Feldman departs with stiffness after scoreless outing
Scott Feldman had not pitched in 16 days, last seeing action as a spot starter and holding out hope he might get another go in the rotation before the All-Star break.
Instead, the veteran righthander entered Saturday’s game out of the bullpen in the fifth inning. But after 32⁄ innings, Feldman left with stiffness and is day-to-day.
“It wasn’t until he started throwing, and he stiffened up a little bit,” Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. “I saw the velocity start to decline — he was like 85, 86 (mph) — and the breaking ball was a little loose. So when I went out to talk to him, he just said he was stiff.”
The move was precautionary, and there are no tests scheduled, Hinch said.
Feldman, who has excelled in relief after losing his spot in the rotation, entered the game after Tony Sipp faced three batters and allowed two to reach base. Feldman got out of the jam, stranded a runner at third in the sixth and didn’t allow another Oakland runner until Jed Lowrie singled to start the ninth. He came out right after. “When I felt like he was a little bit uncomfortable, it was an easy decision,” Hinch said. “With the break coming and he had already done his job, it was easy to take him out.”
Feldman has 13 scoreless outings in 17 appearances out of the bullpen, lowered his ERA to 1.61 as a reliever and has 21 strikeouts in 28 innings.
Springer to start from scratch
Not that George Springer was going to threaten Cal Ripken Jr.’s consecutive-games-played streak soon, but if the Astros right fielder is going to try to play 2,632 in a row, he will have to start over from scratch.
Springer was not in the lineup for Saturday’s game against Oakland, snapping a run of 112 consecutive starts. The streak was the second longest in the major leagues behind Seattle second baseman Robin- son Cano (144).
Springer did enter as a pinch runner in the ninth inning for Luis Valbuena, whose two-out RBI single cut the Athletics’ lead to 3-2. Springer, however, never moved past first base as Oakland reliever Ryan Dull struck out Carlos Gomez.
“I didn’t want to play Springer at all,” Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. “The key was to tie the game. If we tie the game, then Springer can get an at-bat on the (next time) around.
“I really did want a physical break for George all day and in the middle of the order there — the way that Gomez is swinging the bat, (A.J.) Reed behind him against a righty — there wasn’t an at-bat to have for George.”
Marwin Gonzalez hit leadoff and started in left field, while Jake Marisnick played right. Colby Rasmus is still dealing with an illness and missed his third consecutive game.
Springer and Jose Altuve have played in all 88 games this season, with Altuve holding the longest active streak for consecutive games played (179). Carlos Correa has played 84 games.
Hinch said before Saturday’s game that he will start being more strategic this month about trying to schedule days off for Springer, Altuve and Correa. Factors include the schedule (day game after a night game) and pitching matchups.
If Oakland lefthander Sean Manaea had started Saturday instead of Sunday, resting Springer and Altuve on Sunday would make more sense. But the Astros’ lineup will be heavy on righthanded bats in their final game before the All-Star break.
“I look at all that stuff and project it out,” Hinch said. “And then what happens is, you can have the best-laid plans and then a guy goes on a tear, goes 10-for-20 and doesn’t look like he needs a rest. That’s often what happens with Altuve.
“There’s rarely a lull in his performance that is starting to give an indication that he needs a day off. That’s how these guys end up playing so many days in a row.”
Odds and ends
Astros manager A.J. Hinch announced his rotation for the road series with Seattle coming out of the All-Star break. Doug Fister will start the opener Friday, followed by Lance McCullers and Collin McHugh. ' Scott Feldman was honored before Saturday’s game as the Astros’ nominee for the 2016 Bob Feller Act of Valor Award, which is given annually to a player who actively supports the U.S. military. The righthander started Feldman’s Heroes and hosts veterans from The Wounded Warrior Project at home games twice a month.