Peacock, Smith rejoin club as rehab wraps up
ARLINGTON -- Astros right-handers Brad Peacock and Joe Smith rejoined the club Thursday at Globe Life Park after each pitched in a rehab outing for Double-A Corpus Christi at nearby Frisco this week. Both are inching closer toward being activated off the injured list.
Peacock started for the Hooks on Wednesday night and retired six of the seven batters he faced in two innings, striking out four. Peacock, who fired 21 of 33 pitches for strikes, appeared for the first time since being placed on the IL on June 28 due to right shoulder discomfort. He could return to start Monday's game at the Angels.
"The big test was today, and I played catch and felt pretty good," said Peacock, 31. "We'll see what happens tomorrow. I feel good right now."
Smith, meanwhile, is eyeing his first action of the season with the Astros after having surgery in December to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon. Smith recorded three outs Tuesday for the Hooks, allowing two homers and throwing 27 pitches. He logged a scoreless inning in each of his first five rehab appearances, with the previous four coming at Triple-A Round Rock.
"I feel like I've cleared myself mentally," Smith said. "We got the volume up and got some people on base, and I had to try to work out of it. It's good to have that because it's going to happen at some point. Knowing the strength and stamina is still there to be able to do that is good."
Smith, 35, will throw a "soft" bullpen Friday and will be evaluated over the weekend. He could be activated for his season debut before the Rangers series ends on Sunday.
"He's had his six or seven outings and a couple of live BPs and things we would normally do in a Spring Training session, so we asked him to come here and give us the weekend to evaluate what's next for him," Astros manager AJ Hinch said.
Correa, Diaz progressing
Shortstop Carlos Correa, who's been on the injured list since May 27 with a fractured rib, and infielder Aledmys Díaz, who's been out since May 27 with a left hamstring strain, could both start Minor League rehab assignments next week, Hinch said Thursday.
Diaz is a little further ahead of Correa and will join the team Friday in Arlington to continue his rehab. There are no plans for Correa to join the club in Arlington before starting a Minor League rehab.
"We want [Diaz] to do a few things around our Major League team, and he's going to join either Double-A or Triple-A," Hinch said. "He's going to stop in [Arlington] on his way to his next stop, and Carlos is only a couple of days behind him. We should have both of those guys on rehab by the early parts of next week to start their work to get back to us in the big leagues."