Brown (back) felt good after throwing a 25-pitch bullpen session Sunday and is expected to throw a simulated game this week, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Assuming everything goes well during the simulated game this week, the 24-year-old should be good to go for Houston's first turn through the starting rotation. Brown could line up to start the Astros' home opener versus the Tigers on April 3.
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Astros' Kyle Tucker: Rejoins lineup Sunday
Rotowire
Tucker (ankle) is starting in right field and batting second in Sunday's spring game against the Cardinals, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Tucker sat out the final of the World Baseball Classic due to the minor ankle sprain, but he's back in the lineup Sunday and his availability for Opening Day never appeared in question. The 26-year-old will be a key piece near the top of Houston's lineup again this season, especially early on with Jose Altuve (thumb) likely out until at least June.
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Astros' Ty Buttrey: Doesn't make team
Rotowire
Buttrey was informed that he did not make the Astros' Opening Day roster Saturday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Buttrey was with the team in camp on a minor-league deal, and he surrendered five earned runs across nine innings of work. He'll likely begin the season with Triple-A Sugar Land and could serve as depth out of Houston's bullpen at some point during the regular season.
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Astros' Michael Brantley: Rehab ongoing
Rotowire
Brantley (shoulder) will begin the season in West Palm Beach to continue his rehab at the Astros' team facility, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
This report confirms the expectation that Brantley will begin the season on the injured list. There's no clear timeline for his return, though he underwent surgery on his shoulder over seven months ago. Brantley figures to occupy a key role in the Houston lineup when he's able to take the field, though the lingering injury isn't a positive way to begin the new campaign.
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Astros' Cristian Javier: Lining up for Friday start
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Javier is likely to start Friday against the White Sox in the Astros' second game of the regular season, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Framber Valdez is expected to start on Opening Day, though that has yet to officially be announced. Javier appears to be next in line, and he shouldn't have any problems pitching deep into the game after throwing 5.2 innings Saturday against the Nationals in his Grapefruit League finale. He will enter the season looking to back his breakout 2022 campaign, during which he posted a 2.54 ERA and 0.95 WHIP across 148.2 innings.
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Astros' Kyle Tucker: Good chance to play Sunday
Rotowire
Tucker (ankle) is likely to return to the lineup for Sunday's Grapefruit League finale, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Tucker is considered day-to-day with a minor ankle sprain that he suffered while playing for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. Even if he is held out of the lineup for Sunday's finale, there's a very good chance the left-handed-hitting outfielder is back in the lineup for Opening Day against the White Sox on Thursday.
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Astros' Hunter Brown: Will throw bullpen Sunday
Rotowire
Brown (back) will throw a bullpen prior to Sunday's Grapefruit League finale, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Brown is recovering from lower-back tightness, but he has been able to play catch on flat ground and now will get a chance to throw off the mound Sunday. The right-hander could open the season on the injured list, but there's some positive momentum that suggests he can begin the year as a member of the Houston rotation.
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Astros' Kyle Tucker: Could return to action Saturday
Rotowire
Tucker (ankle) could return to the Astros' Grapefruit League lineup Saturday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
The original aim was Sunday, so this news is another positive indication that Tucker's right ankle sprain is nearly in the rearview. He suffered the injury last weekend while sliding into second base in Team USA's win over Venezuela during the WBC. The dynamic 26-year-old outfielder should be fully ready for Opening Day.
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Astros' Hunter Brown: Plays catch without issue Friday
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Brown (back) played catch without issue Friday in Astros camp, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Astros manager Dusty Baker said after the flat-ground workout that Brown is "feeling a lot better" as he recovers from a bout of lower-back tightness. It sounds like the 24-year-old right-hander might be able to open the 2023 regular season as the No. 5 starter for Houston, but he does have some more hurdles to clear before camp breaks.
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Astros' Framber Valdez: Officially starting Opening Day
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Valdez will start Opening Day versus the White Sox on Thursday, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
Valdez will toe the rubber for the Astros' season opener as they head to Chicago for the first weekend of the year. The left-hander skipped the WBC after he came to an agreement with Houston to do so and in turn, that likely made him the top choice to start Thursday. Valdez produced an impressive 2.82 ERA and 1.16 WHIP with 194 strikeouts over 201.1 innings in 31 starts last season, and he could step right into the Astros' ace role with Justin Verlander now a member of the Mets.
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Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Hitless in spring debut
Rotowire
Alvarez went 0-for-3 in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Nationals.
Alvarez took his first official at-bats of the exhibition season after dealing with a hand injury for much of camp, which was similar to the hand issues he played through last year. While he was hitless, he managed to make loud contact on a few balls that traveled deep to center field. Most importantly, Alvarez made it out of the game healthy and will turn his focus toward Opening Day.
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Astros' Kyle Tucker: Expects to be ready for Opening Day
Rotowire
Tucker (ankle) hopes to return to Grapefruit League action Sunday and expects to be ready for Opening Day, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Tucker sprained his right ankle last weekend during Team USA's win over Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic. The injury isn't considered serious, and he returned to Astros camp Thursday without a limp. There doesn't seem to be much concern about the star outfielder's readiness for the beginning of the 2023 regular season.
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Astros' Hunter Brown: Not throwing Thursday
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Brown (back) did not throw Thursday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
It might have just been another rest day for Brown's lower-back tightness, which caused him to miss a scheduled Grapefruit League start Wednesday against the Mets. Astros manager Dusty Baker offered no update on the status of the 24-year-old right-hander, who had been cruising toward the final spot in Houston's Opening Day rotation before the injury surfaced.
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Astros' Bryan Garcia: Reassigned to minors camp
Rotowire
Garcia was reassigned to minor-league camp by the Astros on Thursday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Garcia has allowed just two runs over 12.1 innings this spring but still finds himself on the outside looking in for a roster spot. It's not clear whether the 27-year-old will be used as a starter or reliever -- or both -- at Triple-A Sugar Land.
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Astros' Yordan Alvarez: In LF for spring debut Thursday
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Alvarez (hand) is in left field and batting leadoff for the Astros in Thursday's Grapefruit League game versus the Nationals, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
It will be the spring debut for Alvarez, who has been slowed by nagging soreness in his left hand. He's in the leadoff spot presumably in hopes that he can get in an extra plate appearance before calling it a day. Alvarez is working with a tight window to knock the rust off, but the expectation is that he'll be ready for Opening Day.
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Astros' Corey Julks: Could be a factor this season
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Astros manager Dusty Baker said Wednesday that Julks "could come into play sometime this year, hopefully," Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Julks had a bases-clearing double during Wednesday's Grapefruit League win over the Mets, pushing his team-leading RBI total this spring to 10. The 27-year-old is coming off a big season with Triple-A Sugar Land which saw him post a .864 OPS with 31 home runs and 22 stolen bases. Julks isn't going to make the Opening Day roster, but the late bloomer might get a look in Houston's outfield at some point this season.
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Astros' Justin Dirden: Continues to impress in camp
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Astros manager Dusty Baker said that Dirden has "impressed from day one" in spring camp, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
"[Dirden] has that quiet confidence," Baker said. "He can play all three outfield positions, he can run, he can throw. There's not much he can't do on the baseball field." In 14 games with the Astros during the Grapefruit League, Dirden has slashed .333/.462/.714 with a pair of homers and a stolen base over 26 plate appearances. The 26-year-old also impressed in the minors in 2022 with a .924 OPS and 24 homers with Double-A Corpus Christi and Triple-A Sugar Land, so this does not completely come out of nowhere. Dirden is still battling for a roster spot, but even if he doesn't make the Astros out of camp, he has put himself on the radar for coming seasons.
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Astros' Kyle Tucker: Ankle injury considered minor
Rotowire
Astros general manager Dana Brown said Wednesday that Tucker's ankle sprain is considered minor, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Tucker tweaked his ankle while playing for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, but he was examined by Astros personnel at their spring training complex Wednesday and doesn't appear to be at much risk of missing Opening Day. It's not clear if he'll be able to play in any of the Astros' remaining four Grapefruit League games, however.
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Astros' Hunter Brown: Scratched as precaution
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Brown (back) was scratched from his Grapefruit League start Wednesday against the Mets as a precaution, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Brown experienced some lower-back tightness while doing agility drills Tuesday in Astros camp and the team didn't want to risk an aggravation. The talented 24-year-old right-hander could perhaps fit in one final exhibition outing as he prepares to open the 2023 season as the No. 5 starter in Houston. There doesn't seem to be any current worry about an IL stint.
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Astros' Jose Altuve: Facing two-plus-month absence
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The Astros announced Altuve underwent right thumb surgery Wednesday in Houston and general manager Dana Brown confirmed the second baseman won't be able to resume baseball activities for two months, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Altuve fractured the thumb after he was hit by a pitch Saturday while playing for Team Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic. With the infielder likely out through the end of May and possibly the early part of June while he rehabs from surgery, David Hensley and Mauricio Dubon are expected to serve as the Astros' primary options at second base.
