Astros: Rogelio Armenteros takes Gerrit Cole’s turn in the rotation

The Astros have called up Rogelio Armenteros from Round Rock to make the start in place of Gerrit Cole while he nurses a sore right hamstring.

Gerrit Cole, who was scratched from his last scheduled start, will sit out his spot in the rotation once again. Rogelio Armenteros gets his third call-up this season to start in this afternoon’s matchup between the Astros and the Oakland Athletics.

In his warm-up last week prior to the game against the White Sox, Cole felt a grabbing sensation in his right hamstring and was a last-minute scratch. After tests and evaluations from team doctors, it was determined that it wasn’t anything serious. As Cole put it, this isn’t anything “super serious”.

He’ll most likely do some throwing while in Oakland and it’s hopeful today will be the only other start he’ll miss. “The good news is that we feel it’s going to be a one-start situation if Gerrit mends as well as we think he’s going to and he can make his next turn in the rotation during the Detroit series,” Hinch said.

A.J. Hinch was looking at the possibility of going with another game utilizing a group of relief pitchers for today’s game. The other option he was mulling was calling up either Armenteros or Framber Valdez to get the start. The ultimate choice was to go with Armenteros. I’m sure the amount of work the bullpen has put in recently weighed heavily into that decision.

Armenteros has pitched in four games for the Astros, the first three in relief and then his MLB debut start back on July 21. He has been impressive in his short time up with the Astros. In his 14.1 innings of work, he has a 1.93 ERA and 15 strikeouts. Armenteros got the win in his only start, allowing one run on just two hits and striking out six.