Odorizzi’s next start not set
WASHINGTON — Jake Odorizzi is still part of the Astros’ starting rotation, but manager Dusty Baker did not disclose when the veteran righthander will make his next start.
The Astros skipped Odorizzi’s spot in the rotation on Saturday in Washington in favor of Cristian Javier. Ace Justin Verlander is scheduled to start Sunday in his first appearance on four days’ rest since returning from Tommy John surgery.
“It just means (Odorizzi’s) backed up a couple days,” Baker said. “We still got him in the plans. Still got him in the rotation.”
Odorizzi last pitched on May 8. After an awful start to his season, Odorizzi has yielded one earned run in his past 172⁄3 innings, paring his ERA to 3.18. He has been operating on five days’ rest as part of a six-man rotation.
Logic would suggest Odorizzi will start the team’s series-opener against the Red Sox on Monday at Fenway Park. Odorizzi throwing on Monday would allow both José Urquidy and Luis Garcia to start on five days’ rest on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively.
Asked if Odorizzi would start on Monday, Baker replied: “I don’t know man. I got it on the inside. I’m just trying to get through this weekend series.”
If Odorizzi starts on Monday, it will have been eight days since he last pitched.
Peña sits after injuring knee
Shortstop Jeremy Peña did not start Friday’s series-opener against the Nationals, and Baker made it seem like he would not be available off the bench.
Peña exited Thursday’s 5-0 win against the Twins with a right knee ailment. Baker said on Thursday that Peña would not play on Friday, but offered little clarity on his shortstop’s status prior to the series against Washington. Baker said he was “trying not to” use Peña off the bench on Friday.
“Hopefully he’ll be available in this series,” Baker said, “I’m not exactly sure when.”
Peña said he felt discomfort in his knee when switching directions to run toward second base on a throwing error during Thursday’s game. The team described Peña’s injury as “right knee discomfort,” an Astroscreated descriptor used so much that it carries little actual meaning.
Aledmys Díaz started at shortstop on Friday in Peña’s absence. If Peña was indeed unavailable, it left Baker with a threeman bench of Jason Castro, Niko Goodrum and Jose Siri. Baker mentioned not rushing Peña back, especially during this stretch of 16 consecutive games, but no one in the organization has called Peña’s injury serious.
Asked if Peña could be available on Saturday, Baker replied “Only God knows.”
Peña leads all American League rookies with six home runs, a .514 slugging percentage and .853 OPS.
Gurriel unable to explain struggles
Small sample sizes can create overreactions and are a convenient excuse to explain away earlyseason struggles.
Yuli Gurriel crossed the 100 at-bat threshold during the second game of this series against the Twins. His batting average remains below .200. His OPS is .550. Pinpointing one cause for his struggles is impossible.
“I’m not 100 percent sure,” Gurriel said this week through an interpreter. “That’s how baseball is.”