Houston Astros

Jeremy Pena

SS

Pena will miss a second straight start after he was removed from Wednesday's game following a HBP in the hand. Nick Allen is making the start at shortstop and batting ninth Friday. The good news is Pena was fielding grounders in pregame warmups.

Mike Burrows

SP

After submitting a 5.99 ERA and 1.55 WHIP in 18 appearances (17 starts) for Houston to begin the season, Burrows was on his way to a demotion before landing on the injured list July 13 due to right elbow neuritis. However, after posting an 8:3 K:BB while allowing just four hits over nine innings between a pair of rehab starts with Sugar Land, Burrows is looking more likely to get another chance once he comes off the IL, especially given the current state of the back end of the Astros' rotation. Burrows was able to build up to 78 pitches Thursday, so he should be able to handle a standard workload if he ends up rejoining the rotation next week.

Brice Matthews

CF

Per MLB.com, Matthews has been cleared to field grounders and hit on the field, but he has yet to resume running at full speed since landing on the injured list July 17 due to a left knee sprain. Before going down with the injury, Matthews had made six starts in center field over a seven-game stretch, but he'll be in search of playing time elsewhere once he returns after Houston acquired Daulton Varsho from Toronto on Monday.

Carlos Correa

SS

Correa was given the green light to swing a bat nearly one week ago, and he's since been able to progress to tee work. It remains to be seen whether he'll be able to return before the end of the season after undergoing ankle surgery in May, but a timeline should come into focus as he continues to ramp up baseball activities.

Brandon Walter

SP

Walter is one of three Astros starters in Florida rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, though Hayden Wesneski (elbow) and Ronel Blanco (elbow) are further along in their programs after undergoing procedures in May and June of last year, respectively. Both Wesneski and Blanco will have chances at returning from the 60-day injured list late in the season, but since he had his surgery Sept. 23, 2025, Walter isn't a realistic candidate to pitch until 2027. Walter's main focus will be building up toward facing live hitters by the end of the season with the aim of entering spring training with few restrictions, if any.