Astros injuries and roster moves

May 28: RHP Kaleb Ort requests waivers from the Orioles
Ort, 32, appeared in 47 games in the big leagues, making two starts, for the Red Sox from 2021-23, posting a 6.27 ERA and 1.70 WHIP in 51 2/3 innings. He spent this entire season at Triple-A Norfolk, posting a 12.08 ERA and 2.45 WHIP in 12 2/3 innings. The Astros’ 40-man roster is complete.

May 27: 1B José Abreu activated; IF/OF Joey Loperfido opted for Triple-A Sugar Land; RHP Cristian Javier (right forearm discomfort) placed on 15-day injured list; RHP Alex Speas recalled from Triple-A
Abreu joins the Astros for the first time since April 28. He was drafted to the minor leagues and spent a few weeks at the team’s facility in West Palm Beach, Fla., before playing two games in Sugar Land this weekend, going 0. -for- 7 with three strikeouts and one walk in two games. In 22 games with the Astros this year, Abreu has a .099 batting average, a .269 OPS, one extra base hit and three RBIs.

Javier was unable to pitch in a scheduled bullpen session Sunday due to forearm discomfort and was placed on the IL for the second time this season. Astros manager Joe Espada said Javier will undergo imaging Tuesday. Javier had already missed about three weeks while on the injured list with neck discomfort.

RHP Cristian Javier (right forearm discomfort)
Expected return: To be determined
Javier is 3-1 with a 3.89 ERA in seven starts with the Astros this year, including three quality starts. After pitching six scoreless innings on May 16 against the A’s in Houston, there was a marked decline in his velocity as he pitched four innings and allowed four earned runs, three walks and eight hits in four innings on the 21st. May against the Angels. (Last updated: May 27)

RHP José Urquidy (right forearm discomfort)
Expected return: To be determined
Urquidy will undergo additional tests on May 28, including imaging exams. He left his start for Triple-A Sugar Land with right forearm discomfort on May 24 after throwing 56 pitches. Urquidy went 3-3 with a 5.29 ERA in 16 games (10 starts) last year and spent three months on the IL with right shoulder discomfort. He injured his forearm during a simulated game on the backcourts during spring training. (Last updated: May 27)

SS Brice Matthews (lower back tightness, No. 4 on Astros Top 30 Prospects List)
Expected return: To be determined
Matthews, the club’s first-round draft pick last year, began a rehab assignment with the Florida Complex League on May 25. He was placed on the seven-day injured list on May 7 at High-A Asheville due to lower back tightness. Matthews was hitting .229/.364/.286 with two doubles in 35 games for the Tourists. (Last updated: May 27)

INF Zach Dezenzo (wrist, No. 5 on Astros’ Top 30 Prospects List)
Expected return: To be determined
Dezenzo was limited in Major League camp due to a wrist injury and is on a slow rehabilitation plan. He appeared in 31 games last year at High-A Asheville and 63 games at Double-A Corpus Christi, where he hit .257 with 14 homers and 41 RBIs as a third baseman. (Last updated: May 15)

RHP Luis Garcia (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: End of July
Garcia took to the main mound at Minute Maid Park on May 21, another important step toward his return from Tommy John surgery, which he underwent a little more than a year ago. Garcia will likely hold a few more sessions before facing hitters for the first time since the start of last season.

“It’s huge for everyone, for all the work he’s doing, for our training staff who spent a lot of time trying to get him back,” manager Joe Espada said. “I heard it went really well.” (Last updated: May 21)

RHP Lance McCullers Jr. (right forearm surgery)
Expected return: Mid-season
McCullers threw himself off the mound and hit the mid-80s with his fastball, while adding some changeups. The next step would be to add some breaking throws and increase his throw count and intensity in the coming weeks. He did not pitch in 2023 following surgery on June 13 to repair his flexor tendon and remove a bone spur.

The right-hander had rehabbed to the point where he was close to facing hitters in mid-May of last year, but another setback ultimately led to surgery. (Last updated: May 13) More>>

RHP Penn Murfee (right elbow surgery)
Expected return: August
Murfee, claimed off waivers on March 27 by the Braves, won’t be able to help the Astros until midseason after undergoing UCL surgery in June 2023. He had surgery on July 5 of last year. He progressed until he launched himself off the slope of the mound. (Last updated: May 4)

RHP Oliver Ortega (elbow surgery)
Expected return: July
Ortega underwent surgery to remove loose bodies in his right elbow, the Astros announced March 21. He had to be gone for three to four months. Ortega appeared in two spring training games in relief before being sidelined with elbow discomfort. He joined the Astros after being claimed off waivers from the Twins on October 25. Ortega appeared in 10 games for the Twins in 2023, going 0-1 with a 4.30 ERA while totaling 14 strikeouts in 14 1/3 innings pitched. He was transferred to the 60-day IL on April 9 to make room on the 40-man roster for Wander Suero. (Last updated: April 9)

LHP Bennett Sousa (left shoulder inflammation)
Expected return: 2025
Sousa was headed for a spot on Houston’s Opening Day roster before what he described as an inflamed nerve sent him to the IL to start the season. Sousa said he felt numbness and pain in his hand and “tried to get through it.” He underwent surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome on April 3 and was shut down for the season. (Last updated: April 6)

RHP Kendall Graveman (right shoulder labral surgery)
Expected return: 2025
Graveman, acquired by the Astros for the second time at last year’s trade deadline, posted a 2.42 ERA in 23 appearances for Houston in August and September, but did not appear in the postseason in due to discomfort in the right shoulder. He underwent season-ending surgery in January. (Last updated: March 28)