The Houston Astros’ injured list has been one of the defining stories of their 2026 season, and Sunday brought both cautious optimism and fresh concern.
On the encouraging side, four players are scheduled to appear Sunday for Double-A Corpus Christi in a significant rehab day for the organization.
Outfielder Joey Loperfido is tentatively set to begin his minor-league rehab assignment after missing more than a month with a right quad strain. Loperfido, the Astros’ Opening Day left fielder, landed on the injured list April 19 after posting a .276/.348/.362 slash line in 20 games. He made starts at all three outfield positions before the injury.
Outfielder Taylor Trammell is also scheduled to appear for Corpus Christi as he works back from a groin strain. Manager Joe Espada said Friday that Trammell “should be in a position to join us at some point next week.”
Ace Hunter Brown will make his first rehab start Sunday, his next step in recovering from a shoulder strain. Brown has made just two appearances this season, posting a 0.84 ERA in 10.2 innings, before the injury shelved him. He touched 96 mph in a 22-pitch live batting practice session Tuesday, per MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart, with a target return date of mid-June. Closer Josh Hader is also scheduled to pitch for Corpus Christi as he continues his buildup from biceps tendinitis.
On the less encouraging side, slugger Yordan Alvarez left Saturday’s 3-0 win over the Cubs in the sixth inning with a back spasm. Espada came onto the field twice before ultimately walking Alvarez off himself. Alvarez said after the game that Sunday was already a scheduled day off and is unrelated to the injury, per MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart. Alvarez had played in all 53 of the Astros’ games this season and entered Saturday with a .300 batting average, 15 home runs, and a majors-leading 185 OPS+. The hope is that the extra rest positions him to return Monday when Houston opens a series against the Texas Rangers.
Jose Altuve, meanwhile, offered a measured update on his Grade 2 left oblique strain, suffered on an awkward swing last Saturday against the Texas Rangers. “I think this one is not as bad” as a similar injury that cost him 17 games in 2023, Altuve said Saturday, though he cautioned that oblique injuries “can go a little slow.” He has not yet resumed baseball activities. Espada said Altuve will travel to Houston’s facility in Florida early this week for additional treatment.
The Astros enter Sunday’s series finale against the Cubs with 13 players on the injured list.
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