Notes: Correa update; Bregman eyes rehab

HOUSTON -- The Astros are likely to be without starting shortstop Carlos Correa and left-handed reliever Brooks Raley through Sunday because of health and safety protocols, manager Dusty Baker said Saturday. Raley was placed on the injured list Thursday and Correa on Friday.

Baker said Correa was away from the team on Saturday and was “not good.”

“I just hope he doesn’t have what [Kyle] Tucker had,” Baker said. “Tucker lost a lot of weight in a short period of time, and he’s just now getting his stroke back, getting his strength back. Carlos doesn’t have a whole bunch of weight to lose, either. He’s strong, but wiry strong.”

Tucker, the Astros’ starting right fielder, missed seven games in June because of health and safety protocols. In April, the Astros had five players -- Yordan Alvarez, Alex Bregman, Robel García, Martín Maldonado and Jose Altuve -- out for four games because of health and safety reasons. Alvarez landed back on the COVID-19 IL for two games later in the month.

Bregman 'nearing' rehab assignment
Alex Bregman, who’s been on the injured list since straining his left quadriceps June 16 while running the bases, ran on the field again and took batting practice Saturday and said the next step is a Minor League rehab assignment.

“I got those two running sessions in the last two days, and everything feels good,” he said. “We’re nearing a rehab assignment here coming up. I think we’ll make that decision here in the next day or two, maybe a little bit longer. It’s feeling good, feeling better. I took ground balls and hit in batting practice.

“Our strength-and-conditioning staff and training staff have been awesome, helping me get to back to feeling good and feel more like I have my legs underneath me, which is good. Now it’s about getting that game experience, and hopefully a few games of a rehab assignment and back to playing. I miss baseball and definitely miss being back there with the guys.”

Bregman is eyeing a rehab stint for Triple-A Sugar Land when the Skeeters are in Albuquerque, N.M. -- his hometown -- July 15-20. Bregman played at Isotopes Park twice in high school, winning a state title his freshman year and losing his senior year.

“I’d rather not be on a rehab assignment, but to be playing a game at Isotopes Park after growing up and going to so many games there -- I think I’ve been to 1,000 baseball games at that stadium -- would be pretty cool,” he said. “I have a lot of friends and family that would be there to see me.”