AL West Check-In: Houston Astros lose two SPs to elbow surgery

HOUSTON (AP) — Houston Astros starters Cristian Javier and Jose Urquidy are both expected to undergo surgery on their right elbows, a major blow for a team trying to rebound after a terrible start to the season.

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General manager Dana Brown made the announcement Wednesday, saying Urquidy will have surgery Wednesday while Javier’s surgery is scheduled for Thursday.

“Right now, they’re both having elbow surgery,” Brown said. “We’re not sure, but Tommy John is definitely a possibility to talk to both of them.”

Both players will miss the entire season and would miss part of next season if Tommy John surgery is necessary, with the typical recovery from ulnar collateral ligament replacement surgery taking 12 to 18 months.

The recovery of an internal brace, which uses an artificial material to make the repair, has allowed pitchers to return to the majors in as little as nine months.

The Astros were already dealing with injuries in their rotation, with starters Luis Garcia and Lance McCullers having yet to pitch this season due to injuries and not expected to return until after the All-Star break.

But Brown said he thought the Astros’ rotation, led by Justin Verlander and Framber Valdez, would do well despite the injuries, as Hunter Brown, Spencer Arrighetti and Ronel Blanco filled in well.

“Losing Urquidy and Javier is tough, but thank God we have the young kids stepping up and they’re starting to throw the ball well,” Brown said. “So I think our rotation is pretty good right now. You never want to lose these types of weapons, but there’s no need to panic because our guys are throwing really well.

Houston, which has reached the AL Championship Series in each of the last seven seasons, entered Wednesday’s games in third place in the AL West with a 28-34 record. The Astros trail the Seattle Mariners (35-27) by seven games for the division lead, with Texas (29-32) in between.

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Brown said injuries won’t change his approach until the July 30 trade deadline.

“We’re always looking for pitches for reasons like this,” he said. “I’ve been playing baseball for 34 years and I know how long and how tough the season is. It’s a 162 build so we’re still in the market for claiming pitchers…and we’re still trying to add depth. So we are continuing our business as usual, we are not waiting for things to collapse to find answers.”

Urquidy did not pitch this season after spraining his right forearm in spring training. He appeared poised to come off the injured list before leaving an early rehab start for Triple-A Sugar Land with right elbow inflammation on May 24.

The 29-year-old underwent Tommy John surgery in 2017 and made his big league debut two years later. He was 3-3 with a 5.29 ERA in 10 starts and six relief appearances last season.

In five major league seasons, Urquidy is 27-16 with a 3.98 ERA in 70 starts and nine relief appearances.

Javier was 3-1 with a 3.89 ERA in seven starts for Houston this season. He was placed on injured reserve with right forearm discomfort on May 24.

The 27-year-old is 33-18 with a 3.59 ERA in 116 career appearances with 82 starts in five MLB seasons.

Missing time for Houston Astros All-Star

Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman was scratched from Wednesday’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals due to soreness in his left hand after being hit by a pitch the night before.

Bregman remained in the game Tuesday night after being hit in the hand in the first inning and finished 1 for 3. X-rays were negative. He was originally in the lineup batting at second base and playing third base before being scratched approximately 75 minutes before the first pitch.

The Astros were already without Kyle Tucker, with the right fielder missing a second straight game after fouling his right shin Monday night. Manager Joe Espada said Wednesday that Tucker was still very ill, but the Astros were hopeful he could return Friday.

Mauricio Dubón was moved from center field to third base with Bregman out, and Jake Meyers was playing center against the Cardinals.

Bregman has led Houston’s offense of late, hitting five home runs in the last eight games.

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