Eight Astros pitchers out due to protocols; no pause in team activities

The Houston Astros are minus eight pitchers because of COVID-19 protocols, but general manager James Click said there were no plans to pause activity at the team’s spring training camp in West Palm Beach, Fla.

Manager Dusty Baker said Friday that pitchers Cristian Javier, Pedro Báez, Francis Martes, Enoli Paredes and Hector Velazquez were out. On Thursday, Baker said pitchers Bryan Abreu, Ronel Blanco and Luis Garcia were sent away from the complex.

It was not known whether the eight pitchers had tested positive for the virus or had come in close contact with someone who had tested positive.

Earlier this week, the Astros lost starter Framber Valdez when he suffered a broken left finger while fielding a ball in an exhibition game. But the Astros aren’t in any danger of running out of pitchers. They list 23 pitchers on their 40-man roster, plus 16 more nonroster pitchers in camp.

Click said the team wasn’t worried about a possible camp shutdown.

The protocols are “designed to isolate any potential issues and prevent them from reaching a scale at which point we would have to consider shutting down or pausing,” he said.

YANKEES: Manager Aaron Boone said he’s feeling better after getting a pacemaker and said he hopes to return to the team today or Sunday.learned

ANGELS, A’S, PADRES: that California officials will allow a limited number of people to attend their home games on opening day, April 1. That’s the day relaxed rules will start for outdoor events. Fans will still be banned for indoor events, including NBA games and concerts.