Hinch plays it cautiously with Correa

There’s a chance Carlos Correa might play this weekend against the Chicago Cubs.

The Astros haven’t ruled out the 21-year-old shortstop playing Sunday in the series finale scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at Minute Maid Park.

Correa didn’t play Saturday, missing his fourth game in a row as he deals with left shoulder inflammation.

Having Correa available for the most games during the season’s final three weeks is the priority over pushing him out and costing him time later, manager A.J. Hinch said before Saturday’s game, a 2-1 win over the Cubs.

“Even moving forward, every time we want to put him there, we’re going to risk the next three or four days,” Hinch said. “So we have to be very strategic with how we map this out.”

A combination of soreness and an early Saturday start kept Correa out. He is day-to-day.

Alex Bregman has played shortstop in Correa’s absence with Yulieski Gurriel at third base.

“We check every day and today’s not a good day for a couple reasons,” Hinch said before Saturday’s game. “One, he’s still feeling a little bit of soreness, and he may feel soreness the rest of the year.

“Secondly, it’s a really early game, so for prep work, for him to be able to really do a lot, we felt that another day of rest would be better than putting him out there.”

Correa hasn’t played since Tuesday. He was sent back to Houston the next day after a series of plays in the first two games against the Indians led to the inflammation.

Before Wednesday, Correa had only missed three games this season (June 10-12 with an ankle injury).

“I need another day to get it right, and hopefully, I’ll be back in action,” said Correa, who has 57 of his 90 RBIs since June 20. “We’re taking it day to day, so I can’t give you an update. I may wake up tomorrow really sore and may not be able to play.”

Peacock to start Tuesday vs. Rangers

Righthander Brad Peacock will start Tuesday against the Rangers in place of David Paulino, who lasted three innings in a lackluster major league debut.

Paulino moves to the bullpen, manager A.J. Hinch said Saturday.

The Astros hoped Paulino could inject some life in a hobbled rotation dealing with Lance McCullers on the disabled list and Dallas Keuchel out with shoulder inflammation.

The bullpen has been used heavily as only one starter since Aug. 30 has completed six innings.

“We’re probably going to use Paulino too,” Hinch said. “We’ve been using our whole bullpen. I think Peacock gives us the best chance to get into the game with a little more ease.”

Peacock (0-0) has lowered his ERA to 3.38 in his last two outings.

Odds and ends

Will Harris pitched a scoreless seventh Saturday for his ninth consecutive outing without allowing a run, his longest stretch since he went 26 games at the start of the season. … The Astros had their third sellout this season and surpassed 2 million fans in their 70th game.

Jake Kaplan and Angel Veredjo Jr.