Urquidy: Shoulder discomfort is 'nothing big'

Astros right-hander not expecting to be on the injured list for long

July 1st, 2021

HOUSTON -- As the Astros approach the end of a portion of their schedule in which they’ve been using a six-man rotation, the decision about which starter will leave when they go back to a five-man rotation later this month has been made for them.

Right-hander José Urquidy was placed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with right shoulder discomfort. He left Tuesday’s loss to the Orioles after 1 1/3 innings and 27 pitches. He spent two weeks on the IL in late May with right posterior shoulder discomfort.

Urquidy said after Wednesday's 5-2 loss to the Orioles that an MRI showed some tightness and inflammation, but no structural damage. That was the same diagnosis he received when he was on the IL from May 14-31.

“It’s nothing big,” Urquidy said. “I won’t be [out] long term.”

Urquidy is 6-3 with a 3.38 ERA in 14 starts this year, and his injury leaves the Astros with five healthy starters: Zack Greinke, Lance McCullers Jr., Luis Garcia, Jake Odorizzi and Framber Valdez. Houston went to a six-man rotation two weeks ago when it started a stretch of 20 games in 20 days and was likely going to go back to a five-man rotation next week or after the All-Star break.