HOUSTON (AP) — Houston right-hander Ronel Blanco will have season-ending Tommy John surgery next week.

The team made the announcement Wednesday after Blanco got a second opinion. He was placed on the injured list last week with inflammation in his throwing elbow, a few days after his last start on May 17.

“I know how hard he's worked to get to this point and it stinks,” manager Joe Espada said. “So the goal is now to get him healthy, get him back at some point next season.”

Blanco is the second Astros starter this month to have to undergo Tommy John surgery after they announced on May 18 that right-hander Hayden Wesneski would need it.

Espada said it's a trying time for his team, which also is without right-hander Spencer Arrighetti, who has been out since April after breaking his righ

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