Reliever Harris remains out with sore right shoulder
Astros reliever Will Harris will not come off the disabled list Friday, when he is eligible to return from a bone bruise in his right shoulder, or pitch in the weekend series against the Baltimore Orioles.
In the past, Harris could take an over the counter anti-inflammatory, “but this time it didn’t (work), so I knew there was something a little more serious going on,” he said.
Initial treatment was not enough to keep his shoulder from flaring up, so Harris has not thrown since before the All-Star break.
“We tried a few things and it didn’t get the inflammation out as much as I wanted,” Harris said.
On Wednesday, Harris said he does not feel any discomfort in his shoulder and the inflammation was gone, but the medical staff has prolonged his rest period to ensure he is fully healed.
The goal, Harris said, is to “strengthen everything up so that I’m able to throw and be completely pain-free through the rest of the season.
“Our main focus is making sure I’m 100 percent healthy, so I don’t have any relapse. Getting pretty close. I’m thinking I may play catch in the next couple of days on the road trip.”
Harris and Astros manager A.J. Hinch said if his shoulder responds well to the initial steps of his throwing program, he can return to the mound shortly after.
“Hopefully it will be quick from him playing catch to bullpen (session) to game,” Hinch said. “We’re being conservative with his throwing program. We think it’ll be quick once he’s good to pitch.”
Correa has successful surgery on thumb: AllStar shortstop Carlos Correa underwent successful surgery to repair the torn ligament in his left thumb.
Correa will remain in Houston during the trip and begin his rehab once any potential swelling in his thumb dissipates. The team reiterated Wednesday it expects him to be sidelined 6 to 8 weeks.
The surgery, which Correa underwent a day after receiving his diagnosis, was conducted in Houston. Citing team policy, the Astros didn’t disclose the name of the surgeon who performed the operation.
Correa sustained the initial injury July 4 on a headfirst slide into home plate during a game in Atlanta. He aggravated it on a swing in the fourth inning of Monday night’s loss to the Mariners. An MRI on Tuesday revealed the tear.
Before the injury, the 22-year-old Correa was on a trajectory to be a candidate for the American League MVP award. He was batting .320 with on-base and slugging percentages of .400 and .566 and 20 homers. His .966 OPS is best among major league shortstops.
Minor league pitcher came within an out of a no-hitter: Alex Winkelman almost made history for the Astros’ Class AA affiliate Wednesday night.
The left-hander pitched 8⅔ no-hit innings before allowing a single in the Corpus Christi Hooks’ 6-0 victory over the Frisco RoughRiders at Whataburger Field in Corpus Christi.
Winkelman narrowly missed what would’ve been the first nine-inning no-hitter for the Hooks, who are in their 13th season in the Texas League. On May 30, 2015, current Astros reliever Chris Devenski and Josh Hader combined for a no-hitter in a 4-0 win at Arkansas that was shortened by rain in the sixth inning.