Injuries & Moves: Framber reinstated from IL
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April 27: LHP Framber Valdez reinstated off IL
Valdez was activated off the IL and will start Sunday's game against the Rockies in Mexico City. Valdez was scratched from his April 8 start with elbow soreness, but wound up not needing to go on a Minor League rehab assignment.
April 26: RHP J.P. France optioned to Triple-A
France, who's 0-3 with a 7.46 ERA in five starts (the Astros have lost all five), was optioned to Triple-A on Friday's off-day. That will open a spot on the roster for the Astros to activate lefty ace Framber Valdez, who's scheduled to come off the IL and pitch Sunday's Mexico City Series finale.
April 23: RHP Cristian Javier returns to Houston
Javier, who was scratched from his scheduled start at Nationals Park on Sunday with right neck discomfort, flew to Houston on Tuesday to get treatment and checked out by team doctors. Javier said Tuesday he felt a lot better and was trying to rest as much as possible before coming back. He said he injured his neck earlier this month when "he slept weird." Javier has yet to throw a baseball since he went on the IL.
10-day/15-day IL
RHP Cristian Javier (right neck discomfort)
Expected return: May at the earliest
Javier began experiencing neck discomfort in the days following his April 14 start against the Rangers and flew to Houston from Chicago on April 23 to get checked out by team doctors. He was scratched from his scheduled April 21 start against the Nationals, and the Astros placed him on the injured list shortly after, retroactive to April 18. Javier is 2-0 with a 1.54 ERA in four starts this season. (Last updated: April 23)
RHP José Urquidy (right forearm strain)
Expected return: May
Urquidy threw a bullpen in Houston on April 23, throwing about 30 pitches and sitting at 88-91 mph with his fastball. Urquidy called it "a big step." He's scheduled to throw another bullpen April 27 in Mexico City before following that up with some live batting practice in the following days when the team returns to Houston. Urquidy went 3-3 with a 5.29 ERA in 16 games (10 starts) in the regular season last year and spent three months on the injured list with right shoulder discomfort. (Last updated: April 26)
60-day IL
RHP Luis Garcia (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: Midseason
Garcia threw a bullpen session April 16 as he continues to rehab from the Tommy John surgery he underwent May 2023. He began throwing bullpens in April and is taking a slow progression to eventually going out on a Minor League rehab assignment. The expectation is that he will be able to rejoin the Astros' rotation at some point in the middle of the season. (Last updated: April 16)
RHP Lance McCullers Jr. (right forearm surgery)
Expected return: Midseason
McCullers has progressed to throwing off the slope of the mound as he continues his comeback from major surgery. He did not pitch in 2023 following surgery performed on June 13 to repair his flexor tendon and remove a bone spur. The right-hander had rehabbed to the point that he was close to facing hitters in mid-May, but another setback ultimately led to surgery. (Last updated: April 14) More>>
RHP Oliver Ortega (elbow surgery)
Expected return: July
Ortega underwent surgery to remove loose bodies in his right elbow, the Astros announced March 21. He was expected to miss three to four months. Ortega appeared in two Spring Training games in relief before being sidelined with elbow discomfort. He joined the Astros after being claimed off waivers from the Twins on Oct. 25. Ortega appeared in 10 games for the Twins in 2023, going 0-1 with a 4.30 ERA while tallying 14 strikeouts in 14 1/3 innings pitched. He was transferred to the 60-day IL on April 9 to make room on the 40-man roster for Wander Suero. (Last updated: April 9)
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." He underwent surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome on April 3 and was shut down for the season. (Last updated: April 6)
RHP Penn Murfee (right elbow surgery)
Expected return: Mid-summer
Murfee, claimed off waivers March 27 from the Braves, won't be able to help the Astros until midseason after undergoing UCL surgery in June 2023. He had surgery July 5 and was throwing up to 120 feet on flat ground when the season started. (Last updated: March 28)
RHP Kendall Graveman (right shoulder labral surgery )
Expected return: 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 didn’t pitch in the playoffs because of right shoulder discomfort. He underwent season-ending surgery in January. (Last updated: March 28)