Weiland has shoulder surgery: Schafer out with oblique strain

Astros pitcher Kyle Weiland underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder Tuesday to clean out what the team says may have been an infection. Weiland went on the disabled list Friday and the team was optimistic when an MRI exam showed no structural damage. Weiland will be out indefinitely and the Astros will need to find someone to assume his spot in the rotation. An off day on Thursday means the Astros can skip Weiland’s turn and Jordan Lyles is likely to be recalled to start on May 8. Henry Sosa and Aneury Rodriguez are also possibilities.

Reliever Rhiner Cruz, who has missed a week with a sprained ankle, was placed on the disabled list after Tuesday’s game. Enerio Del Rosario has been called up from Oklahoma City to replace Cruz in the Astros bullpen. Del Rosario has a 1.256 WHIP in 14 relief appearances for the RedHawks this season.

Jordan Schafer is also ailing. Schafer sat out Tuesday’s game with a strained left oblique. It was obvious that Schafer was having some discomfort while running the bases in the eighth inning of Monday’s game, but Schafer toughed it out and came around to score the winning run. Brad Mills said Schafer took batting practice and should be good to go for Wednesday but the Astros seem to downplay the severity of injuries on a regular basis (see Kyle Weiland). Justin Maxwell filled in for Schafer Tuesday and went 1 for 3 with a walk and a run scored in the Astros 6-3 win over the Mets.

Jed Lowrie hammered a two-run homer off the leftfield foul pole in the first inning and Chris Snyder took Jonathan Niese deep with two runners on base in the second to stake J.A. Happ to an early 5-0 lead. Happ improved his record to 2-1, striking out seven in 6 & 1/3 innings. Brett Myers pitched a perfect ninth to earn his second save in as many nights and guarantee the Astros a series win. Jose Altuve and Brian Bogusevic had two hits apiece in the win.

The Astros go for their first series sweep of the season tomorrow at 1:05 CDT. Wandy Rodriguez gets the start against Mets rookie right-hander Chris Schwinden.