Astros Pitcher Scratched from Start Against Diamondbacks Friday Night
The Houston Astros made a last second change to their starting lineup, hours before first pitch of Friday's series opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Rookie JP France (11-6, 3.83 ERA) had been scheduled to pitch the first game of the Astros' critical, final series of the year in Phoenix, Arizona. The Astros announced via Twitter that France had been scratched from his start due to a family emergency.
In his place, veteran Jose Urquidy (2-3, 5.84 ERA) will take the mound for the Astros, as they fight for a postseason spot.
Later on Friday, France's wife tweeted that the medical emergency had passed and that everything was OK.
The Astros have struggled down the stretch of the season, and enter Friday having lost ten of their last 15 games. The club leads the Seattle Mariners by one game for the third and final American League Wild Card. Houston is still in contention for an AL West division title and first round bye from the Wild Card Series round of the MLB playoffs, however Dusty Baker's team has yet to clinch a postseason berth.
The Astros trail the Texas Rangers by two games in the AL West. The Rangers dropped game one of a four-game series with the Mariners Thursday night.
Justin Verlander (6-3, 3.57 ERA) is scheduled to pitch for the Astros Sunday. Dusty Baker's starting pitcher for Sunday is to be determined.
The Diamondbacks are also fighting for a playoff spot. The club hasn't clinched a postseason berth since 2017. With a win Friday night, Arizona will secure a spot in the playoffs for the first time in six years.
Ace Zac Gallen will take the mound for the Diamondbacks.
