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July 26: RHP Luis Garcia (Tommy John surgery) throws bullpen; Justin Verlander to follow Saturday
Garcia threw off the mound on Friday, the third time he's done so since the Astros slowed down his rehab timeline. He threw 35 pitches in the bullpen at Minute Maid Park prior to the series opener against the Dodgers. It was Garcia's first time throwing off the mound since Monday.

"He said he felt pretty good," manager Joe Espada said.

Verlander played catch Friday in anticipation of getting back on the mound and throwing another bullpen session on Saturday. Espada wasn't ready to say Verlander was getting close to a Minor League rehab assignment.

"I think it's premature to say if we are ready to send [Verlander] out, but I am very encouraged where both of them are right now," he said.

July 22: C Victor Caratini activated from IL; IF Aledmys Díaz selected from FCL Astros; IF Grae Kessinger and C César Salazar optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land; IF David Hensley DFA'd
The Astros added some reinforcements ahead of their three-game series in Oakland, reinstating Caratini from the 10-day injured list and selecting the contract of Díaz. Caratini, who had a left hip flexor strain, went 2-for-5 with a home run and caught six innings in back-to-back games while on a rehab assignment with Double-A Corpus Christi.

Díaz signed a Minor League deal on July 13, a little more than a week after he was designated for assignment and released by the A's. He previously spent 2019-22 with the Astros, hitting .255 with a .737 OPS while playing all over the diamond. Astros manager Joe Espada said Díaz was "checking all the boxes" while building back up in the Florida Complex League, and the utility player is expected to get reps at the infield positions and left field. He started at first base on Monday.

Houston optioned two bench bats in Kessinger (0-for-15 this season) and Salazar (7-for-22, eight RBIs) to clear room on the active roster. Hensley was DFA'd to open a 40-man roster spot for Díaz.

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10-DAY/15-DAY INJURED LIST

RHP Justin Verlander (neck stiffness)
Expected return: August
Verlander could be nearing a Minor League rehab assignment. He was placed on the IL on June 18 (retroactive to June 16). 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. (Last updated: July 26)

OF Kyle Tucker (right shin contusion)
Expected return: August
Tucker 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: July 26)

60-DAY INJURED LIST

RHP Luis Garcia (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: August
Astros general manager Dana Brown said on July 26 that he still believes Garcia will be able to contribute to the big league club this year.

"The fact that he's been up to 94 [mph] in the bullpen is a good sign," he said. "He's going through his Spring Training right now and if we can get him up here to start games, that would be great. If we could get him up here to get us some bullpen innings, that would also be great."

Garcia had Tommy John surgery early in the 2023 season. He had been a workhorse starter for the Astros in previous years. (Last updated: July 26)

RHP Lance McCullers Jr. (right forearm surgery)
Expected return: TBD
McCullers remains a "no-throw" after spending the season building up from major surgery last June to repair his flexor tendon and remove a bone spur. McCullers had progressed to the point of throwing in the bullpen in late June before the Astros shut him down. Manager Joe Espada said McCullers visited a doctor for a second opinion and was told him there's no structural damage to his elbow.

"It's just getting him back to where he bounces back well after he throws a side or he plays catch," Espada said. "Right now he's no-throw and then depending on how he feels the next couple of days, then we start ramping up his throwing." (Last updated: July 19)

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 Penn Murfee (right elbow surgery)
Expected return: August
Murfee, claimed off waivers on March 27 from the Braves, has progressed to throwing in the bullpen and could soon be sent to continue his rehab at the team's Spring Training facility in West Palm Beach, Fla., where he would begin facing hitters. He underwent UCL surgery in 2023. (Last updated: July 20)

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)

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