The Houston Astros head out on a 10-game road trip to Sacramento, Denver, and Seattle beginning Friday, and manager Joe Espada offered some cautiously encouraging injury news before Wednesday’s series finale against the Red Sox.
The most immediate update involves shortstop Jeremy Peña, who has been managing a fractured tip of his right ring finger suffered during World Baseball Classic preparations last month. Peña has appeared in three games during the opening homestand but has not yet played on back-to-back days. According to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com, Espada said that could change against the Athletics, with Peña potentially available on consecutive days for the first time since the injury. Getting him back full-time would be a significant boost for both the offense and one of the best defensive shortstops in the game.
On the pitching side, closer Josh Hader and left-hander Bennett Sousa will not make the trip. Hader continues his recovery from left biceps tendinitis, and the Astros are in no rush to push him back before he’s ready. Sousa, who suffered a Grade 1 left oblique strain in his final spring training outing, is set to throw to live batters next week—his first time doing so since the injury.
The best news of the day may have come on Nate Pearson, who developed soreness in his surgically repaired right elbow during spring training. Espada reported that Pearson threw a live batting practice session and came through it well.
None of these situations are resolved, but the direction of travel is encouraging for a team that just won five in a row.
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