Injured Houston Astros Starter Poised To Start Rehab Assignment

Another injured Houston Astros starting pitcher has one more hurdle to clear before a potential rehab assignment

Houston Astros starting pitcher José Urquidy is set to pitch this weekend, potentially paving the way for an upcoming rehab assignment. Urquidy is scheduled to participate in live batting practice on Sunday at Minute Maid Park following the series against the Seattle Mariners.

If his session goes smoothly, there are indications that he may progress to a rehab assignment, as reported by Space City Sports Network. The 29-year-old right-hander began the season on the injured list due to a right forearm strain, having accumulated a record of 27-16 with a 3.98 ERA since joining the Astros in 2019.

This positive development adds to a series of encouraging updates for Houston’s starting pitching, following a challenging start to the season. Urquidy joins Cristian Javier, Framber Valdez, and Justin Verlander, who have all faced injury setbacks at different points this season. Additionally, Luis Garcia and Lance McCullers Jr. are currently on the 60-day injured list.

While Valdez and Verlander have returned to the rotation, Javier is nearing a comeback, with plans for a rehab start at Double-A Corpus Christi on Sunday. The expectation is for him to throw around 65 pitches, with a potential return to the Astros’ rotation during the upcoming road trip.

The timeline for Urquidy’s return remains uncertain, given his extended rehabilitation period. It is likely that he will require multiple minor league starts before rejoining the Astros. Houston is set to embark on a road trip facing the New York Yankees and the Detroit Tigers following their current series.