McHugh to skip a start; Marisnick’s reaction triggers ejection
OAKLAND, Calif. — The Astros will skip Collin McHugh’s next turn in the rotation Thursday to give the righthander more time for his right middle fingernail to heal while also letting Dallas Keuchel and Justin Verlander get back into the routine of every fifth game.
Brad Peacock will start on regular rest Thursday against the Los Angeles Angels in McHugh’s place. McHugh will likely be pushed back a full turn to the Astros’ Sept. 19-21 series against the Chicago White Sox at Minute Maid Park.
“Part of that is due to giving him as much time as he can to heal,” manager A.J. Hinch said Sunday. “I don’t think he needs that much time. But I also want to get Keuchel and Verlander on regular turn this next time.”
McHugh plans to try throwing during Monday’s day off or before Tuesday’s series opener at Angel Stadium. The issue, which is the Astros described as an “avulsion,” is the same one he dealt with in 2015, that time on his index finger. He didn’t miss a start then.
Verlander will start Tuesday against the Angels, putting him on track to pitch Sept. 17 against the Seattle Mariners, Sept. 23 against the Angels and Sept. 28 against the Boston Red Sox if the Astros stay in turn. Keuchel, who started Sunday’s finale against the A’s and took the loss, would be in line to next start Saturday against the Mariners, Sept. 22 against the Angels and Sept. 27 against Texas.
Hinch chose Peacock over Charlie Morton for Thursday’s start because Peacock matches up better with the righthandedness of the Angels’ lineup. Morton, who also threw more pitches (110) in Saturday’s doubleheader than Peacock (84), will start Friday night’s series opener against the Mariners at Minute Maid Park.
McHugh’s status delays the Astros’ rotation reduction from six to five, a decision that had been expected early this week. Peacock has long been the front-runner to move to the bullpen because of his experience in relief.
Peacock has a 3.33 ERA in 18 starts spanning 942⁄3 innings and a 1.77 ERA in 13 relief appearances spanning 201⁄3 innings this season. Although dominant early in his starts like he was once again Saturday night, he routinely struggles the third time through lineups. Hitters facing Peacock a third time in a game have a combined 1.113 OPS against him this season.
“Whatever happens, happens,” Peacock said. “If I go to the bullpen, I’m happy. If I stay in the rotation, I’m happy. I’m just glad to be here.”
Marisnick gets tossed after call
Jake Marisnick was ejected by plate umpire Ramon De Jesus in the fifth inning of the Astros’ series-ending 10-2 loss to the Athletics on Sunday afternoon for arguing balls and strikes.
A furious Marisnick threw his bat and helmet down in disgust after De Jesus rang him up on a borderline sinker down and away from A’s starter Kendall Graveman to end the inning. George Springer, who was ondeck, stepped between Marisnick and De Jesus to prevent his teammate from escalating the issue.
Cameron Maybin replaced Marisnick in center field ahead of the bottom of the fifth.
Centeno suffers mild concussion
Astros catcher Juan Centeno suffered what manager A.J. Hinch described Sunday as a “mild concussion” in the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader against the Athletics.
Centeno took a hit to the mask by a Jed Lowrie backswing in the second inning of the Astros’ 11-1 loss to the A’s at the Coliseum.
“He’s doing better. (He’s) feeling a little bit better,” Hinch said before Sunday afternoon’s series finale. “He still has a mild headache. He’s got a mild concussion, so he’ll be out for a few days. We’ve gone through this a couple of different times, especially (with catchers) behind the plate, and we’re just not going to know until we get to Anaheim exactly how he’s doing.
“(He’s doing) better than expected, but also we have to go through the protocol.”
Expanded September rosters eliminates the need to place players on the disabled list, so Centeno won’t go on the seven-day concussion DL.
Centeno will need to pass the same protocol tests before he returns to the field.
Odds and ends
Brian McCann will catch Justin Verlander again Tuesday, manager A.J. Hinch said. … Astros pitchers issued seven walks with the bases loaded in this weekend’s four-game series, two more than they had all season before Friday.