The Astros are getting close to the finish line of the regular season, and their injury picture is starting to come into focus. Houston currently has only five players on the injured list, and the possibility of reinforcements is still alive in a few cases.
Carlos Correa is the biggest name to watch. He had surgery in May to repair the peroneus brevis tendon in his left ankle, and at the time, multiple reports said he would miss the entire season. But Correa has kept pushing toward a return that once seemed far-fetched.
On September 5, Correa was at the Astros’ facility in West Palm Beach, Florida, where he was fielding ground balls and taking swings in the cage. He was scheduled to advance to hitting on the field on September 7 and 8.
Correa recently said he believed he was around 95%, though he also acknowledged there were still movements he needed to test, including changing direction, sliding and planting in the batter’s box. Before anyone starts penciling him into the MLB lineup, he still needs live at-bats and likely a minor-league rehab assignment.
The door is not shut, even with the calendar running out.
Steven Okert is in a much different spot and could be back sooner. The left-hander went on the 15-day IL, retroactive to September 1, with a right hamstring strain.
Okert said the injury was minor and he hoped to return as soon as he is eligible. That would be a useful boost for Houston, especially considering what he has done this year: 68 games, a 2.13 ERA and a .190 batting average allowed to opposing hitters.
Brice Matthews also has a chance to make it back before the season ends. He has not appeared in an MLB game since July because of a left knee sprain, but he was in West Palm Beach on September 5. His next steps are running the bases and then moving toward game action.
Not everyone is trending in the right direction. Mike Burrows’ rehab was stopped after he developed right shoulder inflammation. He had initially gone on the injured list with elbow neuritis, and Houston later moved him to the 60-day IL, ending any shot at a regular-season return.
Brandon Walter is out for the year as well. He underwent Tommy John surgery in September of 2025 and has spent the entire season working back from it.
If Correa and Okert can get back, Houston would be adding two important pieces for the stretch run.
In Other News...
Former Astros Pitching Bets Just Took Another Rough Turn
The churn on the pitching market has reached two more familiar names for Astros fans, as the Padres moved on from right-handers J.P. France and Jos Leclerc after short stays on minor league deals. France logged 10 2/3 innings for San Diegos Triple-A club and struggled to get much going, while Leclerc worked 24 1/3 innings in the minors with an ERA that reflected a difficult run.
For Houston followers, it is another reminder of how quickly a once-promising comeback or depth signing can change shape. Both pitchers are expected to become minor league free agents, and the next stop in either case will likely depend on whether another club thinks there is still something to uncover before the season moves on. [Read more 🡒]
Astros Just Reopened A Frustrating Outfield Debate
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For Houston, the question is not whether another defensive outfielder can help in the short term, but whether this approach keeps recycling the same issue. The club has been trying to patch together production on the grass while its overall offensive challenges in the outfield continue to linger, and Barrosa's arrival only reopens the debate over whether the Astros are prioritizing range over real lineup impact. [Read more 🡒]
Astros First Round Pick Is Already Forcing A New Debate
Logan Hughes was the kind of first-round pick the Astros could sell with conviction. The former Texas Tech outfielder went 17th overall in the MLB Draft, and Houstons scouting and personnel group, including Jim Stevenson, spent plenty of time on his profile before making the call. They liked the bat, the power ceiling and the defensive value, which made him an appealing fit for a front office that tends to trust its evaluations and back them with patience.
Now Hughes has only added to the conversation with a strong start in pro ball at Single-A Fayetteville, where he has hit consistently and handled the adjustment well despite a recent lower-body injury. That kind of immediate production is exactly what can sharpen the debate around a first-rounder, especially one whose all-around game already had evaluators divided between upside and certainty. For Houston, the interesting part may be less about whether Hughes belongs in the system and more about how quickly he changes the timeline around him. [Read more 🡒]