Astros rotation hit by another injury as Urquidy lands on IL

The Houston Astros' pitching rotation faces another setback as right-handed pitcher Jose Urquidy has been placed on the 15-day injured list due to right foot nerve irritation.

Urquidy's injury comes after he pitched two innings in relief during yesterday's game against the White Sox, where he allowed two runs and issued three walks. This marks the latest challenge for an Astros rotation that has been significantly impacted by injuries throughout the season.

MLBTR analysis suggests that pitchers AJ Blubaugh and Urquidy are the leading candidates to fill the void in the rotation. Blubaugh has posted a 3.74 ERA in 39 relief appearances and has often pitched multiple innings. However, he has only pitched more than two innings once since early June. Urquidy, who has served as a swingman for the Astros this season, has performed better in relief (2.22 ERA in 15 appearances) than as a starter (5.52 ERA in 10 starts).

The article notes that Urquidy was moved to the starting rotation earlier this year due to the team's extensive injury issues. While he initially showed promise, fatigue appears to have affected his performance. His recent return from the injured list saw him pitch two innings, giving up two runs, indicating that his control and velocity still need adjustment. How the Astros will utilize Urquidy moving forward remains a key point of interest for fans.