The Astros fielded an outfielder Kyle Tucker on the 10-day injured list with a right shin contusion, tweets Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle. The move begins June 4, which means Tucker could be back a week from now. Houston did not immediately announce a corresponding roster move or provide a timetable for his return.
Tucker was injured in Monday’s win over the Cardinals. He played the ball badly on his leg and had to be taken out of the game. While the two-time All-Star was on crutches after the game, tests did not reveal any fractures. That led to the Astros keeping him on the active roster for a few days even if he wasn’t healthy enough to play. Apparently he needed more time than the team originally expected, and sent him to the shelf.
It’s probably no coincidence that Houston placed Tucker on the IL right before tonight’s game. The team is allowed to back the IL stint up to three days. Tucker had been out since June 4. If the Astros had waited until the weekend to put him on the shelf, they would have pushed back his potential return date.
Injuries halt a good start to the season. Tucker has been a professional for a few years and has taken his game to the next level in 2024. He has hit 19 homers in 262 plate appearances. He has a .266/.395/.584 batting line with 46 walks against 41 strikeouts in 60 games. If healthy, he should advance to a third straight All-Star Game and look to have a chance to beat last year’s fifth-place finish in the MVP voting.
Despite Tucker’s big numbers, the Astros will enter this weekend against the Angels with a 28-35 record. Their efforts to dig out of that hole will be hampered by losing their best player for at least a week. Houston is connected Jordan Alvarez in left field tonight against Griffin Canningfrees the DH area Yainer Diaz and finding Victor Caratini in the list of participants. Trey Cabbage starts in right field for the second consecutive game.
In other injury news, the Astros announced this afternoon that they are starting Cristian Javier again José Urquidy each underwent Tommy John surgery (X link via Chandler Rome of the Athletic). Roma reported earlier that Javier will face TJS on Thursday. Urquidy’s situation was less clear. While the team announced Wednesday that he will be sidelined for the season with an elbow injury, it is not known whether he will need a full Tommy John or a revision internal brace. Both pitchers look likely to make it past the 2025 All-Star Break. Urquidy, who will be a free agent after ’25, will not receive tenders next winter.
