margot) (Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

So where is Fiers?

He was placed on 10-day IL with back and hip issues as the MLB season got underway last week.

It’s not clear when Fiers will make his 2021 debut, but it doesn’t look like it will be in Houston.

That’s a shame, because this Astros fan really wants to see him look into the eyes of his former teammates as they hit bombs into the Crawford boxes.

If in fact he doesn’t play this week, the next chance for the Astros to face Fiers will be on the road when they compete again in mid-May. The next series between the teams in H-town is July 6, 7, and 8.