Correa returns vs. Mariners after 6 weeks out

HOUSTON -- After a 36-game absence, the Astros activated Carlos Correa from the 10-day disabled list on Friday. No surprise: Correa hit third for Houston against the Mariners at Minute Maid Park in his first game since June 25.
In the Astros' 5-2 loss to Seattle, Correa went 0-for-3 with a walk.
On the shelf with a lower back injury, Correa played five Minor League rehab games as the finish line to a bothersome back injury. Hours before his first return, Correa said his back is feeling just fine, and he has few worries about any lingering effects the injury could have on him.
"It feels good right now," Correa said. "I'm not focusing on that. I'm not worrying about that. I'm focusing right now on trying to perform and help my team win games."
Correa made four starts at shortstop and one at designated hitter in his five games with Double-A Corpus Christi. The shortstop went 3-for-16 with plenty of swinging strikes, some of which had purpose.
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Correa had a setback near the mid-July All-Star break because swinging and missing pitches continued to trouble his lower back, he said Thursday. Correa's rehab had to be shut down and started from scratch, which delayed his return.
"He's ready to go," Astros manager AJ Hinch said. "My only concern will be him trying to make up for lost time in one game. He doesn't need to be anything other than himself. We'll insert him in the middle of the order. It's nice to have his presence on both sides of the ball. My guess is he's going to come out with a ton of energy."