The Astros got good news on the injury front with key players set to begin rehab assignments but the trade deadline still needs action.
We've got good news and disappointing news Astros fans.
The disappointing news is that Yordan Alvarez's planned rehab stint with Triple-A Sugar Land was delayed because of illness.
The good news is that Jose Urquidy was good to go for his rehab stint, even though his return does nothing to lessen the trade needs of the Astros at the deadline.
Urquidy is slated to pitch two innings with the Space Cowboys on Friday night. That should be the first of two appearances in Triple-A before a stint with Double-A Corpus Christi, per MLB.com.
Still, the earliest Houston can expect to get Urquidy back is early August. That's if all goes smoothly in his minor-league appearances.
Jose Urquidy rehab doesn't change Astros pitching need at MLB trade deadline
Fans should expect Urquidy's return from injury to be slow. He hasn't pitched since April 30 because of inflammation in his shoulder. Expectations should be relatively low in terms of his ability to ramp up to last season's strong form.
That means the Astros still desperately need an arm at the trade deadline. If they truly want to make a run at the Rangers at the top of the AL West, they can't afford to wait for Urquidy to be good to go.
On the plus side, another Jose is getting closer to a return. Dusty Baker revealed that Jose Altuve swung against a soft toss in the batting cage recently, per Chandler Rome of The Athletic.
As for Alvarez, there doesn't seem to be too much cause for concern. With illness listed as the reason for missing Friday's scheduled rehab appearance, it should be just a matter of time before he can get out there. However, the team didn't offer any details on that timeline.
