Two injured Astros look to improve during All-Star break

Two injured Houston Astros are at different stages of their rehabilitation process, MLB.com reports, as the All-Star break continues through Thursday.

Pitcher Luis Garcia and catcher Victor Caratini were captured in the update, with Garcia not having pitched in 12 days.

Garcia has made two rehab appearances since traveling to the Astros’ Florida Complex to throw his first live pitches on June 28. That day, he pitched a perfect inning and struck out two batters.

After that, he returned to Texas and pitched for Corpus Christi in Double-A on July 4 against San Antonio. Garcia pitched 1.1 innings, allowing four runs and three hits, including two home runs. He struck out two batters and issued a walk.

Garcia was scheduled to start a workout in Houston during the All-Star break. That workout was delayed because of Hurricane Beryl and manager Joe Espada said there was no timetable for Garcia’s third rehab start.

Garcia started six games for Houston last season before leaving the field May 1 with right elbow discomfort. He underwent Tommy John surgery and missed the rest of the season. He was 2-2 with a 4.00 ERA before his injury.

The Astros are hoping the right-hander can rejoin the rotation at some point this season. Houston is without Justin Verlander, who pitched just before the All-Star break while recovering from a neck injury.

The Astros also lost starters Cristian Javier and Jose Urquidy to Tommy John surgery, neither of which will return until the second half of 2025. JP France underwent season-ending shoulder surgery.

As for Caratini, he is rehabbing with the FCL Astros. He has not played since June 20 due to a left hip flexor strain. Prior to his rehab, he was sent to the team’s facility in West Palm Beach, Fla., for live batting practice and other baseball activities.

In his first rehab game with the FCL Astros, he went 0-for-3 with one strikeout.

The Astros are hoping Caratini will be back after the All-Star break. Before his injury, he was hitting .248 with four homers and 17 RBIs as Yainer Diaz’s primary backup.

Houston entered the All-Star break as one of the American League’s healthiest teams, cutting Seattle’s lead in the American League West to one game. The Astros have a chance to match up with the Mariners early, starting a six-game West Coast road trip at Seattle on Friday, followed by a three-game series at Oakland on Monday.

Houston will return to Minute Maid Park on July 26 to host the Los Angeles Dodgers, followed by the Pittsburgh Pirates.