Keuchel back on DL with neck pain

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Astros ace Dallas Keuchel went back on the disabled list with neck discomfort and returned to Houston on Thursday to be examined.

Keuchel was scratched from Wednesday’s start against the Royals with what the Astros initially said was an illness.

Keuchel is 9-0 with a 1.67 ERA in 11 starts for the Astros, who have the best record in the major leagues. The 2015 National League Cy Young Award winner is holding batters to a .183 average.

“He’s going on the DL for a minimum of 10 days,” Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. “That brings concern in its own right. Being symptomatic with the same injury from earlier in the year is concerning, but until we see him and talk with him, and get another report from the doctor, we just won’t know.”

Keuchel was placed on the disabled list retroactive to Monday. He was on the DL from May 15-26 with a pinched nerve in his neck, and he was activated May 27 and allowed one run and four hits over six innings to win at the Rangers.

“He was sick all the way through Arlington,” Hinch said. “He barely made it out to the bench a couple of days. He lost a little bit of weight and had taken some medicine to feel a little bit better.”

Keuchel began warming up Wednesday for his start against the Royals, but stopped after a few pitches and returned to the clubhouse.

The Astros selected the contract of right-hander Francis Martes from Triple-A Fresno.

The Astros transferred righthander Collin McHugh (elbow impingement) to the 60-day disabled list to make space on the 40-man roster for Martes, the Astros’ top-ranked prospect.