Houston Astros Injury Updates: Garcia, Urquidy, McCullers, McCormick, Brantley and Altuve
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Unfortunately, injuries are becoming a way-too-often occurrence for the Houston Astros.
The Astros were dealt another blow to their starting rotation when Luis Garcia left the game just eight pitches into his start after dealing with elbow soreness on Monday, May 1.
We'll discuss the latest on Garcia, along with starting pitchers Jose Urquidy and Lance McCullers Jr. and position players Chas McCormick, Michael Brantley and Jose Altuve.
Garcia lands on 15-day IL, Matt Gage called up from Triple-A
Upon exiting Monday's game against the San Francisco Giants, Garcia told reporters he will be undergoing an MRI on Tuesday, May 2, after feeling pain in his elbow after the fifth pitch he threw.
"I felt pain in the elbow, so I had to come out because I wasn't going to be able to throw another [pitch]," Garcia told MLB.com's Brian McTaggart. "That was basically it."
According to the latest updates, Garcia was placed on the 15-day IL and the Astros called up left-hander Matt Gage.
Urquidy placed on 15-day IL, Brandon Bielak recalled from Sugar Land
Urquidy was placed on the 15-day injured list on Monday, and Baker told reporters that right-hander will likely be shut down for indefinite period of time.
"[Urquidy] had some inflammation in his shoulder, so he'll be out a while, we don't know how long until he gets better," Baker said. "We're going to shut him down from throwing. Hopefully he'll be back relatively soon. We don't know when. We just have to call upon whoever's the best available."
At this time, that appears to be Bielak -- who was recalled from the Triple-A Space Cowboys earlier Monday as a replacement for Urquidy.
He pitched four innings in relief after Garcia's exit on Monday, allowing two runs with three walks and six strikeouts for a 4.50 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP.
McCullers still expected to return in June
McCullers is continuing to throw from the front of the bullpen mound as he works his was back from an elbow strain that has sidelined him since Spring Training.
He first experienced the pain in a bullpen session on Feb. 14 and has been shut down since that time.
According to McTaggart, McCullers began his throwing program in March and is expected to return in June.
McCormick begin rehab assignment for Double-A Corpus Christi
McCormick is now 1-for-6 in two games in a rehab assignment with the Double-A Hooks as he works his way back to the club.
He played seven innings defensively on April 30, and Baker believes McCormick will need six or seven rehab games before returning to the Astros.
At this time, he's expected to be back with the team in early May.
Brantley continues rehab assignment with Triple-A Space Cowboys
Brantley is now 3-for-14 in his rehab assignment with Triple-A Sugar Land as he inches closer to returning to Houston's lineup.
Thus far defensively, he has started four games in left field and one as the designated hitter.
He played all nine innings defensively for the first time this year on April 30, and is expected to return to the club in early May.
Altuve begins fielding grounders, looks to rejoin team in late-May or early-June
Not much has changed on the Altuve news front, as the All-Star second baseman is still sidelined from the fractured right thumb he sustained in the World Baseball Classic.
However, Altuve is apparently ahead of his recovery schedule, according to Astros general manager Dana Brown, and he fielded grounders at the ball park on Tuesday, May 2 for the first time since his injury.
At this time, he's expected to be back in Houston's lineup by late-May at best, and likely early-June.
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