Springer moves closer to rehab assignment
Shortly after the Houston Astros return from their road trip they’re sched
— uled to fly home Wednesday night after the second of two games with the San Francisco Giants
— injured outfielder George Springer will go for his six-week checkup. That could bring him clearance to start strengthening his right wrist.
He suffered a nondisplaced fracture in the wrist when a fastball thrown by Kansas City’s Edinson Volquez hit him July 1 at Minute Maid Park.
“Hanging in there,” Springer said of how he’s feeling. “It feels good, but you can’t really go off that.”
The green light on this doctor visit could mean he can begin a rehab assignment, but the wrist would need to regain some strength first.
“That’s what I’m told (about a rehab assignment), but I also have to strengthen my hand back up,” Springer said. “Hopefully, I get the clearance to start to get strong again and then one step at a time from there.”
Asked if he thought a rehab assignment could go quickly, Springer said he wasn’t sure.
“That’s kind of the crazy thing about this,” he said. “Nobody really knows what could happen, but I’m hoping for the best.”
Tough matchups: From Dallas Keuchel vs. Sonny Gray in the series at Oakland to Tuesday night’s Scott Kazmir-Madison Bumgarner billing to begin a two-game series with the Giants, the Astros haven’t received the most favorable pairings to dig themselves out of their rut.
But it’s fun for those who like pitching, at least.
“He’s a great pitcher. I’m more worried about his at-bats he’s going to take off me, for the most part,” Kazmir said.
Bumgarner had three home runs this season and nine lifetime going into Tuesday night’s game.
Asked about the idea of being a stopper, Kazmir’s response was similar to the one Keuchel offered in July, when the Astros were struggling just before he made his way to Cincinnati for the All-Star game.
The job is always to get people out. For everybody in the rotation.
“Just got to take care of business — that’s all that is,” Kazmir said.
Nonetheless, the Astros couldn’t feel better about having Kazmir on the mound. He’s allowed one earned run in 20 1/3 innings since being traded from the A’s.
Odds and ends: The Astros will finish up against the Giants with an afternoon game Wednesday. Scott Feldman (4-5) is scheduled to start against Chris Heston (11-6). Twelve of Colby Rasmus’ 14 home runs this season have come against righties. ... Going into Tuesday’s game, the Astros were 12-10 since the AllStar break but 3-6 in their last nine games. ... Jose Altuve finished the A’s series with a 20-game hit streak at their ballpark. ... The Astros’ second-round pick in 2015, Thomas Eshelman, a righty out of Cal State Fullerton, made his pro debut Monday with the Gulf Coast League Astros. He hadn’t pitched yet because of innings concerns. He threw two innings and allowed one run.