Astros RHP Jose Urquidy (forearm) to open season on IL

Houston Astros right-hander Jose Urquidy will begin the season on the injured list due to a right forearm strain.

Manager Joe Espada confirmed the news Monday following an MRI. Urquidy removed himself from Friday's spring training game after 43 pitches, complaining of discomfort in his pitching elbow, and returned to Houston for testing.

Urquidy was 3-3 with a 5.29 ERA in 16 games (10 starts) in 2023. He is 27-16 with a 3.98 ERA in 79 games (70 starts) over five seasons with the Astros.

Urquidy, 28, joins fellow Astros starting pitchers Justin Verlander, Lance McCullers Jr. and Luis Garcia on the IL to open the season. Houston hosts the New York Yankees on Opening Day on March 28.

Short-handed Houston plans to step up its pursuit of free agent pitchers like Blake Snell, Michael Lorenzen and Mike Clevinger following the latest setback, per multiple reports.