Pressly looks strong in first rehab outing
All-Star setup man Ryan Pressly threw a scoreless inning and struck out two to begin his minor league rehab assignment for Class AA Corpus Christi on Tuesday.
Pressly started the Hooks’ road game against Frisco but was scheduled to throw only one inning. Nine of his 11 pitches were strikes. He allowed a single, but the runner was caught stealing.
Pressly has been on the injured list since July 27 with right knee soreness. Ideally, he will require only one rehab stint, manager A.J. Hinch said. It would align him for activation Friday, when the Astros begin a 10-game road trip in Baltimore.
“I just want him to feel good coming out of this inning with no swelling,” Hinch said Tuesday. “In a perfect world, yes (he needs only one rehab assignment), but he can have as many rehab outings as he needs to get himself right.”
Meanwhile, Brad Peacock will hover around 35 pitches during his second start for Class AAA Rond Rock on Wednesday.
Peacock threw 33 pitches in a start for the Express on Saturday, surrendering five earned runs in 11⁄3 innings. He reported no physical setback after the outing but bemoaned his lack of execution.
Peacock has combated right shoulder soreness since before the All-Star break.
September return likeliest for James
Josh James has relocated his injury rehabilitation to West Palm Beach, Fla., all but ensuring the flamethrowing righthanded reliever will not return to the Astros until September.
James went on the injured list July 23, two days after his fastball velocity dropped precipitously during an outing against the Rangers. The Astros described his injury as right shoulder fatigue.
James only recently started a throwing program. The team hopes he can throw off a mound sometime next week, manager A.J. Hinch intimated Tuesday. Should James follow that schedule and require at least two rehab outings, his schedule would run into September. The most likely scenario involves James returning when rosters expand. The 26-year-old rookie had 80 strikeouts and 31 walks in 511⁄3 innings prior to his injury.
Strom keeping tabs from hospital bed
Though he remained hospitalized Tuesday afternoon, Astros pitching coach Brent Strom seemed in high spirits.
“One of our coaches went and saw him yesterday in the hospital and took a picture of him studying the NL West,” manager A.J. Hinch quipped.
Strom underwent surgery Sunday morning for a gastrointestinal issue that began to surface during Saturday night’s 9-0 no-hitter win over the Mariners. The 70-year-old Strom went to the hospital Saturday night.
Hinch said Strom will miss the two-game series against the Rockies and is likely to miss at least the start of Houston’s upcoming 10-game road trip. The Astros will reassess his situation after the three-game series in Baltimore this weekend.
Bullpen coach Josh Miller is serving as interim pitching coach in Strom’s absence.
“He’s doing well. He’s in great spirits,” Hinch said of Strom.
“I think he made one of the doctors watch the final three innings with him (on Sunday) when ( Justin) Verlander started. He’s with us from a hospital bed, but he’s mending well, and we’re looking forward to his return.”