AL WEST NEWS AND NOTES

HOUSTON ASTROS

Not much has gone wrong for the defending World Series champions this season, and they want to keep it that way in regard to Carlos Correa.

The All-Star shortstop is wrestling with a sore back, and the Astros aren’t taking any chances. Correa is eligible to come off the disabled list July 6 against the Chicago White Sox. But if he’s not ready, manager A.J. Hinch has plenty of patience.

❚ When Correa went to the DL, the Astros called up Cuban left-hander Cionel Perez, who had struck out 71 hitters in 57 1 ⁄ 3 innings for Class AA Corpus Christi (Texas) while going 5-1 with a 2.20 ERA. He’ll work out of the bullpen, but the team sees him as a starter in the future.

❚ When the Astros threw a combined shutout to beat the Tampa Bay Rays on June 28; they tied a franchise record with their 11th straight road victory.

LOS ANGELES ANGELS

Shohei Ohtani was cleared to return as a designated hitter, but not as a pitcher, while his strained tendon in his right elbow continues to heal. The Angels will re-evaluate the right-hander’s chances of throwing again this season.

The Angels are confident Ohtani can supply some needed offense without further damaging his elbow.

❚ When Deck McGuire pitched against the Baltimore Orioles on July 1, the right-hander became the 12th starter this year for a club that once again 3 has been derailed by numerous injuries to the rotation. McGuire was rocked by the Baltimore Orioles for five runs in 3 1 / 3innings and took the loss.

❚ Left-hander John Lamb was diagnosed with a torn elbow ligament and was scheduled to become the fourth Angels pitcher to undergo Tommy John surgery in the last two plus months.

OAKLAND ATHLETICS

Right-hander Edwin Jackson has turned out to be a good pitcher, and a good-luck charm, for the surging A’s.

Oakland climbed past the Angels in the American League West standings thanks to a season- high six-game winning streak, which began when Jackson joined the club June 25.

Pitching for his record-tying 13th major league team, Jackson allowed only three runs over 12 2 ⁄ 3 innings in two starts, including a win over the Cleveland Indians on June 30.

❚ The A’s hope left-hander Sean Manaea can flip his trend of having a good month followed by a shaky one. He was 3-0 with a 2.84 ERA in June after going 1-4 with a 7.18 ERA in May and 4-2 with a 1.03 ERA in March/April.

❚ Catcher Bruce Maxwell, who had pleaded guilty to a disorderly conduct charge in an unrelated incident, was sentenced to two years of probation. He has played in 18 games for the A’s this season but most recently has been at Class AAA Nashville

SEATTLE MARINERS

One season after manager Scott Servais used a club-record 17 starting pitchers, the Mariners’ depth is such that the club is tinkering with going to a six-man rotation this summer.

Four Seattle starters haven’t missed a turn and have logged at least 100 innings. In addition, the Mariners are trying to limit left-hander Marco Gonzales’ workload in his first full season back from Tommy John elbow surgery.

❚ Closer Edwin Diaz’s majors- leading 32 saves through July 1 were a franchise record before the All-Star break, and he was on pace for what would be a club-record 60. Seattle won the first 40 games that Diaz entered with a lead.

❚ Third baseman Kyle Seager continued to play despite a broken toe, the result of fouling a ball off his foot June 27.

TEXAS RANGERS

The last-place Rangers were playing their best baseball of a disappointing season as June ended, winning 11 of their last 13 games of the month. But 45year-old right-hander Bartolo Colon continued to be anything but disappointing.

Colon, a Dominican Republic native, tied Nicaragua’s Dennis Martinez for the most wins by a Latin American pitcher when he earned his 245th career victory, defeating the Chicago White Sox on June 30.

Earlier this year, Colon surpassed Juan Marichal for the most wins by a pitcher from the Dominican.

❚ Designated hitter/outfielder Shin-Soo Choo had to take a day off June 30 because of a quad injury, but he was back in the lineup July 1 and extended his streak of reaching base to 42 straight games. It was the longest streak in the majors this season and just four games shy of the franchise record, set by Julio Franco in 1993.

❚ Left-hander Martin Perez appeared to be close to rejoining the rotation. He surrendered just two singles over six scoreless innings June 30 in his second minor league rehab start.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT

ALEX BREGMAN, ASTROS: Bregman and teammate Evan Gattis both had 30 RBI in June, which tied for first in the majors, and Bregman’s 33 hits for the month were within one of the American League leaders — a foursome that included another teammate, Jose Altuve. Through July 1, Bregman led AL third basemen in doubles (27) and was among the leaders in hits (89), home runs (16) and RBI (53).