Astros getting close to full strength with key players returning from injury
INJURY UPDATE
23 August 2023
INJURY UPDATE
The Houston Astros have done a terrific job this season of battling through significant injuries to the ball club. And it appears their patience is being rewarded, with Jose Abreu (back) officially off the IL and starting at first base in Wednesday's lineup.
Midweek matchup.
đź•–: 7:10 PM
🏟: Closed
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— Houston Astros (@astros) August 23, 2023
Phil Maton (right elbow contusion) is also expected back as soon as the end of upcoming Tigers series, which starts this Friday, after throwing a successful bullpen session this week.
Michael Brantley (shoulder surgery) could soon join the club as well. Brantley is set to play for the second straight day/game for Sugar Land on Wednesday night, and if all goes well, we should know something soon, according to Astros GM Dana Brown. Fingers crossed.
Brown also discussed the status of Yordan Alvarez (sore finger) on the team's flagship station on Wednesday. He said Yordan is day-to-day, and the injury is nothing serious. Dana even said we could see Yordan pinch-hitting Wednesday or Thursday. The team was concerned that the soreness and swelling could cause some bad habits when swinging the bat.
Watch out MLB if the Astros get fully healthy for the stretch run.
José Soriano and two relievers combined for a two-hitter and Oswald Peraza hit his first home run since a trade from the Yankees to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 3-0 win over the Houston Astros on Sunday.
Soriano (10-9) allowed one hit and struck out eight in seven innings. Luis GarcĂa allowed one hit in a scoreless eighth and Kenley Jansen threw a perfect ninth for his 25th save.
There were two outs in the fifth when Peraza connected off Hunter Brown (10-7) into the bullpen in right-center field to put the Angels up 1-0. His homer comes after his two-run single in the ninth inning Saturday helped Los Angeles to a 4-1 victory that snapped a three-game skid.
Yoan Moncada walked to start the eighth and scored on Mike Trout’s double that bounced off the wall in center field to make it 2-0. Taylor Ward walked before Luis Rengifo reached and Trout scored on an error by Lance McCullers Jr. when the pitcher overthrew first base.
Yordan Alvarez singled with no outs in the first and Soriano walked a batter in the second and sixth innings. The Astros didn’t get another hit until RamĂłn UrĂas doubled with one out in the eighth inning. Los Angeles outfielder Taylor Ward was injured trying to make a catch on that hit when he crashed face-first into the metal scoreboard in left field.
He was carted off the field holding a towel to the right side of his face. He was taken to a hospital by ambulance where interim manager Ray Montgomery said he would receive stitches to close the cut and be evaluated.
Brown allowed three hits and a run with five strikeouts in six innings. McCullers Jr. allowed three hits and two runs in his first relief appearance since 2018.
The home run by Peraza.
It’s the fifth time the Astros have been shut out this month.
LHP Yusei Kikuchi (6-9, 3.68 ERA) will start for Los Angeles in the series finale Monday against RHP Luis Garcia, who’ll make his return after sitting out since May 2023 recovering from Tommy John surgery.