WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Astros right-handed starting pitcher Jose Urquidy is headed back to Houston to be examined by team doctors, Astros manager Joe Espada told reporters Saturday in West Palm Beach.
Espada said Urquidy told the Astros he had continued pain in his right elbow Saturday morning. Urquidy left his Friday start after 43 pitches, telling trainers he had pain in his right elbow.
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A league source tells KPRC 2 some of what Urquidy is experiencing can be described as “stiffness in the forearm.”
Urquidy is slated to be one of the main cogs of an Astros starting rotation that has been hit hard by injuries. Of the eight experienced starting pitchers on the team’s roster, four of them—Justin Verlander, J.P France, Luis Garcia and Lance McCullers Jr.—had some sort of injury heading into spring training.
Urquidy’s elbow pain and forearm stiffness puts his availability into question for opening day, while France is slated to pitch in Saturday’s spring training game and looks on track to be ready for the start of the regular season.
The Astros are also involved in the market for 2023 NL Cy Young Winner Blake Snell as a result of the team’s injuries piling up.