Gomez likely to miss start of Rangers series

ANAHEIM -- The Astros will likely be without starting center fielder Carlos Gomez for the start of Monday's series against the Rangers in Arlington. Gomez was scheduled to fly back to Houston to be examined by a team doctor after he experienced discomfort in his left side during batting practice Sunday.

Gomez was originally in the lineup for the Astros' series finale with the Angels, a 5-3 win, batting fourth and starting in center field, but he was replaced in center by Jake Marisnick. Gomez is hitting .234 with nine doubles, four homers and 13 RBIs in 38 games since coming to the Astros in a trade in July.

"He's a little sore," manager A.J. Hinch said. "The last round of BP, he came up a little sore, came inside, told us that had a little bit of intercostal soreness. So he's going to go back to Houston to get seen by our doctor quickly tomorrow morning, and we'll have more information after that."

Hinch said Gomez won't be in the lineup Monday. Gomez said he's never dealt with an injury to the oblique/intercostal area. He hopes it's something that can clear up in a couple of days and said he was going to get an MRI exam.

"I mean, it feels sore," he said. "I never have oblique injury in the past, so, I don't know if it's normal to feel like that or feel so good or bad. So, we go and have an MRI and see exactly what it is. If it's something like mild, or bad."

Gomez, acquired in a trade with the Brewers in July, has hit safely in 14 of his last 16 games, batting .306 with seven doubles, three homers, nine RBIs and a .362 on-base percentage. Sunday was only the third game of the 40 the Astros have played since he was acquired that he wasn't in the starting lineup.

"This is frustrating, you know?" he said. "If it's something bad, I'm going to feel really frustrated."