CINCINNATI — Roy Oswalt will miss the last couple of weeks of the season after the Astros decided to shut down their ace Wednesday.
Oswalt has been bothered by back and hip pain. The 32-year-old right-hander pitched five-plus innings in a no-decision at Cincinnati on Tuesday night and reported a different arm soreness than usual after the start.
“It’s just not getting better,” said Oswalt, who was examined by a back specialist in Houston on Saturday. “It lingers more and more. If it was the playoffs, I would block it, but I don’t want it to linger into next year.”
Oswalt went 8-6 with a 4.12 ERA in 30 starts this season. His eight wins were a career low.
Footnotes.
Yankees catcher Jorge Posada and Toronto pitcher Jesse Carlson both were suspended three games and fined by Major League Baseball for their roles in a bench-clearing brawl during Tuesday night’s game. Yankees utilityman Shelley Duncan also was suspended for three games and appealed, delaying the start of any discipline.
• The White Sox requested waivers for right-hander Bartolo Colon, who went 3-6 with a 4.19 ERA in 12 starts.
• Designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero left the Angels’ game against Boston after being hit in the ribs with a pitch. The Angels said he had a bruise.
