Gomez put on 15-day DL; Moran recalled from AAA
CHICAGO — With Carlos Gomez not available to the Astros for the series against the White Sox after he aggravated an injury to his left rib cage, the struggling center fielder was put on the 15-disabled list Tuesday.
Astros manager A.J. Hinch said Gomez informed the club on the flight to Chicago that he “wasn’t feeling great.” He was shaken up Sunday diving back to second base on a pickoff attempt.
Gomez sat out three games earlier this season with rib cage soreness after landing awkwardly on an outfield dive April 29 at Oakland.
“We talked to our doctors, we had him evaluated, and it’s in the best interest of everybody to get him healthy and not play short,” Hinch said. “He wasn’t going to play in this series based on the injury, so we felt no need to keep him here as a bench player that wasn’t available. We’re already at 13 pitchers.
“Having a two-man bench is not the most comfortable thing for me, so we made the move.”
Gomez’s DL stint is backdated to Monday, meaning he can return to the Astros as early as May 31. Infielder Colin Moran was called up from Fresno to take Gomez’s spot on the 25-man roster.
The move also allows Gomez, 30, to potentially gather himself from a start that has seen him not only struggle at the plate but in the field. The Astros don’t believe Gomez will need the 15 days, but a chance for a rehab assignment could help him ge into a groove.
Gomez started 31 of the Astros’ first 34 games and is batting just .182 with no home runs and five RBIs. He’s struck out 46 times this season, accounting for nearly 35 percent of his plate appearances.
On Sunday against the Red Sox, Gomez let a fly ball drop between him and right fielder George Springer, and that led to Boston’s winning the series finale.
Jake Marisnick started in center field Tuesday night, finishing 1-for-5 in the Astros’ 6-5, 11-inning win. Colby Rasmus and Tony Kemp, who was called up Monday from Class AAA Fresno, are also options.
“We’re looking for somebody to step up and grab some playing time,” Hinch said.