McCann placed on DL with knee soreness
NEW YORK — Halfway through Monday’s 5-1 win over the Yankees, Astros catcher
Brian McCann reported right knee soreness that required further evaluation in Houston. One day later, the Astros placed the 34-year-old catcher on the 10-day disabled list and selected the contract of Class AAA catcher Tim Federowicz.
McCann flew back to Houston prior to Tuesday’s game and will be evaluated by team doctors in the coming days, manager A.J. Hinch said.
“It’s something he’s battled before, something that he’s had to deal with,” Hinch said. “As we talked with him after the game and evaluated him, we felt like we had to send him back to Houston and get evaluated further. We won’t know the extent of any sort of issue until he gets to Houston.”
Federowicz arrived in New York from Fresno, Calif., about an hour before the first pitch of Tuesday’s 6-5, 10-inning loss to the Yankees. Hinch said the 30-year-old will play “one of the next couple days” but acknowledged Max Stassi will assume most of the catching duties in McCann’s absence.
“I have a ton of confidence in (Federowicz). He’s worked with our pitchers before, has experience,” Hinch said. “He offers us a little bit of offense behind the plate. And while we won’t have a particularly equal platoon — Stassi will catch more games than Fed — I have no problem playing him with any pitcher or against any pitcher.”
Federowicz lost a spring training competition with Stassi for the backup catcher’s job after signing a minor league deal with the Astros in December. He slashed .337/.407/.584 in 113 plate appearances with Class AAA Fresno.
The injury will not prompt the Astros to give designated hitter Evan Gattis any more catching responsibilities, Hinch said. Gattis, who started 47 games at catcher last season, has played just two games there this season — both in late-inning mop-up situations.
“He’s swinging the bat well as our DH,” Hinch said. “We do have some strength by adding or having that third catcher. It allows me to make moves in a game more so than I need to worry about starting (Gattis) or putting him in the rotation behind the plate. I’m aware that he’s done it before and he can do it, but it’s not a high priority right now.”
Entering Tuesday’s game, Gattis was hitting .296/.361/.630 in his last 61 plate appearances. He homered off CC Sabathia in his first at-bat in the second inning, then walked and scored in the fourth and delivered a sacrifice fly in the fifth.
“I like it. I want to DH,” Gattis said. “I feel good at the plate, and I don’t want to change much right now.”