INJURY NEWS

Houston Astros put Cristian Javier on injured list

Astros Cristian Javier
Javier is headed to the IL. Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images.

Houston Astros right-handers Cristian Javier and José Urquidy will each undergo an MRI after both experienced forearm discomfort.

Javier was placed on the 15-day injured list Monday. Urquidy was pulled early from his rehab start with Triple-A Sugar Land last Friday. Houston manager Joe Espada said before Monday night’s series opener in Seattle that both pitchers will get an MRI on Tuesday.

The 27-year-old Javier threw four innings and gave up a season-high eight hits in his most recent start against the Angels last Tuesday. It was his third start since missing 18 games earlier this season with neck discomfort. Javier skipped his scheduled bullpen Sunday because of the discomfort in his right forearm.

Urquidy was making his third rehab start for Sugar Land when he was pulled after 3 2/3 innings. He has yet to pitch in the majors this season due to forearm discomfort.

Houston recalled right-hander Alex Speas from Sugar Land to take Javier’s roster spot. The Astros also recalled first baseman José Abreu from Sugar Land and had him in the lineup at first base against the Mariners. The 2020 AL MVP started the season hitting .099 with three RBIs in 22 games before accepting a demotion to the minors.

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Yordan Alvarez is still having issues with his hand. Composite Getty Image.

Houston Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez has experienced a setback in his recovery from a broken right hand and will see a specialist.

Astros general manager Dana Brown said Alvarez felt pain when he arrived Tuesday at the team's spring training complex in West Palm Beach, Florida, where he had a workout a day earlier. Alvarez also took batting practice Saturday at Daikin Park.

He will be shut down until he's evaluated by the specialist.

“It’s a tough time going through this with Yordan, but I know that he’s still feeling pain and the soreness in his hand,” Brown said before Tuesday night's series opener at Colorado. “We’re not going to try to push it or force him through anything. We're just going to allow him to heal and get a little bit more answers as to what steps we take next.”

Alvarez has been sidelined for nearly two months. The injury was initially diagnosed as a muscle strain, but when Alvarez felt pain again while hitting in late May, imaging revealed a small fracture.

The 28-year-old outfielder, who has hit 31 homers or more in each of the past four seasons, had been eyeing a return as soon as this weekend at the Los Angeles Dodgers. Now it's uncertain when he'll play.

“We felt like he was close because he had felt so good of late,” Brown said, “but this is certainly news that we didn't want.”

You can watch Brown discuss the setback in the video below.

Also Tuesday, the Astros officially placed shortstop Jeremy Peña on the 10-day injured list with a fractured rib and recalled infielder Shay Whitcomb from Triple-A Sugar Land.

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