HOUSTON -- Astros manager AJ Hinch ruled shortstop Carlos Correa out for this week's four-game series against the A's before Monday night's opener. A possible return from the 10-day disabled list this weekend against the Tigers is also becoming increasingly unlikely for Correa, Hinch added.
In an on-field workout at Minute Maid Park on Monday, Correa was limited in fielding ground balls, his first baseball-related rehab action since he hit the DL with a back injury on June 26.
"Yeah, it's important, because he's got to start to do a lot more in order for him to get back into playing consideration," Hinch said. "Anything is possible at this point once you start doing some baseball activities."

Correa, who last played on June 25, must advance to swinging a bat and taking batting practice before starting a potential rehab assignment. That may be too much to accomplish before the All-Star break, which begins next Monday.
"Step by step, we need him to get better," Hinch said. "He is getting better. We're all anxious. He's anxious. I'm sure fans are anxious. But he's not going to play until this is all resolved. But the first step of getting on the field and feeling like a shortstop again is a good sign.
"I just want him to take BP; that's going to make me feel a little bit better. And that will lead to the next step. At this point, he's going to need to do a lot to play."
Whitley placed on Minor League DL
The Astros have placed their top pitching prospect Forrest Whitley on the Minor League disabled list with a mild strained oblique, Astros general manager and president of baseball operations Jeff Luhnow said Monday.

Whitley was examined by the club's doctors in Houston on Monday and the Astros are hopeful he will not miss more than a couple of weeks. Whitley, one of two Astros prospects selected to participate in the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game on July 15 -- along with the club's No. 3 prospect, Yordan Alvarez -- will not play in the Futures Game.