The Houston Astros put reliever Enyel De Los Santos on the 15-day injured list with right knee tendinitis prior to Saturday’s game against Atlanta, ending the right-hander’s regular season.
Reliever Logan VanWey was recalled from Triple-A Sugar Land to replace De Los Santos on the roster.
Entering Saturday, De Los Santos ranked ninth among American League relievers in innings pitched and tied for 13th in appearances this season. Of his 66 outings, 25 have spanned multiple innings. Only nine AL relievers have more multi-inning outings, led by Astros teammate AJ Blubaugh.
De Los Santos has pitched mostly as a middle reliever for a bullpen that is missing one of its key set-up men in Okert, who is sidelined by a right hamstring strain.
Okert is throwing on flat ground but has not thrown off a mound since the injury. Manager Joe Espada said Saturday the Astros hope Okert can throw from a mound this upcoming week. But given he might require multiple bullpens and to pass defensive drills, a regular-season return is in question.
The Astros entered Saturday with eight regular-season games remaining and tied with the Rangers atop the American League West.