Peña clears protocols but misses A’s opener

OAKLAND, Calif. — Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña cleared health and safety protocols and resumed baseball activities Friday, but he was still inactive for that night’s series opener against the A’s.

The Astros scratched Peña from their starting lineup against the Royals on Thursday due to “health and safety protocols,” which is the team’s descriptor for anything related to COVID-19, but later determined that Peña’s stomach bug was unrelated to coronavirus.

Mauricio Dubón started at shortstop for Houston on Friday in Oakland. Peña was in the clubhouse and fielded ground balls before the game. Astros manager Dusty Baker said Peña was not available to play Friday but could play later this weekend against the A’s.

The Astros are still without quality control coach Dan Firova and pitching coach Bill Murphy, who entered health and safety protocols last week and were not with the team in Oakland.

No timetable for Brantley, Castro

With nine games remaining before the AllStar break, the Astros are uncertain when they will regain the services of two of their regulars, outfielder Michael Brantley and catcher Jason Castro.

Brantley, afflicted with right shoulder discomfort, was eligible to be reinstated from the 10-day injured list Friday. The Astros made no such move. Castro went on the injured list July 1 after he said he tweaked his left knee on a “weird” rotation from a squatting position while he caught the Astros’ June 29 game against the Mets.

Ahead of Friday’s game against the A’s, Baker had no timetable for either man’s return. Brantley ran in the outfield Friday but is still not hitting. Castro traveled with the team to Oakland but will likely need a few extra days to recover after his 10 days on the injured list are up, Baker said.

Castro said the Astros are still trying to ascertain whether his knee ailment is muscular- or jointrelated, though he said the injury was a new issue and not something that has bothered him in the past. Castro said rehab has focused on rebuilding strength in his knee and that it is “too early to tell” when he might be reactivated.

Baker has described Brantley’s shoulder as being “slow to respond” and said the Astros are determined not to rush Brantley, but the outfielder himself remains tightlipped on the nature of his injury. Asked on Friday when he might begin a minor league rehab assignment, Brantley responded, “We’ll find out together, won’t we?”

Of the two, Brantley’s absence is more concerning for Houston. The veteran was batting .288 with 26 RBI and a .370 on-base percentage through 243 at-bats, often catalyzing the Astros’ offense from the two-hole spot in the order.

The Astros called up catching prospect Korey Lee from Class AAA to take Castro’s spot, though he has been sparsely used. Martín Maldonado has made seven of eight starts at catcher during Castro’s absence.

Space Cowboys routed at home

Emmanuel Valdez recorded three hits and two RBIs, but Space Cowboys pitchers gave up five home runs in an 11-3 loss to the El Paso Chihuahuas on Friday at Constellation Field.

Sugar Land, which had won the previous two games of the series, struggled to take advantage of opportunities to chip away at El Paso’s lead, going 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position.

Brett Conine earned the loss after giving up four earned runs off six hits across 22⁄3 innings. Chihuahuas batters tagged him for two homers.

Valdez’s three hits, which included a two-run double, accounted for half of the Space Cowboys’ total.