Double Whammy: Houston Astros Pitchers Javier and Urquidy Both Suffer Forearm Injuries, Prompting MRI Diagnosis

Houston Astros pitchers Cristian Javier and José Urquidy are both experiencing forearm discomfort and will undergo MRIs to determine the extent of their injuries. Javier was placed on the 15-day injured list after his most recent start, during which he gave up a season-high eight hits. This comes after missing 18 games earlier in the season with neck discomfort. Urquidy, who has yet to pitch in the majors this season, was removed from his rehab start after 3 2/3 innings due to forearm discomfort.

Houston manager Joe Espada confirmed that both pitchers will have MRIs on Tuesday to assess the situation. Javier skipped a scheduled bullpen session due to the discomfort in his forearm, while Urquidy has been dealing with forearm issues throughout the season.

In response to the injuries, the Astros recalled right-hander Alex Speas from Triple-A Sugar Land to take Javier’s roster spot. They also called up first baseman José Abreu from Sugar Land, who was inserted into the lineup for the game against the Mariners. Abreu, the 2020 AL MVP, had been struggling at the plate before accepting a demotion to the minors earlier in the season.