Astros lose key 'pen arm Okert to IL with hamstring strain

HOUSTON -- The Astros will be without one of their key bullpen weapons for at least the next 10 games after left-hander Steven Okert was placed on the 15-day injured list Friday with a right hamstring strain. Fellow southpaw Bryan King was recalled from Triple-A Sugar Land.

Okert entered Friday ranked fourth in the Major Leagues with 68 appearances, all but one of which have been made in relief. In 67 2/3 innings, he had a 2.13 ERA, a 0.87 WHIP and held opponents to a .190 batting average while striking out 68 and walking only 14.

Okert said he felt the injury when he was in the bullpen Wednesday.

“It felt tight out there the other day and I was kind of stretching it and it grabbed me a little bit, so obviously I got it checked out,” Okert said. “Hopefully not too long on the IL.”

Left-hander Bennett Sousa pitched the seventh inning of Thursday’s win over the White Sox in a spot that Okert would have typically worked if he were healthy and available. Okert hasn’t pitched since Monday, so he would be available to come off the injured list on Sept. 15.

“It sucks,” Okert said. “I was having a good year and doing my best to help us win games out there. I’m pretty let down about it, but just got to get to work on the rehab and try to get back as soon as possible.”

Right-hander AJ Blubaugh has moved into a higher-leverage role in the bullpen in the last week, and Okert’s absence figures to create more late-game opportunities for the rookie who leads the Major Leagues in innings pitched by a reliever (86 1/3).

“Obviously, we’re going to miss him,” manager Joe Espada said of Okert. “He’s been a big part of our bullpen and has gotten some big outs for us. We’ve got some guys who are going to step in and pick him up. Blubaugh has been throwing the ball really well on the back end. King has been throwing the ball very well in Triple-A. Obviously, we’re going to miss him, but we’ve got guys who can pick him up.”

Among AL relievers, Okert ranked second in walks to strikeout ratio (5.15), second in WHIP (0.82), eighth in hits per nine innings (5.99) and sixth in opponents’ batting average (.176). He went 22 consecutive games/innings without allowing a walk from June 28-Aug. 16.​

Most of Okert’s appearances have come in the sixth or seventh inning, where he combined to make over half (43) of his 68 appearances. Most of those came with the Astros tied (nine) or ahead (22). He is four innings shy of his career-high workload of 71 2/3 innings pitched last year.

King had a 2.03 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP through his first 38 appearances this year before things went awry. He was sent to Triple-A following a four-game stretch from July 10-19 in which he gave up eight runs, including five home runs, in five innings.

King was called back up July 26 and posted a 12.38 ERA and 2.13 WHIP in nine outings for the Astros and was sent back to Sugar Land on Aug. 21 after matching his career high with five runs and five hits allowed in 1 1/3 innings. In five appearances in Triple-A this year, he’s scoreless in 4 2/3 innings.