Team designates White for assignment
The Astros designated Tyler White for assignment after Friday’s game while calling up righthander Jose Urquidy from Class AAA Round rock as Saturday’s starting pitcher against the Rangers.
Houston now has seven days to trade White or to expose him to waivers. If White goes unclaimed, he will be assigned to an Astros minor league affiliate or released.
White was hitting .225 with 74 strikeouts in 253 plate appearances this season.
He declined to be interviewed following Friday’s announcement. However, he reviewed his up-and-down tenure with the Astros in a comment earlier this month.
“It’s nothing that I can control and something I don’t pay any attention to,” White said. “I’ve been here since 2016 now, up and down for four years, and I feel like I’ve had a good role on this team at certain points. Last year, finally snuck into a starting position late and really helped this team. I feel like I did my part, for the most part, in my four years here, and that’s what I’ll continue to do.”
Peacock passes another test
Astros pitcher Brad Peacock said Friday that an MRI exam showed no structural damage to his sore right shoulder but that he is at least a couple of days away from playing catch, the next step in his path toward returning to the rotation.
Peacock was placed on the injured list June 28 and was on a rehab assignment with Class AA Corpus Christi when he suffered a setback during the All-Star Game break last week.
“During the game I felt great, but I didn’t recover well,” he said. “I threw a bullpen, and after the bullpen, the (soreness) was still there. I’m taking this one a little slower and trying to get better. I hope to play catch in the next couple of days.”
Peacock said he regrets being sidelined at a time when the Astros are short on starting pitching but said the pain was such that he would have been a liability had he not gone on the injured list last month.
“It stinks, but it happens to everybody. Every team goes through it,” he said. “But we’ve got some guys coming back soon, and we’re going to be good.”
Manager A.J. Hinch declined to speculate on Peacock’s timeline to return to the active roster until he starts playing catch and can be more thoroughly evaluated.
“We’re happy with where he’s at,” Hinch said of Peacock’s rehab efforts. “He might be able to play catch this weekend. He’s a little ways away from factoring in here. We’re happy it’s nothing serious, but until he starts playing catch, I really don’t’ have him on my radar.”
Short turnaround makes for long night
Normally the face of good cheer in the Astros clubhouse, George Springer was a wee bit grumpy when he arrived at Minute Maid Park shortly after 4 p.m. Friday, 10 hours after walking through his front door after an overnight trip following the Astros’ Thursday night game in Anaheim.
Accordingly, he dressed for the occasion, wearing a T-shirt that read, “I’m sorry I’m late I didn’t want to come.”
Springer said he found the shirt in his closet Friday afternoon and decided to send a message to the powers that be about the Astros’ short turnaround.
“This was on purpose,” he said. “I’ve had this for a while. I found it today, kind of ironically, and figured this would be a great day to wear it.
“I’m here. I want to play. I’ll be ready. I’ve got three hours. I’ll make it.”
The Astros had to drive from Anaheim to Los Angeles International Airport, since a curfew prevents late night takeoffs from John Wayne Airport in Orange County. That added an extra hour to their travel time.