Hinch: Bauer needs to sweep his own porch rather than smear Astros

Houston Astros manager A.J. Hinch quickly dismissed Trevor Bauer's thinly veiled criticisms of his team's pitching staff Tuesday, and added some of his own fuel to the fire.

"I do think people need to sweep their own front porch and deal with their own situations rather than throw accusations that are unfounded," Hinch told Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com before Tuesday's game against the New York Yankees. Hinch added that "(Bauer has) decided to make himself front and center on dealing with baseball curiosities."

The Cleveland Indians starter caused a stir earlier Tuesday by insinuating that Astros pitchers - particularly starters Justin Verlander, Gerrit Cole, and Charlie Morton - are using foreign substances to get a better grip on the baseball, thereby improving their spin rate compared to when they were on previous teams. Bauer was subsequently ridiculed on Twitter by Astros players Lance McCullers Jr., Alex Bregman, and Collin McHugh.

Prior to the game against New York, Bregman wasn't interested in discussing the online feud, telling Brian McTaggart of MLB.com, "I'm going to go out there and play baseball."

The Astros host the Indians for a three-game series from May 18-20.