Keuchel ready to go but willing to play it safe

If the public is to take Dallas Keuchel at his word, the lefty ace could stroll to the mound and help an Astros bullpen that is more strained than his creaky neck.

On Thursday, Keuchel, who is on the disabled list because of a pinched nerve in his neck, said he feels healthy enough to throw a bullpen within a week and has not ruled out returning to start a game in the Toronto series July 6-9.

“If I really had to, I could pitch right now, but I want to be 100 percent symptom-free,” he said. “There’s still a slight chance that Toronto’s in the cards. I’d like to do that, but if I’m not 100 percent, I’ll probably pick it up the first series after the All-Star break.”

The Astros return home from the break to host the Minnesota Twins on July 14.

Keuchel, 29, has thrown from a distance of 120 feet but has not pitched off a mound. The team has taken a conservative approach after he rushed back from injury the first time.

“We don’t want a reoccurrence,” Keuchel said. “I obviously came back too soon the first time. It was detrimental to the team. It put the team in a bad spot in Kansas City (on June 7). I’m still paying off debts to the bullpen for that one.”

Keuchel, who is 9-0 with a 1.67 ERA, was a lock to make the AL All-Star team before his injury. He said that even if he is healed by the game July 11, he would not be available to pitch.

“Probably do a rehab stint in the All-Star Game, if I was selected,” he said jokingly. “I’m pretty sure everybody in the front office would love that.”

He said he would need to throw only a light bullpen session and batting practice to go five to six innings in his return start.

To prevent any more pain to his neck, Keuchel has devoted more time to stretching his thoracic spine “to the point where it’s not inflaming while I sleep, while I work out, while I do random things throughout the day.”