Springer may not need DL stint, says Hinch

HOUSTON -- Less than 24 hours after absorbing a 92.4-mph fastball from southpaw Cole Hamels to his left elbow, Astros All-Star outfielder George Springer was not in Saturday's lineup against the Texas Rangers, but a stint on the disabled list is not expected, manager AJ Hinch said.
"He's pretty sore," Hinch said, "but he's doing fine. He's day to day like we said, so he's not in there today. He'll start to move around a little bit. His range of motion is fine, but he's sore."
Shortly after being stung by Hamels' heat in the third inning of Friday's 1-0 loss to Texas, Houston's leadoff hitter was removed from the game after battling visible pain, but X-rays on Springer's arm returned negative Friday night.
"Yeah, I don't think it's a DL situation," Hinch said. "... It's been one day or half a day since he got hit. We're certainly hopeful that it's a contusion that he has to deal with. I had the lineup up before he got here, so that's where my mind was coming into the ballpark."
Springer, who was initially diagnosed with a left elbow contusion by the Astros, drew a leadoff walk in his first at-bat before he was hit by the pitch -- his final appearance before Jake Marisnick replaced him in the fourth inning.
Springer went 9-for-14 with one home run, five RBIs and five runs scored in the Astros' sweep at Oakland earlier this week. He also recorded a club-record-tying six-hit game Monday. He was the first Astros player to record nine hits and five runs in a three-game series since Ty Wigginton in 2008.
By placing utility man Marwin Gonzalez in left field, the Astros are expected to have four available outfielders Saturday, which does not veer far from Houston's standard. Should the Astros have to reassign Gonzalez to the infield, they will have three outfielders in Springer's absence: Marisnick, Josh Reddick and Derek Fisher, who will start in center field Saturday.
"It doesn't feel too good," Springer said Friday. "It didn't feel too good at the time. We'll have to see what happens [today] and go from there. Hopefully, I can get back in there."