Bregman to miss weekend set vs. White Sox with swollen elbow

HOUSTON -- The Astros will be without starting third baseman Alex Bregman for at least this weekend’s series against the White Sox at Minute Maid Park after he came down with a swollen right elbow while the club was sweeping the Tampa Bay Rays in St. Petersburg earlier this week.

Bregman said Friday he slept on his arm “wrong” and had some swelling in the elbow. An MRI showed no structural damage, and he stressed it’s not an injury that will land him on the injured list. Mauricio Dubón started at third in Friday’s series opener against the White Sox at Minute Maid Park. Bregman previously underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow in January 2019.

“I feel like a few days and I’ll be able to come back strong and feel good,” Bregman said. “I have no damage to any of the ligaments or anything like that. Just something I’m going to have to be able to take a few days [off] for.

“Obviously, it’s pretty unfortunate, because I’m swinging the bat well right now and playing really well. Hopefully, come back in a few days and be ready to roll. Yeah, this has no long-term effect or anything like that. It’s just something I’ve got to knock out right now and get back to playing.”

Bregman is hitting .261 with 19 homers and 59 RBIs this year after going 0-for-4 Wednesday. He had homered in Houston’s four previous games and was named the American League Co-Player of the Week last week after hitting .444 with three doubles, three homers and six RBIs.

Bregman was hitting .201/.270/.264 with one home run through May 8 before rounding into form. He’s hitting .288/.338/.518 with 18 homers and 48 RBIs in 83 games since May 9 and .340/.375/.717 with five homers and eight RBIs in 12 games in August.

Bregman reported the pain to the Astros following Wednesday’s game and decided he needed to take a few days off.

“Moreso, I needed to nip it in the bud and make sure I’m good for the rest of the year,” he said.

The Astros have been without All-Star slugger Kyle Tucker, who had 19 homers in the team’s first 61 games, since he fouled a ball off his shin June 3, so the middle of Houston’s lineup is even thinner with the absence of Bregman.

“He’s going to be back in a couple of days,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “You want him in there every day, but I like the boys who go out there right now and can compete and give us a chance to win.”