Greinke strikes out 3 in rehab outing
Astros righthander Zack Greinke, who went on the injured list with neck soreness on Sept. 21, made a two-inning rehab appearance with the Sugar Land Skeeters on Thursday night at Constellation Field.
Starting against the Round Rock Express, Greinke threw 34 pitches over two scorelesss innings, allowing one hit and striking out three.
It has appeared increasingly likely that Greinke will pitch out of the bullpen for the Astros in the postseason. In this last three appearances in the majors, including two this month, he allowed a total of 19 runs (18 earned) over 13 innings for an ERA of 12.46. A stint on the COVID-19 injured list kept him from pitching between Aug. 29 and Sept. 14.
The Skeeters lost to the Express 3-1, with closer Ronal Blanco unable to preserve a 1-0 lead in the ninth. With one out, Blanco surrendered a gametying homer to Ryan Durow. After Josh Jung doubled and went to third on a wild pitch, Blanco served up another long ball to Sam Huff.
Maldonado back after early exit
Astros catcher Martín Maldonado started Thursday’s game against the Rays after exiting early the previous night because of shoulder soreness.
During the Astros’ 7-0 loss to Tampa Bay on Wednesday, Maldonado made a superb diving catch on a popped-up bunt in the fourth inning but departed after the fifth in what manager Dusty Baker said was a precautionary measure. Baker said Thursday that the catcher was still receiving treatment on his sore left shoulder, but Maldonado was back behind the plate to guide starter Lance McCullers Jr.
“He’s feeling better. He wants to catch,” Baker said of Maldonado. “He usually catches Lance. They’ve got a good thing going. … But we have ( Jason) Castro on call just in case.”
Graveman comes off paternity list
Astros reliever Kendall Graveman returned from paternity leave and was reinstated before Thursday’s game against the Rays.
Graveman was placed on the paternity list Tuesday. His last outing was Saturday, when he threw 11⁄3 scoreless innings at Oakland but allowed an inherited runner to score to tie a game the Astros would go on to lose. Graveman ranks second among American League relievers in opponent batting average (.176), third in opponent OPS (.528), third in ERA (1.67) and eighth in WHIP (0.96).
To make room on the roster for Graveman, the Astros optioned rookie reliever Peter Solomon to Class AAA Sugar Land.
Pitching prospect breaks ring finger
Astros pitching prospect J.P. France, a righthander currently with Class AAA Sugar Land, broke his ring finger on his right hand and will not throw for six to eight weeks.
France’s injury occurred while fielding a comebacker in his start for the Skeeters on Sunday at El Paso. He will not require surgery.
In 17 games with Sugar Land this season, including 13 starts, France (6-1) posted a 3.59 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP over 801⁄3 innings with 38 walks and 107 strikeouts.
He started the season with Class AA Corpus Christi and pitched eight games there before being promoted to Sugar Land on June 22.