Astros' Dallas Keuchel pushes back his return to throwing again

Time is running out on Dallas Keuchel making a return to the mound.

The reigning American League Cy Young Award winner hasn't pitched since Aug. 27 as he continues to deal with inflammation in his throwing shoulder. The lefthander hasn't thrown at all in more a week.

He's pushed back his return to throwing again, saying before Monday's game that a decision will be made Wednesday to when he'll start playing catch.

On Friday, Keuchel said there's nothing structurally wrong with his shoulder and he wouldn't start throwing until after Sunday.

The Astros go into Monday's series opener against the Rangers with 19 games remaining in the regular season. A wild card spot is their lone realistic chance at reaching the postseason. The Astros entered Monday 3 1/2 games out of the second wild card and behind both the Tigers and Yankees.

Lance McCullers is closer in terms of returning, but the 22-year-old righthander has yet to throw off a mound since exiting his Aug. 2 start with what was deemed a sprained elbow. Neither has been ruled out.

"It's going to depend on where we're at as a team and where they're at," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said before Monday's game. "Our idea is to continue positive progress with these guys and not set a timeline or a necessary deadline for them to have to meet. Otherwise we'll threaten further injury.

"One more setback for any of these guys and it's over."

Houston Astros starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel stands in the dugout watching play against the Texas Rangers in the second inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 2, 2016, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez) less Houston Astros starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel stands in the dugout watching play against the Texas Rangers in the second inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 2, 2016, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony ... more Photo: Tony Gutierrez, STF Photo: Tony Gutierrez, STF Image 1 of / 251 Caption Close Astros' Dallas Keuchel pushes back his return to throwing again 1 / 251 Back to Gallery

That leaves the Astros moving forward with a struggling rotation that entered Monday with an 8.64 ERA (40 earned runs in 41 2/3 innings) in its last 10 games. Joe Musgrove is the only starter to complete six innings since Aug. 30, tossing six Friday.

"They're not doing enough to be ruled in or out," Hinch said. "McCullers is the closest guy, but you can play catch all you want - until you get on the mound, it's when you really get serious about pitching. Keuchel's not throwing yet, so there's certainly some concern on both of theirs for different reasons because of where we are on the schedule, but we'll go day to day."