Taking a look at the Houston Astros injury report ahead of their matchup in AL Wild Card Game 1 against the Chicago White Sox.
The Houston Astros have made the postseason after clinching the AL West with an overall record of 81-81 in the final game of the regular season as they defeated the Athletics 9-0.
With that said, the Astros now have a matchup in the AL Wild Card against the Chicago White Sox which gives Houston an opportunity for a fresh start and the chance to make a deep postseason run.
In this Wild Card matchup with Chicago, Houston needs to stay focused but also must get healthy and stay healthy. So, with that in mind, let's take a look at the Astros' injury report as they head into the AL Wild Card Game 1 against the White Sox.
The first player on the injury report is right-handed pitcher Mike Burrows who is dealing with right elbow neuritis as well as right shoulder inflammation. As a result of the injury, Burrows was placed on the 15-day IL on July 13th, which is retroactive to July 7th.
When it comes to a timetable, Burrows' expected return is listed as perhaps the playoffs. For Burrows' status, the Astros said he could be an option to be activated for the Wild Card series against the White Sox. So, it will be interesting to see if Burrows is activated or if he remain out of the lineup.
Next is left-handed pitcher Steven Okert who has been dealing with a right hamstring strain. This injury put Okert on the 15-day IL on September 4th, which is retroactive to September 1st.
As a far as Okert's timetable goes, he is also listed with an expected return of perhaps playoffs. For the status of Okert, it says he has resumed throwing off the mound and could activated for the Wild Card series against the White Sox. With that in mind, it will be worth monitoring whether or not Okert can return to the lineup to provide solid depth.
Now, looking at outfielder Daulton Varsho, he is working through left wrist inflammation. The left wrist inflammation placed Varsho on the 10-day IL on September 24th, which is retroactive to September 23rd.
In terms of a timetable for Varsho, his expected return is likely in 2027. When it comes to Varsho's status, he has been dealing with cysts in his wrist for three months, but the pain has now become too much to play, so he is set to see a hand specialist on September 29th. When there is an update for Varsho after he sees the hand specialist, it will be interesting to see what the result is.
The next player up is outfielder Brice Matthews, who is dealing with left knee inflammation. The injury put Matthews on the 10-day IL on September 23rd. For Matthews, his expected return is still to be determined.
Regarding Matthews status, the injury happened when he was making a sliding catch in the second inning on September 22nd, but there was no structural damage. With that said, it will be intriguing to watch and monitor how Matthews progresses and whether he can return to the lineup for this postseason.
The player next up on this injury report is right-handed pitcher Cristian Javier who is battling a Grade 2 right groin strain. This injury placed Javier on the 15-day IL on September 23rd.
For Javier, the expected return is 2027, as his status is the fact that he will miss the rest of the season after suffering a Grade 2 groin strain on September 22nd while pitching in Seattle. As a result of that, it will be interesting to see how Javier is able to progress this offseason and if he is ready for the start of 2027.
Now it is time to take a look at right-handed pitcher Enyel De Los Santos who is working through right knee tendinitis.This injury placed Los Santos on the 15-day IL on September 19th. When it comes to the expected return for Los Santos, he will possibly be back for the postseason so it will be worth monitoring his progression.
As for the status of Los Santos, the injury happened during his throwing program and is in his leg and hamstring area. So, moving forward, it will be very intriguing to watch how Los Santos progresses and whether or not he can be back at some point this postseason.
Next up is shortstop Carlos Correa, who is recovering from the surgery he had to repair his torn peroneus brevis tendon in his left ankle. Correa was injured on May 5th and had surgery on May 11th, and based on that, he was placed on the IL on May 6th and was moved to the 60-day IL on June 2nd.
At this point, Correa's expected return is 2027, as his status is the fact that he was rehabbing at the team's training facility in West Palm Beach, Florida, but decided on September 15th to not push for a return this year and instead focus on a return in 2027. As a result of that decision, it will be very intriguing to watch how Correa can progress this offseason.
The final player on this injury report is left-handed pitcher Brandon Walter, who is recovering from the Tommy John surgery he had on September 23rd, 2025, to repair the torn ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow. With this injury, Walter was placed on the 60-day IL on March 25th and has an expected return in 2027, as he will miss the rest of this season. As a result, it will be interesting to watch if he can be ready for the start of 2027.
As the Astros head into Game 1 against the White Sox, there are a lot of injuries for manager Joe Espada to manage, but in particular it will be intriguing to watch how he manages the pitching and if he does manage the pitching well, the Astros may be able to make a deeper postseason run than most expect.
