Lower back injury lands Astros’ McCullers on DL
The Houston Astros have placed right-hander Lance McCullers on the 10-day disabled list with a back problem, another blow to a rotation thinned by injuries.
His stint on the DL with discomfort in his lower back is retroactive to Friday. General manager Jeff Luhnow says the team doesn’t expect it to lead to a “long absence” for McCullers but didn’t specify a specific timetable for his return.
McCullers joins lefty Dallas Keuchel and right-hander Charlie Morton on the 10-day disabled list. Houston also has been without starter Collin McHugh, who is on the 60-day disabled list, all season.
Andriese injury: With righthander Matt Andriese headed back to the DL, the Rays will recall Jacob Faria to make his second major-league start.
Andriese returned Saturday following a stint on the DL with a groin strain. He lasted just one inning against the A’s before having what the team described as a “right hip stress reaction.”
There’s no fracture, and the team said no surgery is required. Andriese will be held out of baseball activities for a few weeks to heal. He’s likely to be out until at least mid-August.
Faria, who beat the White Sox in his big-league debut last week, will start Tuesday night at Toronto.
Briefly: Mets outfielder Michael Conforto was scratched from Monday’s game with a stiff back and could miss one or two days . ... The Pirates optioned infielder Phil Gosselin to Triple-A Indianapolis to open a spot for Jameson Taillon, who started Monday against the Rockies . ... The Nationals recalled right-hander Trevor Gott to Triple-A Syracuse and optioned infielder Wilmer Difo there.