The Astros had two regulars leave Saturday’s game against the Orioles, and both exits came in the middle of at-bats that changed the feel of the afternoon.
Jeremy Pena was pulled after striking out in the third inning and was diagnosed with a right hamstring cramp. Christian Walker then exited during an at-bat in the fourth because of right hip tightness. Houston did not offer any update on how serious either issue might be.
Pena’s season has already been a stop-start one. He fractured a finger in March, which kept him out of the World Baseball Classic but not the regular season.
Then came a hamstring strain in mid-April, followed by a calf strain in early July. Even with the interruptions, he has produced when available, putting up a 123 wRC+, though he had only gotten into 52 games heading into the weekend.
Walker’s situation is different. He had been healthy all year, but his bat had cooled off in a big way. After a strong couple of months to begin the season, he had posted a .664 OPS since the start of June before Saturday’s game.
If Houston needs help, Chandler Rome of The Athletic noted that infielder Ray Delgado was removed from Triple-A Sugar Land’s lineup on Saturday night. Delgado has logged time at every infield spot except first base with the Astros this season, which would make him a natural option if Pena or Walker has to miss time.
Around the rest of the AL West, the Athletics are still waiting on Nick Kurtz to get back to baseball work. Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reported that Kurtz has not yet resumed baseball activities after going on the IL shortly before the All-Star break with a thumb sprain. Before the injury, the slugger had gone hitless in his final 20 at-bats.
The A’s also have Zack Gelof moving in the right direction. His stitches come out Tuesday, and he is expected to return to baseball activities after that.
Gelof injured his knee sliding into the left field wall against the Tigers and has missed the past week. He also sat out earlier this year with a bruised hand.
The 26-year-old has been one of the brighter stories in Oakland’s lineup, putting together a bounce-back season with a 120 wRC+ in 67 games.
In Texas, Nathan Eovaldi is set to take the ball Sunday after being cleared despite an illness, according to Kennedi Landry of MLB.com. His run prevention numbers have not matched last season’s level, but he has been missing more bats, and his 9.70 K/9 is a career high.
The Rangers also welcomed Jakob Junis back this weekend after a short IL stint for a hip impingement. He made an immediate impact Saturday, getting the first two outs of the eighth inning for his 12th hold. Junis and Jacob Latz have quietly become a tough late-inning duo for Texas.
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