HOUSTON -- Catcher Brian McCann was activated from the 10-day disabled list and in the Astros' lineup against Stephen Strasburg and the Nationals on Thursday night after missing nine games with right knee soreness. Juan Centeno was optioned to Triple-A Fresno to make room on the roster for McCann.
"It's good for us on a lot of levels," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. "One, the 10 days were huge for his body and knee and mind and to be able to decompress a bit. He grinded for a long time and it took a toll on him.
"As far as his presence in the dugout, around the pitching staff, he was still around, but it's different when you're an active player as opposed to just hanging out. I expect his energy to be high, he's been very excitable about today for a number of days. And for our offense, you start looking at him -- it's starting to feel like a pretty deep lineup again."
In his first year with Houston, McCann came into Thursday's series finale against Washington hitting .232 with 13 home runs and 48 RBIs. Prior to going on the DL on Aug. 14, the left-handed-hitting McCann had been slumping, batting .155 with three home runs and six RBIs in his past 22 games.
"The discomfort I was feeling, I got to the point where I needed to go on the DL and get a shot," said McCann, who did not go on a Minor League rehab assignment. "For it to calm down and feel the way it does right now, I'm really excited.
"Just being back in the lineup -- when you're on the DL, it's tough, to be back is exciting. The 10 days really helps."
McCann's backup, Evan Gattis, was in the Houston clubhouse on Thursday but is still on the disabled list. Gattis, who played in two rehab games at Double-A Corpus Christi while on the mend with a concussion, could be activated on Friday or over the weekend.
Gattis was pulled out of his rehab assignment a day early because Hurricane Harvey is projected to hit Corpus Christi. The right-handed-hitting Gattis is batting .278 with 11 home runs and 45 RBIs. He suffered the concussion when Tampa Bay's Corey Dickerson's backswing caught him in the mask on Aug. 3.