With the Houston Astros dealing with a rash of injuries to key players, manager Dusty Baker is wondering if their participation in the World Baseball Classic could be connected.
"I just hate to think that some of our guys, especially the Latin guys, went to the WBC, are coming up lame, and I'm just hoping that wasn't part of the cause and the problem," Baker said Monday, according to Fox 26's Mark Berman.
The Astros have seen starting pitchers Jose Urquidy and Luis Garcia go down with injuries in the past two games. Urquidy participated in the WBC for Mexico, while Garcia suited up for Venezuela.
Urquidy is expected to miss time with right shoulder inflammation, while Houston placed Garcia on the 15-day injured list Tuesday after he exited Monday's start against the San Francisco Giants with elbow pain.
The Astros have also had to start the season without the services of All-Star second baseman Jose Altuve after he fractured his left thumb while playing for Venezuela at the WBC.
Houston has started the season with a 16-13 record and is currently in second place in the American League West, trailing the Texas Rangers by 1.5 games.
