Astros Injury Report Ahead of Second Game of the Series Against Braves

The Houston Astros are aiming to bounce back in the second game of the series against the Atlanta Braves, as Atlanta took the series opener by a score of 6-2 over Houston on Friday.

With the loss, the Astros fell to 77-77 overall, but even so, they are still tied for the lead in the AL West with the Texas Rangers, so it will be interesting to see if Houston can respond on Saturday night and get back in the win column.

For Houston to be able to bounce back and make a run at an AL West title, getting healthy will be critical, so let's take a look at the Astros' injury report ahead of their second matchup of the series against the Braves.

The first player up is Brice Matthews who is still dealing with the left knee sprain that he suffered on July 12th. As a result of the injury, Matthews was placed on the IL on July 17th and then was transferred to the 60-day IL on August 19th.

Additionally, Matthews' timetable is still to be determined, so it will be intriguing to see how that develops. However, he has played five games on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Sugar Land and is 1 for 20 with 10 strikeouts. So moving forward, it will be worth monitoring if the Astros feel he can return to the lineup for the postseason.

Next is right-handed pitcher Mike Burrows who is still dealing with right elbow neuritis as well as right shoulder inflammation. Based on Burrows' injury, he was put on the 15-day IL on July 13th, which retroactive to July 7th, and at this point his return is still to be determined.

The latest update is that Burrows was set to throw a bullpen session on September 17th and if it went well he could throw three innings in a rehab in final three games at Triple-A. Once the update on how the bullpen session did go is reported, there should more of an idea as to where he is at and whether or not he will be back this season.

The third player on this report is shorstop Carlos Correa who is still recovering the surgery he had done to repair the torn peroneus brevis tendon in his left ankle. Correa as injured on May 5th and got surgery on May 11th, so as a result he was placed on the IL on May 6th and then was moved to the 60-day IL on June 2nd.

In terms of a timetable it was thought that Correa would return this season, but he is now expected to be back in 2027 as Correa was rehabbing at the teams's spring training facility in West Palm beach Florida and then decided on September 15th to not push for a return this year and instead focus on returning in 2027. With that said it will be interesting to see how he manages his recovery and if he is ready to go at the start of 2027.

Next up is left-handed pitcher Steven Okert who is battling through a right hamstring strain. Based on the injury, Okert was placed on the 15-day IL on Septemember 4th, which is retroactive to September 1st.

As far as Okert's timetable goes it is still to be determined with the latest update being given on September 15th that talked about the fact that he is in a throwing program but has yet to get on the mound. So, when there is a further update given about Okert and his progress in the throwing program, his status for the rest of the regular season and the postseason should become a lot clearer.

The final player on this injury report is left-handed pitcher Brandon Walter who is recovering from the Tommy John surgery on September 23rd, 2025 he had done to repair the torn ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow.

Based on Walter's injury and surgery, he was placed on the 60-day IL on March 25th and will miss the rest of this season, but has an expected return for 2027 where he could provide solid depth on the mound if he is ready to go.

So, as the Astros head into the final stretch of the regular season, it will be interesting to see if they can get Matthews, Burrows, and Okert back into the lineup to possibly make a playoff run, as well as seeing and monitoring how Correa and Walter progress as they aim to be back in 2027