HOUSTON, TEXAS – MAY 24: George Springer #4 of the Houston Astros leaves the game in the eighth inning with an unknown injury against the Boston Red Sox game at Minute Maid Park on May 24, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
Houston Astros outfielder George Springer left Friday’s game against Boston with a leg injury, and the club admits it doesn’t look promising for him to come back soon
The Houston Astros beat the defending World Series champion Boston Red Sox on Friday night, but the win came at a potentially big cost.
George Springer, the Astros outfielder having an MVP-caliber season, left the game at Minute Maid Park in the eighth inning after suffering a left leg injury. Springer slid to catch a fly ball off the bat of Red Sox’ shortstop Xander Bogaerts in foul territory and immediately came up limping before walking off the field.
Manager A.J. Hinch said after the game Springer will be evaluated and is likely headed to the IL, but he’s expecting the worst.
“I’m not looking forward to the diagnosis, to be honest,” Hinch said. “It doesn’t look very good.”
A dejected Springer said he felt his hamstring tighten as he slid for the ball. “We’ll have to see what happens and hope for the best,” he said. “It sucks, to be honest. It’s hard. But I’ll make it through and try to support the team the best way I can.”
The injury comes at a bad time for Springer. The 29-year-old had just returned to the Astros lineup after missing the previous four games with back tightness. In 48 games this season, he leads the American League with 17 home runs and 43 RBI while batting .308. He finished Friday’s game 0-3 with a sacrifice fly which proved to be the difference as Boston could only manage three solo home runs in a 4-3 Astros win.
In Springer’s absence, the Astros will rely on Jake Marisnick and Josh Reddick to take his spot in center and right field. Reddick is second in the AL in batting average at .331, while Marisnick has added five home runs. The club has plenty of other firepower as they try to ride out Springer’s injury; the Astros are fourth in the Majors in runs scored and lead the league in team batting average.
The Astros (34-18) currently have the second-best record in baseball behind the Minnesota Twins and lead the AL West by 7.5 games.