Baker: Quick return 'has a lot to do with' Astros pitchers' elbow issues
One day after ace right-hander Justin Verlander landed on the 10-day injured list with a strained forearm, the Houston Astros got more bad news about their pitching staff.
Relievers Chris Devenski and Ryan Pressly have both experienced elbow soreness in recent days, according to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. They're currently considered day-to-day. Austin Pruitt - already on the IL with elbow inflammation - has been shut down from his throwing program.
Astros manager Dusty Baker lays a good portion of the blame on MLB's quick return to play following an extended delay.
"I think it has a lot to do with it," Baker said, according to McTaggart.
Pressly, 31, has yet to appear in a game this season after posting a 2.32 ERA with an 11.93 K/9 in 54 1/3 innings in 2019. Devenski, 29, was used twice in Houston's opening series against the Seattle Mariners, allowing three runs on four hits in two innings of work.
Losing either of them for an extended period of time would further deplete a bullpen already missing Pruitt and Brad Peacock.