Gurriel heads to IL with neck stiffness

HOUSTON -- The Astros placed starting first baseman Yuli Gurriel, who had missed the previous three games with neck stiffness, on the 10-day injured list Friday. That puts two of Houston’s starting infielders on the injured list: Gurriel and third baseman Alex Bregman, who’s been out since June 16 with a quad strain and is on a rehab assignment at Triple-A Sugar Land.

“There was a 50-50 chance he was maybe going to play today, and we couldn’t afford to play short anymore,” Astros manager Dusty Baker said. “Plus, we have a couple of off-days [Monday and Thursday], so he wouldn’t miss as many games. We hate not to have Yuli in there, but we have to have him for the long haul.”

Looking for more production out of their bench, the Astros optioned infielder Robel García to Sugar Land on Friday and recalled infielder Taylor Jones, who has started 13 games for the Astros this year, and infielder Jacob Wilson, who was claimed off waivers from Oakland on Monday.

García had struggled mightily at the plate with Bregman and Gurriel out with four hits in his last 45 at-bats. Taylor can play first base while Gurriel is out, and Wilson will provide a fresh bat who can play more positions than García.

Wilson, 31, spent 10 years in the Minor Leagues in the Cardinals, Nationals and A’s organizations before making his Major League debut on July 10 with Oakland. He’s 1-for-7 in six career big league games and has slashed .259/.339/.448 with 114 homers and 487 RBIs in 802 career Minor League games. Baker said he’s going to play third base, second base and some left field.

“I was in a situation where I was out of a job, and Houston called and they claimed me. And all I've heard about this organization is good things from other players,” Wilson said. “The opportunity to come here and help this team win is a big one for me. I’m trying to take advantage of every opportunity I get.”