The Astros placed experienced reliever Ryan Pressley on the 15-day injured list today with a lower back injury. In a corresponding move, the team has placed the right-hander Seth Martinez from Triple-A Sugar Land. Martinez will be available out of the bullpen for tonight’s game against the White Sox.

Pressly, 35, has been with the Astros since 2018 and has posted a 2.84 ERA with 109 saves during that time. He also has a 2.22 ERA with 14 additional saves in the postseason. Although he lost his job as Houston’s closer when the team signed Josh Hader This past offseason, he remained one of the club’s more reliable, high-leverage bullpen arms. In 49 games this season, Pressly has a 3.86 ERA, a 3.45 SIERA and 21 holds. He has pitched almost exclusively in the eighth inning.

The Astros relief pitchers rank fifth in the MLB and second in the AL with a 3.61 ERA this season. Still, losing Pressly for any length of time would be a major blow to a team trying to stay atop the Mariners in the AL West. The Astros just began a series of 18 games in 18 days, and after their series against the White Sox ends this weekend, they will face the Red Sox, Orioles, Phillies and Royals.

Fortunately for the Astros, manager Joe Espada doesn’t seem particularly concerned about the severity of Pressly’s injury. The captain explained that Pressly initially tried to pitch despite the pain. But given Pressly’s recent struggles (9.00 ERA in his last four appearances), it’s understandable that the team decided to give him some time to rest and heal. Espada called the IL stint “a little breather,” which certainly suggests Pressly won’t be out too long (Espada interview clip via Brian McTaggart of MLB.com).

More to follow …