Astros’ Tucker (shin) to IL; Javier, Urquidy have TJ surgery
Houston Astros right fielder Kyle Tucker, who was tied for second in the majors with 19 home runs before Friday’s games, was placed on the 10-day injured list with a right shin contusion.
The move was made retroactive to Tuesday. Tucker has not played since fouling a pitch off his right leg in the bottom of the third inning Monday against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Trey Cabbage was listed in right field and batting ninth prior to the game against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim.
The team also announced Friday that pitchers Cristian Javier and Jose Urquidy both underwent Tommy John surgery this week.
Houston general manager Dana Brown already had announced that Javier and Urquidy both needed elbow surgery that would sideline them for a significant amount of time, but the team didn’t disclose whether it would be elbow ligament replacement surgery until Friday. Urquidy had surgery Wednesday, and Javier had surgery Thursday.
The Astros believe both pitchers will return during the 2025 season.
Urquidy, who had Tommy John surgery in 2017, has been sidelined since spring training with what the team called a forearm strain. He made three rehab starts last month in an attempt to return, but was unsuccessful.
Javier is 3-1 with a 3.89 ERA in seven starts for Houston this season, his fifth in the majors. He went on the injured list May 27 with forearm discomfort.
The Astros are down to five healthy starting pitchers on their 40-man roster, but Luis Garcia and Lance McCullers appear to be on their way back from injury within the next several weeks.
Tucker, a two-time All-Star who is in his seventh season, all with Houston, is hitting .266 with 40 RBIs and 10 stolen bases. He drove in an AL-best 112 runs last season, when he finished fifth in American League MVP voting. He also hit .284 with 29 homers and stole 30 bases a season ago.
In 11 games with the Astros, Cabbage is hitting .235 with one home run and four RBIs.
The Astros said no additional roster move would be announced Friday. Houston is 28-35 this season and sits third in the AL West, 7½ games behind the Seattle Mariners.
