Colby Rasmus' season, Astros tenure likely over

For seven consecutive days, Colby Rasmus' name was listed among the bench players on the Astros' lineup card despite the outfielder's unavailability.

On Monday, it disappeared from the card altogether. Consider it a strange ending to Rasmus' season and all but certainly his tenure with the Astros.

Rasmus, an impending free agent, left the team to seek a second opinion on what manager A.J. Hinch described as "a hip issue that's kind of gone into his groin." He will visit a specialist in Philadelphia this week, according to Hinch.

Rasmus made himself unavailable to play beginning Sept. 19, explaining two days later he wasn't "feeling like myself out there on the field, so I just felt that it may be better for somebody else to get in there." He missed most of August after undergoing surgery to remove a cyst from his right ear, an issue that had caused symptoms of vertigo. He was 7 for 42 since his Aug. 30 return from the disabled list.

"This season has been a physical grind for him, so he's going to go and get the opinion that he needs," Hinch said on Monday. "I'm not expecting him to be back with us for the remainder of the regular season."

Rasmus, who hasn't been spotted at Minute Maid Park since Saturday, is nearing the end of the one-year, $15.8-million contract he was playing on after accepting the Astros' qualifying offer in November.

Although still a plus defender in the outfield, Rasmus was one of the worst offensive players in the majors this season. His .206 batting average ranks 194th of the 196 major leaguers who came into the week with at least 400 plate appearances. His .641 on-base plus slugging percentage ranks 188th.

Tony Kemp and Teoscar Hernandez will continue to play left field in Rasmus' absence.

Houston Astros Colby Rasmus slides across home plate after scoring on a double hit by Carlos Gomez against the Los Angeles Angels during the third inning at Minute Maid Park Sunday, July 24, 2016, in Houston. ( Melissa Phillip / Houston Chronicle ) less Houston Astros Colby Rasmus slides across home plate after scoring on a double hit by Carlos Gomez against the Los Angeles Angels during the third inning at Minute Maid Park Sunday, July 24, 2016, in Houston. ... more Photo: Melissa Phillip, Staff Photo: Melissa Phillip, Staff Image 1 of / 159 Caption Close Colby Rasmus' season, Astros tenure likely over 1 / 159 Back to Gallery

Odds & ends

- Astros manager A.J. Hinch gave Yulieski Gurriel a day off Monday, his first day out of the lineup since Sept. 2. The Cuban infielder, who has only six hits in his last 44 at-bats, will be back in the lineup Tuesday. "He's not used to playing so many games in a row. I know he's fighting and battling," Hinch said. "He would never ask out of the lineup. But he just looks a little bit sluggish when it comes to how much he's playing and how much we're asking out of him."

- Lance McCullers, whose return this season hinges on a postseason berth, left the Astros to continue his rehabilitation from his elbow sprain at the team's spring training facility in Kissimmee, Fla. While there, the righthander will pitch to batters in a live batting practice session.

- Dallas Keuchel (shoulder inflammation) has still yet to be cleared to resume throwing but said Monday he feels good.

-The Astros named Alex Bregman and Brady Rodgers their minor league player and pitcher of the year, respectively.