3 Pitchers Most Motivated to Plunk Alex Bregman and Jose Altuve

The reputation of the Houston Astros has been forever-tarnished in the fallout of MLB's investigation into the team's sign-stealing operation. To nobody's surprise, the revenge tour has already started in Spring Training with several Astros players getting beaned by opposing pitchers.

That narrative is expected to continue making headlines well into the 2020 regular season, if not all of it. With that in mind, let's take a look at three hurlers who will be the most eager to plunk two of the Astros' most prominently-featured players in the investigation and its aftermath -- Alex Bregman and Jose Altuve.

3. Mike Fiers

Oakland Athletics right-hander Mike Fiers / Daniel Shirey/Getty Images

No, Mike Fiers is NOT a weasel for spilling the beans on his former club. The whistleblower who prompted the league's investigation into the Astros has been berated by players (current and former) as well as the occasional irrational pundit. And while he's had some supporters as well, Fiers undoubtedly has blood boiling under his skin after being called a "snitch." Further, the Athletics, who reside in the AL West, have been exploited countless times by Houston's cheating ventures over the last couple of seasons. Talk about a double-edged sword.

2. Clayton Kershaw

Clayton Kershaw against the Astros in the 2017 World Series / Harry How/Getty Images

Yes, Kershaw is a renowned postseason choke artist, but a glaring stat recently surfaced that proves the three-time NL Cy Young was exposed by the Astros' despicable antics. Kershaw, arguably the greatest pitcher of his generation, failed to register a swing and miss across a whopping 51 breaking pitches thrown in a single game during the 2017 World Series. Kersh should absolutely have revenge on his mind in 2020, so it wouldn't be all too surprising if a fastball ran up and in the next time the Dodgers and Astros face off. Unfortunately, however, the two sides won't meet during the 2020 regular season, so for this dream scenario to occur, the two sides would have to meet in the World Series.

1. Aroldis Chapman

Yankees left-hander Aroldis Chapman pitching in the 2019 ALCS / Mike Stobe/Getty Images

There was simply no other choice for the No. 1 spot. Whenever the Astros' sign-stealing scandal is mentioned, we can't help but picture Aroldis Champan's smirk after surrendering an ALCS-clinching walk-off home run to Jose Altuve in October. You really can't help but think that Chapman knew that Houston was up to no good. We hold no doubts that the Yankees left-handed flamethrower would love nothing more than to drill Altuve with a triple-digit heater.