Baker: Brantley day-to-day with hurt knee

Astros left fielder Michael Brantley is considered day-to-day with a knee injury that caused him to depart Saturday’s game against the Angels after three innings.

In the Astros’ 4-2 loss Saturday, Brantley started in left field and took one at-bat before he exited the game with what the Astros described as right knee discomfort. He did not play in Sunday’s series finale against the Angels.

Astros manager Dusty Baker said he did not know how exactly Brantley injured his knee, but the club determined no MRI was necessary.

“He’s doing pretty good,” Baker said Sunday. “He’s day-to-day. … Right now he’s just getting treatment.” Brantley ranks third in the American League in batting average (.315), second in plate appearances per strikeout (9.86) and ninth in on-base percentage (.367).

Castro, Jones set for rehab stints

The Astros plan to send catcher Jason Castro and infielder Taylor Jones on minor league rehab assignments sometime this week, Baker said Sunday.

Castro has been on the injured list since Aug. 29 with a knee injury, while Jones resumed working out Saturday after he tested positive for COVID-19 during the team’s last road trip to Seattle. Before the Astros’ series finale against the Angels at Minute Maid Park on Sunday, Castro caught a bullpen, and Jones took batting practice.

Baker said he did not know an exact date for when they will begin their rehab assignments with Class AAA Sugar Land.

The Skeeters finish up a six-game series in Round Rock on Tuesday and begin a six-game homestand Thursday against Albuquerque. The Astros head to Arlington on Monday for a four-game series against the Rangers and return home Friday for three games against the Diamondbacks.

The Skeeters (64-48) lost 6-0 Sunday to the Express (57-54). Peter Solomon took the loss and allowed five runs on seven hits with a walk and five strikeouts over 22⁄3 innings. Jeremy Peña had two hits, including a triple.