Bullpen takes a hit with Harris to DL

DETROIT — The Astros placed righthanded reliever Will Harris on the 10-day disabled list Sunday, two days after activating him from a previous stint for a bone bruise in his right shoulder.

Harris (2-2, 2.86 ERA) said he felt a normal amount of soreness after what was deemed a successful minor league rehab assignment Wednesday. But the soreness and inflammation persisted through Saturday, when Harris felt pain whenever he tried to throw at full strength.

His stint is retroactive to July 28, when he had been activated for the series over the weekend at Detroit. A game against the White Sox in Chicago on Aug. 8 is the first game Harris is eligible to return.

He will be shut down from throwing for at least the next few days and will not throw until the medical staff clears him, according to Harris and manager A.J. Hinch. Neither speculated on what day Harris could throw again.

With the Monday afternoon trade deadline approaching, the Astros’ speculated interest in acquiring a relief pitcher might have intensified after losing Harris for a second time. Harris has not appeared in a game since July 5.

“Obviously, I’m extremely disappointed,” Harris said.

For Musgrove, struggles persist

Since getting moved to the bullpen when he was crowded out of the rotation, Joe Musgrove has tried adjusting to the unpredictable life of a long reliever.

“It’s tough,” he said. “It’s fun being down there, knowing you have a chance to throw every day, but I wish I could throw more. Maybe down the line, I’ll get a chance in a more highleverage situation, but right now, I’m just trying to do my job.”

He stretches every inning in the bullpen to stay loose and waits for a call that might not come.

“Unless our starter gets in trouble early or it’s a blowout, I have to kind of prepare to come in at that point,” he said.

Idle for most of the last six days, Musgrove got his wish in Sunday’s finale against the Tigers.

With the Tigers ahead 3-0, starter Lance McCullers Jr. allowed two on without recording an out in the sixth inning.

Musgrove was enlisted to end the jam. Instead, he gave up consecutive RBI doubles and bore some responsibility for inciting the rest of a 13-1 blowout.

His unremarkable numbers in 13 starts is what forced a demotion to the minors for Musgrove (5-8, 5.86 ERA).

“I didn’t get off to the start that I was hoping to,” he said. “I had some trouble, not feeling very healthy at the start of the year. I just put myself in a big hole.

“Whether it’s relieving or starting, this is where I want to be.

“I still have high expectations for myself. This could be an opportunity for myself to kick-start things for me out of the bullpen.”

Odds and ends

Before lefthanded reliever Tony Sipp gave up five runs and inflated his ERA to 6.39 on Sunday, manager A.J. Hinch would not indulge reports the Astros were interested in adding lefthanded reliever Justin Wilson.

“He’s not on our team,” Hinch said. “So I can’t really go there.” … Dallas Keuchel will make his scheduled start Wednesday night against the Rays at Minute Maid.