Yandy Diaz Sent to 10-Day IL as Astros Rework Catching

yandy diaz went on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with a left oblique strain, leaving Houston to patch together its catching plan after he was hurt in batting practice Monday. Manager Joe Espada said Diaz will be out for "a while."

The Astros moved quickly after the injury, selecting the contract of catcher César Salazar from Triple-A Sugar Land on Monday and then installing veteran Christian Vázquez as the starter. Salazar is set to serve as the backup until Diaz is healthy.

Diaz Leaves Houston Thin

Diaz had been hitting.248 with two home runs and 14 RBIs in 26 games this season. That production disappears from a lineup that now has to keep moving without its regular catcher, and the club has already had to make the next set of roster decisions around him.

Houston also recalled right-hander Jason Alexander and outfielder Zach Dezenzo from Sugar Land on Tuesday, reinstated infielder Nick Allen from the 10-day injured list, optioned right-hander Ryan Weiss to Sugar Land, and designated outfielder Dustin Harris for assignment. The moves came in the same span that Diaz’s injury forced Salazar into the majors and pushed Vázquez into the starting role.

Ryan Weiss After Dodgers Loss

Weiss was the most notable pitcher shifted out of the mix after Monday night’s 8-3 loss to the Dodgers, when he allowed eight hits and seven runs, six earned, in 4 1/3 innings. Houston’s roster shuffle tied the catching injury to a broader reset in the pitching and bench picture.

For the Astros, the immediate task is simple: cover the innings and at-bats Diaz would have handled until he returns. Salazar is the backup, Vázquez is starting, and Espada has already labeled the absence as one that will last for a while.