Houston has arguably the best overall pitching staff in the major leagues but has run into a big problem because of injury.
The Astros are struggling to find someone to handle those standout pitchers after losing another catcher in their 5-3 victory over the Texas Rangers on
Tuesday.
The Astros will send right-hander Garrit Cole (9-2
Rayshawn Jenkins Jersey , 2.50 ERA) to the mound for the Independence Day, Lone Star State showdown at Globe Life Park in Arlington while the Rangers
counter with left-hander Mike Minor (6-4, 4.64).
Houston’s catching situation took a turn for the worst Tuesday when Max Stassi was forced from the game against Texas in the first inning after he was
hit on the right wrist by a pitch.
Stassi’s injury comes on the same day veteran catcher Brian McCann met with team medical director Dr. David Lintner ahead of having surgery on his right
knee. The Astros placed McCann on the disabled list Tuesday with a sore right
knee for the second time this season and recalled catcher Tim Federowicz from
Triple-A Fresno.
Federowicz took over for Stassi, who entered Tuesday’s game batting .255 with seven homers and 22 RBIs.
Houston manager A.J. Hinch wouldn’t say what type of surgery McCann would undergo and when the procedure would take place, but admitted that the Astros
without McCann, their front-line backstop, “for the foreseeable future.”
“We don’t know other than he’s heading for surgery and we’ll have a better timetable once he sees Dr. Lintner and goes through the medical process,” Hinch
told mlb.com. “We had a long conversation in Tampa (over the weekend), and it’s
continually the same issue over and over with his right knee. One of the options
is surgery, and he went back to Houston to take care of it.”
Texas right-handed reliever Chris Martin was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock on Tuesday prior to the club’s series opener against the Astros. The move made
room on the 25-man roster for first baseman Ronald Guzman, who returned from the
seven-day concussion disabled list.
Rangers manager Jeff Banister said Martin’s demotion was to create bench depth
“Chris hadn’t done anything to warrant being optioned
Tim Brown Jersey ,” Banister said. “He’s got options. Obviously, he’s pitched well for us in the bullpen. However, you’ve got to be able to protect some of
the other players on the team, too.”
Banister told mlb.com that Guzman passed the concussion protocol three days after he was placed on the disabled list. “Ronals was a full-go, as far as
baseball activities are concerned,” he said.
The Astros have shuffled their rotation for this week to give Lance McCullers, Jr. and Charlie Morton some additional rest. McCullers was originally
scheduled to start Wednesday against the Rangers.
Cole makes his first start in July after going 4-1 with a 3.41 ERA in six June starts, posting a 1.11 WHIP and 42 strikeouts in 37 innings. The Astros are
14-3 in games started by Cole, who is looking to reach double digits in
wins.
Minor has been one of the Rangers’ best starters of late. He was 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA in four June starts. Minor is 4-2 with a 3.44 ERA in nine home starts
this season.
Minor is 1-2 with a 5.06 ERA in nine games (six starts) versus Houston, including 0-1, 5.74 in three starts this season.
Cole is 3-0 with a 1.33 ERA in four starts against Texas
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Odell Beckham Jr. has been cleared to practice although the star New York Giants'
receiver did little work in team periods at the opening of the first mandatory
minicamp under new coach Pat Shurmur.
Beckham, who missed several voluntary practices in the final phase of organized team activities in the past month, looked good running pass routes
Tuesday. He appeared to cut well testing the left ankle that was broken on Oct.
8 against the Chargers, sidelining him for the final 11 games.
Just the fact that Beckham was there entering the final year of his contract was a positive.
It was a good day overall for Shurmur and the Giants in terms of attendance. Everyone was there, including defensive tackle Damon Harrison who missed many of
the OTA practices.
The practice was what one would expect from a team looking to make amends for the 3-13 season that led to the firing of second-year coach Ben McAdoo and
longtime general manager Jerry Reese.
The biggest interest centered around Beckham. He was there. The Giants also had no intention of pushing him.
Shurmur wasn't worried about Beckham's contract and how negotiations were proceeding. The 25-year-old three-time Pro Bowler has said he wants to be the
NFL's highest-paid player, but whether that happens with him coming off a major
injury remains to be seen.
"I've said it before and I'll say it again, I look at a player that loves football, he's out there right now doing his thing and he wants to be here and
as the coach and the player, that's what we talk about," Shurmur said.
Quarterback Eli Manning said Beckham looked sharp running his routes.
Fellow receiver Sterling Shepard had no doubt Beckham would be ready for the season.
"I have never seen a guy work as hard as him and want it as much as him
Dion Dawkins Jersey ," Shepard said. "There is no doubt in my mind you'll be seeing 13 light it up in the stadium."
Beckham did not speak to the media on Tuesday.
Harrison didn't want to discuss why he missed many of the OTA practices, adding his big concern is getting the team back on track. He felt that Giants
were better than their record, but he was at a loss to explain why the club went
from being a playoff team in 2016 to one of the worst in a year.
"That was just a humbling season for everybody," he said. "So, if anybody was on their high horse, they have no choice but to get down now and get back to the
drawing board and work all over again, which is a good thing to see."
Manning said guys were competing in practice.
"Everyone has something to prove," the 37-year-old two-time Super Bowl MVP said. "I think guys are studying hard and going out there and competing. There
are obviously mistakes every day, but guys are learning from it and not
repeating them. I think it has been a good start. We have to keep it going and
find ways to improve every day."
The one notable absence was new general manager Dave Gettleman, who was recently diagnosed with cancer and is undergoing treatment.
Shurmur said the two speak every day.
NOTES: Harrison drew some laughs talking about running back Saquon Barkley, the No. 2 pick overall in the draft. 'Saquad'
Cortez Kennedy Jersey , that's what they call him, or something like that," Harrison said. "I'm excited to get out there in training camp, so I can
hit his ass. See what he's made of. I told him: 'It's not Penn State.'" ...
Manning did not want to comment on the settlement of a memorabilia lawsuit
brought against him, the team and three former equipment managers. "Just glad
it's over," he said. ... New inside linebacker Alec Ogletree expects to relay
coordinator James Bettcher's instructions during games. ... One surprise was
seeing Jon Halapio working as the starting center. Brett Jones started there
most of the season.
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