Springer scratched with soreness in left quad

SEATTLE — After he was initially penciled in as the Astros’ center fielder and leadoff hitter for Monday night’s series opener against the Mariners, George

Springer was scratched with left quad soreness he reported upon arrival to Safeco Field.

“That, for me, was non-negotiable,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “I can utilize him in maybe a one at-bat scenario rather than risk having any more irritation. I think something bothered him a little bit in his last at-bat (in Oakland). He’s not really sure what happened. We don’t think it’s significant, but enough to give us an excuse to get him out of the lineup.”

Springer sprained his left thumb Aug. 5 and was activated from the disabled list Friday.

In Saturday and Sunday’s games against the A’s, the center fielder was favoring the injured finger following swings. Hinch insisted Monday’s scratch was due solely to the leg irritation but acknowledged Springer will combat lingering effects from his thumb injury for the remainder of his season.

“We saw him hit some balls harder than 100 mph (in Oakland),” Hinch said. “I think it’s more foul balls, swings and misses, check swings that irritate him.

“He’s a tough kid. He’s going to be fine. It’s nothing that he’s going to do damage to and nothing he can’t handle, but you may see some uncomfortable swings for the foreseeable future.” In Springer’s absence, Alex Bregman moved into the leadoff

spot, and Tony Kemp was placed in center field. Tyler

White, not in Hinch’s original lineup, was inserted at first base.

One of three to start ‘bullpen’ game

The race to make the Astros’ first spot start of the season is down to three men.

Before Monday’s game against the Mariners, manager A.J. Hinch informed Seattle skipper

Scott Servais that Tuesday’s starting pitcher will be righthanded and is on the Astros’ 25-man roster.

Hinch eliminated the back end of his bullpen — Hector Rondon, Ryan Pressly and Roberto Osuna — for the assignment. And with Collin McHugh having pitched Monday night and taken the loss in the Astros’ 7-4 defeat, that leaves Will Harris, Brad Peacock, and Joe Smith as the finalists. “Those guys are all viable options,” Hinch said Monday. “It’s a bullpen day, and as I told Servais, I’m not going to hide anything — we all know what those have turned into nowadays.

“He knows I’m going to mix and match. I’ve got nine relievers. Maybe they all pitch; maybe a few of them pitch. We’ll find out. Together.”

The decision would not be rendered until Monday’s game was complete and Hinch could assess the state of his bullpen.

Neither Harris nor Smith has started a major league game. Peacock was a starting pitcher forced to the bullpen by the Astros’ sterling rotation, which was bolstered by the offseason acquisition of Gerrit Cole.

Tuesday’s game, originally

Lance McCullers Jr.’s spot, will be the first not started by a member of the five-man opening-week rotation.

McCullers is on the disabled list with a strained muscle in his right forearm, suffered when he swung a bat against the Dodgers on Aug. 4.

McCann, Devenski making progress

Due to a geographic coincidence, Chris Devenski and

Brian McCann were with the Astros on Monday in Seattle for a momentary stop in their prolonged rehab assignments.

Both players were with Class AAA Fresno, which just finished a four-game series in Tacoma, Wash., and enjoyed an off day Monday. Devenski and McCann stopped off at Safeco Field for a work day before departing to Class AA Corpus Christi.

McCann, who caught five innings for Fresno on Saturday, said he will catch for the Hooks on Wednesday.

He had seven at-bats with the Grizzlies and notched one hit. The 34-year-old catcher underwent arthroscopic knee surgery in July to repair a meniscus issue he’s combated for years.

“I feel great. I feel healthy. I just have to build up,” McCann said. “I’ve got stability in my knee. When I would plant to hit, my knee would just give out. Now, I have some stability in there, and it’s night and day.”

Placed on the disabled list July 31 with hamstring tightness, Devenski said he will require two more appearances with the Hooks.

Manager A.J. Hinch said one of the two appearances will last longer than one inning.

Devenski has allowed four hits and struck out four in 12⁄3 scoreless innings with Fresno.

“By the time we get back to Houston, we will have at least our options open as to what is next for these guys, their readiness to either rejoin us, or we know that Sept. 1 is not far away,” Hinch said. “We’ll determine that when we’re in the same state in the same vicinity of the country.”