HOUSTON -- Astros All-Star outfielder George Springer hit on the field prior to Tuesday's game against the Rockies at Minute Maid Park and is expected to be activated from the disabled list Friday. He's been out since spraining his left thumb on Aug. 5.
"This is big for me," Springer said. "I've got to be able to play, and I want to play."
Springer is hitting .250 with 19 homers and 58 RBIs in 109 games for the Astros this season. Houston manager AJ Hinch said Springer threw and ran on the bases on Tuesday and will do the same Wednesday, with the hope he'd be ready to play against the A's following Thursday's off-day.
Other injury updates
• All-Star second baseman Jose Altuve, who's been out since July 25 with right knee soreness, ran on a treadmill Tuesday. Hinch said Altuve was scheduled to hit either Tuesday or Wednesday, but there remains no timetable for a return.
"He's frustrated," Hinch said. "He's ready to go mentally for sure, anxious to do more, which is a good sign. After he ran, he wanted to hit more and get going and push things, which is a great characteristic to have, but it's also dangerous when you're recovering."
• Veteran catcher Brian McCann, who had surgery in early July to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee, will join Triple-A Fresno on Thursday in Tacoma to begin a rehab assignment.
"He'll DH and catch on a regimented program that we have for him to build him up to be able to catch nine innings," Hinch said. "He's bouncing around, he's moving faster. He's very eager to go catch and catch bullpens and things you don't normally see out of catchers in August, even when healthy."
• Right-handed reliever Chris Devenski (left hamstring tightness) was scheduled to pitch an inning for Fresno on Tuesday in his first outing of a Minor League rehab assignment. He could potentially throw Friday before perhaps joining the Astros or throwing a third outing with Fresno.
• Right-handed pitcher Lance McCullers, who's been on the disabled list since Aug. 5 with a muscle strain in his right forearm, played catch on Tuesday, which was a step closer to a return. He's expected to be out until September.