HOUSTON -- Houston Astros reliever Ryan Pressly said he expects to be ready for the World Series after right-knee discomfort forced him from Game 6 of the American League Championship Series on Saturday.
Pressly said the pain he experienced was due to breaking scar tissue in his knee. He had arthroscopic surgery on the knee in August.
In the top of the third inning, Pressly fielded a comebacker off the bat of the Yankees' Didi Gregorius and charged at Gregorius as he ran up the line. Pressly tried to halt his momentum as he got close enough to apply the tag but immediately pulled up and grimaced.
"Just some scar tissue that broke off,'' he said. "It was bound to happen at some point. I just didn't think it was going to happen in the middle of that game. I'll be good and ready to go next week.''
The pitch Pressly threw to Gregorius turned out to be his only one of the game, but it was big. There were two outs, and the bases were loaded in the third inning. The out he recorded nipped that Yankees' rally and preserved a two-run Houston lead.
The Astros used a bullpen game to wrap up the ALCS. Pressly was the third pitcher used and was replaced by Jose Urquidy to start the fourth. Urquidy allowed a solo homer to Gio Urshela, the second batter he faced.
Pressly, 30, was 2-3 with a 2.32 ERA and three saves during the regular season, which he resumed in late September after his knee surgery. He struggled at the outset of the postseason and has a 13.50 ERA in six appearances. He was awarded the win in Game 4 of the ALCS after he struck out consecutive batters to leave the bases loaded in the fifth inning.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.