Osuna placed on 45-day injury list
The Astros on Sunday transferred Roberto Osuna to the 45-day injured list, signaling the end of the closer’s 2020 season.
Osuna left the Astros’ Aug. 1 road game against the Angels after being called on to preserve a one-run ninth-inning lead. After his eighth pitch, he called trainers to the mound and did not attempt to throw again.
He went on the 10-day injured list with and underwent an MRI in Houston. Manager Dusty Baker subsequently said Osuna’s injury “doesn’t look real good,” but the club has not disclosed anything other than “right elbow soreness.” He made four appearances this year after arriving late to summer camp and barely throwing off a mound before the season started July 24.
While still a prospect, Osuna underwent Tommy John surgery in May 2013. Should he need any procedure that would sideline him for a majority of 2021, the Astros would be unlikely to tender him a contract offer after this season.
Past A&M lefty acquired in trade
In an attempt to bolster a pitching staff that has racked up substantial injuries and appearances, the Astros on Sunday acquired lefthander Brooks Raley from the Reds for a player to be named.
Raley, who attended Texas A&M and Uvalde High School, made four relief appearances for Cincinnati this season before being designated for assignment Thursday. He hadn’t pitched in the majors since 2013 and spent the 2015-19 seasons with the Korean Baseball Organization’s Lotte Giants, starting at least 30 games each year.
The Reds signed Raley to a minor league contract in January and invited him to spring training. In four relief outings before he was released, he compiled a 9.00 ERA and 1.75 WHIP, allowing four runs (all earned) on five hits and two walks in four innings.
The Astros have two lefthanders on their 28man roster in starter Framber Valdez and reliever Blake Taylor. Raley will report to Houston this week before he is added to the major league roster. To make room for him in their 2020 player pool, the Astros transferred closer Roberto Osuna to the 45-day injured list.
Raley was a sixth-round draft pick by the Cubs in 2009 and made his major league debut with Chicago in 2012, starting five games and going 1-2 with an 8.14 ERA. He made nine relief appearances for the Cubs in 2013, posting a 5.14 ERA over 14 innings.
No timetable set for Alvarez
Each new update or video of Yordan Alvarez’s swing from the Astros’ alternate training site in Corpus Christi increases the anticipation for his return to the major league club.
Alvarez hit two doubles and drove in three runs during an intrasquad game Saturday at Whataburger Field. At the same time, Houston’s major league lineup was limited to five hits and one run in a 3-1 loss to the Oakland A’s.
When that will occur remains a mystery. On Sunday, manager Dusty Baker tempered expectations for Alvarez’s imminent arrival. He acknowledged Alvarez is making “great progress” but pointed to a relatively recent ramp-up and the quality of pitching Alvarez is seeing in Corpus Christi.
There are few major league or high minor league arms at Whataburger Field, a consequence of the Astros’ many injuries at the major league level. All of Alvarez’s at-bats Saturday came against Luis Garcia, who has never thrown above Class A Advanced. Brad Peacock and Jose Urquidy are still throwing bullpen sessions only.
Springer takes BP but misses game
Astros leadoff hitter George Springer did not start for a third straight game while nursing a right wrist injury.
Springer did progress to taking pregame batting practice, said manager Dusty Baker, who warned Springer to “not hit too much” in the batting cage before Sunday’s game.
“I’ve had hand injuries, and I’d rather wait one day longer than to push it one day ahead of schedule and reinjure it,” Baker said. “We’ll see. He’s day-to-day, but he’s made tremendous progress in the meantime.”
Springer was available to pinch-run Friday and Saturday but never appeared. An X-ray and MRI revealed no fractures in his right wrist, which the Astros described as “strained.” He injured it while making a headfirst catch in Thursday’s loss to the Diamondbacks.
In Springer’s absence, Baker has tried Kyle Tucker and Jose Altuve in the leadoff spot. Baker put Altuve there Sunday, though the manager conceded Altuve is “not crazy about” being the leadoff hitter.