Houston Astros Release Update on Injured Stars

The Houston Astros are getting encouraging updates on Yordan Alvarez, Michael Brantley and Jose Urquidy.
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
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Three injured Houston Astros players made encouraging moves toward getting back on the field, per MLB.com.

The Astros are in the midst of a four-game series with St. Louis before heading to Texas for a four-game series against the Rangers.

Outfielder Yordan Alvarez, outfielder Michael Brantley and pitcher José Urquidy all participated in some sort of baseball activity on Wednesday.

Alvarez has been on the injured list with a right oblique strain and the Astros don’t expect him to return until after the All-Star Break at the earliest. But he did hit off a tee and take some soft toss in the cage, a good sign that the oblique continues to respond to treatment.

He took swings in the cage, ran and threw during the Astros’ trip to Los Angeles last weekend.

Brantley hasn’t played this season due to right shoulder surgery, and the Astros knew he was unlikely to be much help until at least the second half of the season. He’s hit twice in the last two days, including a cage session on Wednesday. He also took fly balls in the outfield on Wednesday.

Either would be a welcome addition to an offense that has struggled to score all season, but has dearly missed Alvarez, who led the American League in home runs when he was hurt on June 8.

As for Urquidy, he threw an expected bullpen session on Wednesday and told MLB.com that he “feels good.”

He’s working his way back from right shoulder inflammation that put him on the 15-day injured list. The next step for him will be to face hitters. The hope is that he can return after the All-Star Break. When he left he was 2-2 with a 5.20 ERA in six starts.

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Matthew Postins
MATTHEW POSTINS

Matthew Postins is an award-winning sports journalist who covers the Texas Rangers, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros for Sports Illustrated/FanNation. He also covers he Big 12 for Heartland College Sports.