Urquidy could be back on mound in a week
The Astros are tentatively targeting a Labor Day weekend return for righthander Jose Urquidy.
Urquidy has not pitched this season and remains on the injured list for undisclosed reasons. He’s been built up to around 50 pitches at the team’s alternate training site in Corpus Christi through intrasquad games and live batting practices.
Urquidy was scheduled to appear in another scrimmage Saturday at Whataburger Field. On Saturday, manager
Dusty Baker suggested Urquidy could rejoin the club for its doubleheader against the Angels in Anaheim on Sept. 5 — a makeup of the game postponed Thursday because of the threat of Hurricane Laura.
Baker said the team is stretching Urquidy out as a starter.
The return of an effective and efficient Urquidy would be wonderful for the Astros’ depleted starting rotation, one crippled by an injury to Justin
Verlander and the ineffectiveness of Josh
James and Brandon Bielak.
Urquidy dazzled in 2019, compiling a 1.50 ERA during 18 September innings before stymying the Nationals in Game 4 of the World Series.
Diaz returns after missing 30 games
The Astros activated utilityman Aledmys Diaz from the injured list Saturday and optioned first baseman Taylor Jones to the alternate training site. Jones remained with the major league team Saturday as its 29th man for the doubleheader against the A’s.
Diaz had been sidelined since July 25 with a right groin strain he suffered in the team’s opening day win over Seattle. His return affords manager
Dusty Baker sorely needed flexibility on the bench and an upgrade at third base in Alex Bregman’s absence.
Though Jack Mayfield started the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader, Diaz could take most of the third base duties while Bregman nurses his strained right hamstring.
Baker must balance that urge with Diaz’s extensive injury history. Since the Astros acquired him last winter, Diaz has spent 103 days on the injured list and appeared in only 70 games. He can play first base, third base, shortstop or left field, Baker said.
“I have to be careful not to overplay him because he has a history of injuries, and we certainly can’t lose him again,” Baker said.
Another prospect joins pitching staff
In a season defined by early debuts of their pitching prospects, the Astros summoned another Saturday, calling up righthander Luis Garcia from their alternate training site.
Garcia will pitch out of the bullpen, manager
Dusty Baker said, even though the Astros were stretching him out as a starting pitcher at Whataburger Field.
The team hopes Garcia can throw a bullpen session Sunday before Monday’s off day.
“All these guys down in the bullpen were mostly starters,” Baker said, “but he’s been schooled to help us as a reliever.”
The Astros optioned
Chase de Jong to their alternate site to make room for Garcia.
Baseball America ranks Garcia as the Astros’ 14th best prospect. MLBPipeline pegs him at 17th.
The 23-year-old Venezuelan righthander signed for $20,000 in 2017.
Garcia has not appeared above Class A Advanced, where he threw 65⅔ innings last season. Garcia has 284 strikeouts in 205 minor league innings. Opponents are hitting .196 against him.
Garcia experienced a velocity spike last season. His four-seam fastball hovers around 93-95 mph and can reach 97-98.
Garcia has three secondary pitches — a changeup, a 12-to-6 curveball and a hard slider that he now throws in the mid-80s. The changeup is Garcia’s most trusted secondary offering.