Injuries & Moves: Verlander hits 94 mph in simulated game
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Aug. 4: RHP Justin Verlander throws 37 pitches in simulated game
Verlander threw 37 pitches in two simulated innings Sunday morning, facing hitters Aledmys Díaz and Trey Cabbage. Verlander said he threw his complete arsenal and hit 94 mph, which was a positive development. His next step will be pitching in a Minor League game on a rehab assignment, likely this weekend. Verlander said he would need two rehab outings before rejoining Houston’s rotation.
“I don’t think I could have asked for much better,” Verlander said. “Everything was really great physically.”
Verlander gets a lot of information out of reading the swings of the hitters he’s facing.
“I talked to Díaz after and he said the fastball was getting on him,” Verlander said. “He’s a great fastball hitter so I wanted to throw him a bunch and kind of get a good read that way. More importantly the offspeed got some great reactions on all the pitches, really. It’s kind of what I would have liked to have seen. If I was in a game, I would have felt really comfortable with all the offspeed, for sure.”
Verlander began the season on the injured list with a shoulder issue and then went 3-2 with a 3.95 ERA in 10 starts before suffering the injury.
Aug 4: RHP Lance McCullers Jr. to miss rest of the season
McCullers, 30, has not pitched since the 2022 season. The right-hander had progressed to the point of throwing in the bullpen in late June before the Astros shut him down. McCullers had surgery in June 2023 to repair his right flexor tendon and remove a bone spur, but was hoping to return to the mound for the Astros at the end of this season. More>>
Aug. 4: RHP Luis Garcia (sore elbow) could resume throwing soon
Garcia, who’s been rehabbing from Tommy John surgery all season, was a no-throw again Sunday while he takes a few days following a minor setback in his recovery. Garcia threw 30 pitches in two simulated innings Tuesday at Minute Maid Park, but showed up at the park Friday with a sore elbow. Manager Joe Espada said he was feeling better on Saturday and Sunday.
Aug 3: RHP Rafael Montero clears waivers, outrighted to Triple-A Sugar Land
Montero, who was designated for assignment Wednesday, will stay in the organization and report to Triple-A to try to work things out. He cleared waivers Saturday and was outrighted to Sugar Land. Montero had a 4.70 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and allowed eight homers in 38 1/3 innings this year.
“I’m actually happy that he is staying with us,” manager Joe Espada said. “I reached out to him and told him how excited I am because I think he’s a part of this family and I think we can help him get back to the pitcher we’ve seen him be in the past. It’s just a few adjustments that we need to make — use his slider a bit more, a changeup a bit more and build a level of confidence. I’m glad he accepted the assignment.”
10-DAY/15-DAY INJURED LIST
RHP Justin Verlander (neck stiffness)
Expected return: mid–August
Verlander threw 37 pitches a simulated game on Aug. 4 and will head out on a Minor League rehab assignment as his next step. He’ll probably make two rehab starts before returning to Houston’s rotation. He was placed on the IL on June 18 (retroactive to June 16) with neck stiffness. Verlander began the season on the injured list with a shoulder issue and went 3-2 with a 3.95 ERA in 10 starts before suffering the injury. (Last updated: Aug. 4)
60-DAY INJURED LIST
OF Kyle Tucker (right shin contusion)
Expected return: Late August
Tucker is still rehabbing in Houston while the team is on the road. He was making a push as an early-season MVP candidate when he fouled a ball off his shin June 3 and didn’t play again in the first half, leaving the Astros without a huge bat in their lineup. At the time he went on the IL, he was fourth in OPS in MLB behind Aaron Judge (1.080) and Juan Soto (1.027) of the Yankees and Marcell Ozuna of the Braves (1.000).
Tucker also ranked second in the AL in walks (46) and third in slugging (.584) and was the only qualifying player in the AL with more walks than strikeouts. He is the third player in franchise history with at least 19 homers in the team’s first 59 games. (Last updated: Aug. 4)
RHP Lance McCullers Jr. (right forearm surgery)
Expected return: 2025
McCullers will miss the remainder of the regular season, manager Joe Espada said on Aug. 4. McCullers had progressed to the point of throwing in the bullpen in late June before the Astros shut him down.
The right-hander had surgery in June 2023 to repair his right flexor tendon and remove a bone spur, but was hoping to return to the mound for the Astros at the end of this season. He had progressed to throwing bullpens at Minute Maid Park, but was pulled off his rehab in July and sought a second opinion from doctors. Espada said there was no structural damage to his elbow, but there has been no reason given for the latest setback.
“Where he’s at right now, I think it’s safe to say I don’t think he’ll pitch this season,” Espada said. “It would be almost too much to ask him to ramp up and get him back this season. Everything is moving in the right direction, but with the number of games [remaining], that’s where we’re at.” (Last updated: Aug. 4)
RHP Luis Garcia (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: August
Garcia suffered a minor setback when he showed up at the ballpark on Aug. 2 with a sore elbow, but additional tests showed no structural damage, so he was set to resume throwing soon. He last threw 30 pitches in two simulated innings on the mound at Minute Maid Park on July 30 and said he felt good. Garcia had Tommy John surgery early in the 2023 season. He has been a workhorse starter for the Astros in previous years. (Last updated: Aug. 3)
RHP Penn Murfee (right elbow surgery)
Expected return: August
Murfee, claimed off waivers on March 27 from the Braves, threw a bullpen session on July 28 and is set to continue his rehab at the team’s Spring Training facility in West Palm Beach, Fla., where he would begin facing hitters as soon as the weekend of Aug. 2-4. He underwent UCL surgery in 2023. (Last updated: July 28)
RHP Oliver Ortega (right elbow surgery)
Expected return: 2025
Ortega on June 26 underwent a second surgery in a span of a few months. He had a bone spur removed, putting him out for the rest of the season. Ortega, who has yet to pitch for the Astros in the regular season, had surgery in March to remove loose bodies in his right elbow. He joined the Astros after being claimed off waivers from the Twins on Oct. 25 and appeared in two Grapefruit League games. (Last updated: June 28)
RHP Kendall Graveman (right shoulder labral surgery )
Expected return: Maybe September, likely 2025
Graveman, acquired by the Astros for the second time at last year’s Trade Deadline, posted a 2.42 ERA in 23 appearances for Houston in August and September, but he didn’t pitch in the playoffs because of right shoulder discomfort.
Graveman underwent season-ending surgery in January to repair a torn labrum and clean out his rotator cuff. He’s started a throwing program with the remote chance to return at the end of the season. (Last updated: June 21)
RHP Cristian Javier (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: 2025
Javier underwent Tommy John surgery on June 6, ending his 2024 season. He was unable to throw a scheduled bullpen session due to right forearm discomfort and was placed on the IL on May 27 for the second time this season. He was previously on the IL from April 21 to May 11 with neck discomfort.
The right-hander was 3-1 with a 3.89 ERA in seven starts with the Astros this year, including three quality starts. Javier was moved to the 60-day IL on June 16. (Last updated: June 16)
RHP José Urquidy (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: 2025
Urquidy underwent Tommy John surgery on June 5. He was pulled out of his May 24 rehab start at Triple-A after experiencing right forearm inflammation. (Last updated: June 7)
LHP Bennett Sousa (left shoulder inflammation)
Expected return: 2025
Sousa was headed toward a spot on Houston’s Opening Day roster before what he described as an inflamed nerve sent him to the IL to begin the season. Sousa said he experienced some numbness and soreness in his hand and “tried to grind through it.”
Sousa underwent surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome on April 3 and was shut down for the season. (Last updated: April 6)
