Astros hopeful Gomez will not need DL stint

HOUSTON — The Astros believe they have avoided putting outfielder Carlos Gomez on the disabled list. Gomez, who injured his left ribcage diving for a ball in the outfield on Friday in Oakland, wasn’t in the lineup on Monday against the Twins for the third game in a row, but he did go through pregame drills.

Manager A.J. Hinch didn’t rule out Gomez possibly getting into Monday’s game and said he should at least play at some point during the series.

“[He’ll play] unless something happens between now and over the next couple of days, unless he irritates it in some capacity,” Hinch said. “We’ve taken a positive step forward to think this series, he’s going to play.”

Gomez has struggled this season, hitting .213 with only two RBIs through the first 25 games. He’s also run into some mistakes on the bases, including trying to stretch a double into a triple for the first out in the ninth inning of Friday’s game.

The Astros have only three outfielders on the roster other than Gomez — Preston Tucker, Colby Rasmus and George …

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