How mounting evidence is raising questions about Astros' injury concerns

How mounting evidence is raising questions about Astros' injury concerns
Kyle Tucker did some work on the field on Monday. Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images.

Justin Verlander is set to make his second minor league rehab start this week and could rejoin the Houston Astros' rotation after that.

The 41-year-old right-hander took his first step toward returning to the Astros by pitching three innings for Triple-A Sugar Land on Saturday night. The three-time Cy Young Award winner is coming back from neck stiffness that’s sidelined him for two months.

“He bounced back well,” Houston manager Joe Espada said before Monday night's game at Tampa Bay. “He feels well. He feels good.”

Verlander hasn’t pitched in the majors since June 9. He also missed the beginning of the season with right shoulder inflammation before going 3-2 with a 3.95 ERA in 10 starts. He made his season debut April 19.

Kyle Tucker has a ways to go

In other injury-related news, Houston outfielder Kyle Tucker took flyballs off a fungo for the first time since fouling a ball off his right shin June 3 against St. Louis. He ran short sprints, went through agility drills and hit in an indoor batting cage.

You can watch some of Tucker's drills below. Many people in the comment section didn't feel like he was moving around very well and are concerned that he won't be back anytime soon. You can judge for yourself. Espada seemed happy with what he saw.

 

“I'm very pleased,” Espada said. “I think he's turning the corner. Now, we've got to improve from what we saw today. We've got to see more of that. He's tolerating the pain better. He's able to move around and he's recovering much better, which is huge.”

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The Astros beat the Nationals, 7-4. Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images.

Yainer Diaz and Mauricio Dubón each had three hits, and the Houston Astros beat the Washington Nationals 7-4 on Tuesday night to stop a five-game slide.

 

Christian Walker had two hits and two RBIs for the AL West-leading Astros. Bennett Sousa (5-0) got four outs for the win, and Josh Hader struck out the side in the ninth for his 28th save.

Luis García Jr. hit a two-run drive for last-place Washington, which had won three straight and five of seven overall. CJ Abrams had three hits.

García connected for his ninth homer in the third inning, lifting the Nationals to a 2-1 lead. But Diaz responded with a solo shot in the fourth for his 14th homer.

Walker singled and scored on Cooper Hummel’s pinch-hit single in the fifth, and the Astros grabbed control with three more runs in the sixth.

Altuve singled home Dubón for a 4-2 lead, and Walker followed with a two-run single against Andry Lara.

Andrew Chafin (1-1) took the loss.

Washington right-hander Michael Soroka allowed two runs and four hits in 3 1/3 innings in his final start before Thursday’s trade deadline.

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