BOSTON -- The Astros will be without starting right fielder Josh Reddick until at least the start of the American League Division Series presented by Doosan after he was sent to Houston on Friday to be examined by team doctors. The sore back that's bothered Reddick for the last week continues to be an issue.
Astros manager A.J. Hinch said Reddick was examined Friday in Boston before the team determined it would send him back to Houston for further tests. He's scheduled to see team doctors on Saturday.
"He's not going to play the rest of the weekend, which will then lead us to the workouts in between Sunday and Thursday," Hinch said. "We'll do some simulated stuff. We think he's going to be fine. We wanted to get our doctors' eyes and hands on him as soon as possible."
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While the Astros are concerned with Reddick, they still expect him to be ready for the playoffs, which begin Thursday at Minute Maid Park with Game 1 of the ALDS.
"I think Josh Reddick could play today in a little bit of discomfort, which is not going to happen," Hinch said. "There's no reason for us to risk the playoff series at this point. We wanted him to play, we thought he was going to be able to play. We'll know more as our doctors see him tomorrow."
Reddick was initially worried when he woke up Thursday because his back was sore, the result of an awkward sleep during the team's plane ride to Boston from Dallas late Wednesday. He was hoping to play this weekend, but the Astros have enough outfield depth to finish the regular season without him.
Reddick, who signed a four-year, $52 million deal with Houston in November, finishes the regular season with a .314 batting average, 13 homers and 82 RBIs in perhaps the best season of his career. His .847 OPS is a career high. He hit .391 in September, which ranks near the top for batting average this month in the Majors.