Taking a look at the Houston Astros injury report ahead of their matchup on Wednesday night against the Athletics.
The Houston Astros are now tied in their series with the Athletics 1-1 following the 6-5 win on Friday night by the Athletics.
Following the loss, the Astros are tied with the Texas Rangers in the race for the AL West title, as both teams have an overall record of 79-81. However, Houston does have the tiebreaker, so if the Rangers lose tonight and the Astros win, Houston will clinch the AL West and a postseason spot.
With the Astros having an opportunity to win the division tonight, it is going to be critical for them to play well, but additionally, health in this game and moving forward on a potential postseason run will be vital to make the 2026 season a successful campaign for Houston.
So, let's take a look at the Astros' injury report heading into the third game of the series against the Athletics.
Starting off, outfielder Daulton Varsho is dealing with left wrist inflammation that placed him on the 10-day IL on September 24th, which is retroactive to September 23rd.
In terms of Varsho's status, he has been dealing with cysts in his wrists for months, but at this point the pain has become too much to play, so as a result, he is set to see a hand specialist on September 29th. Additionally, with Varsho working through this injury, his return will likely be in 2027 to ensure he does not cause any further damage. So, it will be intriguing to watch if Varsho can get back to playing this season, or if he does need to wait until next year.
Next up is right-handed pitcher Mike Burrows who has been working through right elbow neuritis and right shoulder inflammation. This injury placed Burrows on the 15-day IL on July 13th, which is retroactive to July 7th.
With that said, Burrows has joined the Astros in Sacramento for the final regular-season series of the season and could be activated if needed, so that will be something interesting to monitor with his expected return set at possibly the final days of the regular season, which could be tonight.
The third player on this injury report is left-handed pitcher Steven Okert who has been working through a right hamstring strain. As a result of the injury, Okert was placed on the 15-day IL on September 4th, which is retroactive to September 1st.
When it comes to Okert's status, he will miss the rest of the regular season, but he does have an expected return for the playoffs, and he has resumed throwing off the mound. So, it will be worth monitoring how this situation does progress and of Okert will be back for the postseason.
Next is right-handed pitcher Cristian Javier who is battling a grade 2 right groin strain that he suffered on September 22nd while pitching in Seattle and that placed him on the 15-day IL on September 23rd. With the injury, Javier will miss the rest of the regular season and has an expected return of 2027 so it will be interesting to see how he progresses.
Now, looking at outfielder Brice Matthews, he is working through left knee inflammation as he injured his knee making a sliding catch in the second inning on September 22nd, but there was no structural damage.
This injury placed Matthews on the 10-day IL on September 23rd. For Matthews, his timetable is still to be determined at some point in the end of the regular season, the postseason if the Astros can get there, or if he will come back in 2027 to avoid any further issues to his knee.
Yet another pitcher is on this injury report as right-handed pitcher Enyel De Los Santos is dealing with right knee tendinitis. The injury put Los Santos on the 15-day IL on September 19th and it happened during his throwing program and is behind his leg and hamstring area. Los Santos does have an expected return of possibly the postseason so it will be intriguing to see if he can get back in the lineup or if he will be out for the rest of the year.
It is time now to take a look at shortstop Carlos Correa who is still recovering from the surgery he had done to repair his torn peroneus brevis tendon in his left ankle. Correa was injured on May 5th and had surgery on May 11th and with that, he was placed on the IL on May 6th and then was moved to the 60-day IL on June 2nd.
At one point, it was thought Correa could return this season, but his expected return is now 2027 as he was rehabbing at the team's spring training facility in West Palm Beach Florida and on September 15th he decided to not push for a return this year and instead focus on returning in 2027. So, it will be interesting to watch how Correa progresses and if he will be ready at the start of the 2027 season.
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. As a result, Walter was placed on the 60-day IL on March 25th and is expected to return in 2027. So, it will be very intriguing to watch if Walter can progress well and provide solid depth on the mound.
With the regular season coming to an end, health is critical for the postseason and for the Astros and manager Joe Espada there is a significant number of injuries to manage. So, as the Astros prepare for a crucial final two games of the regular season, it will be intriguing to see if Houston can get a few players back in the lineup to provide depth across the board, but in particular on the mound with several pitcher on this injury report.
