Injured Houston Astros starter to get additional round of rehab

The Houston Astros have decided to give injured starting pitcher José Urquidy a fresh start on rehabilitation before calling him up to the Majors.

The right-hander made his second rehab start Saturday night for Double-A Corpus Christi, as he threw 59 pitches in four innings and threw his fastball 93 mph. He allowed seven hits and five runs, although four were earned. He also struck out two.

MLB.com reported that the Astros would file him for another rehab start “in the coming days.”

Urquidy told reporters earlier this week that he hoped his second start in rehab would be his last. But he only constructed 13 pitches in his first rehab game and Houston probably wants him to stretch out more before he returns.

In his first rehab game with Triple-A Sugar Land, he threw 46 pitches in 2.2 innings, allowing three hits and three earned runs. He also gave up a home run and a walk while striking out three.

He has not started a single Major League game this season. He left a spring training game in March with a strained right forearm. An examination revealed it was nothing more and it was built for over a month with long throws, bullpen sessions and live batting practice.

He is no stranger to injuries.

Last season, he went 3-3 with a 5.29 ERA and spent three months on the injured list due to right shoulder discomfort.

The Astros have become healthier in the starting rotation in Urquidy’s absence. He is the only starter on the injured list for 15 days. Two others – Luis Garcia and Lance McCullers Jr. – are recovering from long-term injuries.

Houston has established its rotation for the series with the Los Angeles Angels, which begins Monday.

Left-hander Framber Valdez will start against the Angels’ Reid Detmers on Monday. After that, Cristian Javier will face Griffin Canning on Tuesday and Hunter Brown will conclude the series against Tyler Anderson on Wednesday.