Wrist injury keeps Springer out of lineup
Outfielder George Springer remained absent from the Astros’ lineup Monday as he continues to receive treatment for an injured wrist.
Manager Dusty Baker said Springer was examined Monday by a hand specialist to confirm he did not suffer broken bones last week.
He used his right hand to brace himself Thursday while diving headfirst to catch a sinking line drive by Arizona’s Eduardo Escobar.
“He’s a quick healer. He’s quick to tell me he’s a quick healer,” Baker said. “You just rest and test it out. It’s always a situation where, are you overtesting it and making it more sore, or when are you undertesting it?
“We’re going to do all we can, and he’s doing all he can, not to go on the injured list.
“We’re playing (shorthanded) a little bit, and so it’s time for some of the other guys who have an opportunity to play to do their thing.”
Timeline tight for Osuna return
Manager Dusty Baker acknowledged Monday that the calendar’s relentless advance reduces the possibility that injured relief pitcher Roberto Osuna can rejoin the ballclub if the Astros advance to the playoffs.
Osuna was placed Sunday on the 45-day injured list with elbow soreness. He last pitched Aug. 1 against the Angels in Anaheim.
The 45-day injured list stay will take Osuna into late September, leaving precious little time for him to return to the roster in time for a possible playoff appearance.
“It depends on how much progress he makes,” Baker said. “Right now, he’s not in a good way, or else we wouldn’t have put him on the 45-day IL. That’s not very pleasant news for us or him.
“We’ve got to find a way to replace him, although that’s a very difficult thing to do. We’ve got to mix and match as we have done. Some have worked. Some have not. It would help for us to get back off this (non) hitting parade and keep pounding and pounding the ball and put games out of reach.”
Ump joins flight after ejection
Major League Baseball’s social distancing measures at ballparks and on airplane charters came in handy Sunday as the Astros were joined on their return flight from the West Coast with the umpiring crew from their threegame series with Oakland.
Among the passengers was umpire Nick Mahrley, who ejected manager Dusty Baker from Sunday’s game for arguing balls and strikes.
“I didn’t talk to them about it or anything, because it wasn’t going to do any good,” Baker said before Monday’s game against the Giants. “But I’m hoping that nothing carries over from that series to this series.”
Baker said Mahrley engaged him after Baker disagreed with the umpire’s calls.
“All I said was the ball was low,” Baker said. “He (Mahrley) had a tough day all around. Then he turned around and started yelling at me, and I’m not going to let anybody start yelling at me. Next thing I know, I’m kicked out.”
Baker has 22 career ejections in 23 seasons.
“This is the second or third umpire that I was their first ejection — you know what I’m saying? — and I see a pattern here developing,” he said.