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July 3: C Victor Caratini (left hip flexor strain) back to hitting, set to join Astros in Minnesota
Caratini has resumed hitting in addition to running and throwing, manager Joe Espada said on Wednesday. Sidelined since June 20, Caratini will join the Astros for their series in Minnesota starting on Friday to continue his progression -- a step that may include taking BP on the field.

Espada said Caratini "is doing really well," but the manager believes Caratini will need a rehab assignment before being activated. The club should get a better feel for a timeline when they return home on July 9. Caratini is expected to do baseball activities on the field during that homestand. The club expected Caratini to need four weeks to recover from the injury he sustained sliding into home plate in Chicago.

July 3: RHP Justin Verlander (neck stiffness) playing catch every other day
Verlander, who has been on the injured list since June 18 (retroactive to June 16), is playing catch every other day at a distance of 60 feet, manager Joe Espada said on Wednesday. Verlander wasn't with the Astros for their series against the Blue Jays in Toronto, which started on Monday, but returning to light throwing is good news for a club that's been hit hard by pitching injuries in the first half.

According to Espada, the Astros aren't ready to put a timetable on Verlander's return.

July 2: INF Grae Kessinger recalled from Triple-A Sugar Land; INF/OF Cooper Hummel optioned
This is Kessinger's second stint in the Majors this year, after he appeared in 11 games with the big league club between April and May, posting no hits and scoring one run as a pinch-runner. The 26-year-old has hit .283 with a .743 OPS, two homers and 11 RBIs in 27 games at Triple-A Sugar Land this season.

The Astros optioned Hummel following a six-game hitless stint in the big leagues. The 29-year-old outfielder has a .301 average with a .932 OPS and seven homers with Sugar Land in 2024.

July 2: OF Kyle Tucker (right shin contusion) progressing with cage work
After taking a bit longer than expected to bounce back from the right shin contusion that led to an IL stint on June 7 (retroactive to June 4), Tucker "actually turned a corner" while hitting in the cage on Monday, manager Joe Espada said prior to Tuesday's game against the Blue Jays.

The hope is that Tucker will do some on-field work during the Astros' four-game series that wraps up on Thursday at Rogers Centre.

"The swings he took yesterday were actually pretty good," Espada said. "I felt like he actually turned a corner when it comes to who's working the cage. ... The speed of the last couple of days is actually progressing a bit faster than we've [seen earlier]."

July 1: RHP Jake Bloss (right shoulder discomfort) returns to mound
Bloss could be an option to start for the Astros during their homestand that begins on July 9, manager Joe Espada said ahead of the series opener in Toronto on Monday.

The right-hander, who threw 20 pitches on Sunday in New York in his first bullpen session since he landed on the injured list June 21, "walked away with a smile on his face," according to Espada. Bloss had played catch for a couple of days previously. He is eligible to come off the IL on July 7.

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10-DAY/15-DAY INJURED LIST

C Victor Caratini (left hip flexor strain)
Expected return: After the All-Star break
Caratini is back to hitting in the cage in addition to running and throwing, manager Joe Espada said on July 3. The catcher is set to join the Astros during their series in Minneapolis from July 5-7, when he'll continue his rehab -- a step that could include batting practice on the field. Espada believes Caratini will need a rehab stint in order to get some at-bats ahead of rejoining the big league club. The Astros should have a better timeline for Caratini's return once they start their homestand against the Marlins and the Rangers on July 9.

Caratini, who sustained his injury sliding into home plate on June 19 in Chicago, was facing about a four-week recovery, according to the team. That timetable puts his return around the All-Star Game, but likely after. He was slashing .248/.287/.429 with four homers and 17 RBIs in 115 plate appearances as the Astros’ backup catcher. (Last updated: July 3)

RHP Justin Verlander (neck stiffness)
Expected return: Early-to-mid July
Verlander, who was scratched from his June 15 start against the Tigers, initially felt as though he would be able to avoid a stint on the injured list, but was placed on the IL (retroactive to June 16). The right-hander returned to playing catch every other day at a distance of 60 feet in early July, but manager Joe Espada didn't immediately provide a timetable for Verlander's return. (Last updated: July 3)

OF Kyle Tucker (right shin contusion)
Expected return: July
Tucker was placed on the injured list on June 7, retroactive to June 4, after he fouled a ball off his right shin on June 3. He has been hitting off a batting tee and running on a treadmill, and manager Joe Espada said on July 2 that Tucker "turned a corner" with his work in the cage on July 1.

The Astros are hopeful that Tucker could do some on-field work during the series that ends on July 4 in Toronto, though it's likely Tucker will still need a Minor League rehab assignment before returning. (Last updated: July 2)

RHP Jake Bloss (right shoulder inflammation)
Expected return: July 9-14 homestand
Bloss, who landed on the IL after injuring his shoulder in his Major League debut on June 21, threw a bullpen session on June 30 and "walked away with a smile on his face," according to manager Joe Espada. The club believes he should be able to return shortly after his 15-day minimum on the IL is over.

Espada said on July 1 that Bloss could be an option to start against Miami and Texas in the homestand that begins on July 9. (Last updated: July 1)

60-DAY INJURED LIST

RHP Luis Garcia (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: Late July
Garcia, who has been out since May 2023, is expected to go two innings and around 35 pitches when he makes his second rehab start at Double-A Corpus Christi on July 4. He began his rehab on June 28 by throwing 12 pitches in one scoreless inning in the Rookie-level Florida Complex League.

Garcia struck out two batters and didn't allow a hit or a walk. He averaged 92.7 mph with his four-seam fastball. Garcia won 26 games for the Astros from 2021-22. (Last updated: July 2)

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 Lance McCullers Jr. (right forearm surgery)
Expected return: August
McCullers threw a 25-pitch bullpen session June 22, followed by a one-inning simulated game in the bullpen of 10-15 pitches. McCullers is throwing all his pitches and is over 90 mph with his velocity. He's in line to return to competitive baseball somewhere in the 13-15-month window from the surgery he had last June to repair his flexor tendon and remove a bone spur. (Last updated: June 22)

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 (no sliders) and hopes to progress to facing hitters soon. He underwent UCL surgery in 2023. (Last updated: June 21)

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 towards 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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