The Houston Astros will be without one of their most reliable relievers for at least the next 10 games.
Left-hander Steven Okert was placed on the 15-day injured list Friday with a right hamstring strain, retroactive to Sept. 1. The Astros recalled left-hander Bryan King from Triple-A Sugar Land in a corresponding move.
Okert said he felt tightness in his hamstring while stretching in the bullpen Wednesday and an evaluation revealed the strain. He described the injury as minor and hopes his stay on the IL will be brief. Because the move is retroactive, Okert is eligible to return Sept. 15.
Okert last pitched Aug. 31 against the Chicago White Sox, allowing one hit and striking out two in a scoreless inning. He has appeared in a team-high 68 games this season, going 6-2 with a 2.13 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, and 68 strikeouts in 67⅔ innings. Opponents are batting just .190 against him.
A Significant Loss for the Astros Bullpen
Okert’s absence comes at an especially inconvenient time for Houston. The Astros enter Friday with a two-game lead over the Texas Rangers in the AL West and 21 games remaining in the regular season.
Okert has become one of Joe Espada’s primary setup options and one of the Astros’ most frequently used relievers. His absence will extend through at least the upcoming series against Arizona, Philadelphia, and Tampa Bay as Houston tries to protect its division lead during a difficult stretch of the schedule.
Bennett Sousa worked the seventh inning of Thursday’s 6-2 win over the White Sox in a spot Okert would typically handle. Sousa and AJ Blubaugh are expected to see additional high-leverage opportunities while Okert is unavailable.
Bryan King Returns
King returns to Houston after being recalled from Sugar Land on Friday. The left-hander gives Espada another bullpen option while the Astros wait for Okert to recover.
Replacing Okert’s production will likely require more than one arm. With one of their most dependable relievers unavailable during the stretch run, the Astros will lean more heavily on the depth of a bullpen that has played a major role in keeping Houston atop the AL West.
The good news is that the injury appears relatively minor. If Okert can return around the time he becomes eligible Sept. 15, the Astros could have him back for most of the final two weeks of the regular season.
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