Astros' Mauricio Dubon: Set to undergo thumb surgery
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Dubon will undergo surgery to repair a torn UCL in his left thumb, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Rome reveals that Dubon suffered the injury back on Sept. 6 but elected to delay surgery until the offseason. The rehab is expected to take 6-to-8 weeks, so the utility player should be ready to go for the start of spring training. Dubon is slated for salary arbitration for a third year this offseason after slashing .269/.296/.361 with four home runs and three stolen bases over 137 contests.
Astros' Jose Urquidy: Team hopes for late July return
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Astros general manager Dana Brown said Thursday that Urquidy (elbow) is projected to return in late July next season, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Urquidy underwent his second Tommy John surgery in June, so a return in a little over a year would be aggressive. Of course, any timetable at this juncture of recovery is a rough approximation. Urquidy is arbitration eligible for a final time this offseason, and it would seem as though the Astros plan to tender him a contract for 2025.
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Astros' Cristian Javier: GM hoping for late July return
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Astros general manager Dana Brown said Thursday that Javier (elbow) is projected to return in late July of next season, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
It's an ambitious timeline considering Javier underwent Tommy John surgery in June. Any projected timetable at this stage of rehab is approximate, but it does appear Brown expects Javier to have a good shot to contribute shortly after the All-Star break next season.
Astros' Justin Verlander: Plans to continue pitching in 2025
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Verlander said Wednesday that he plans to continue his major-league career in 2025, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Verlander -- who will turn 42 in February -- battled through a disappointing 2024 season, finishing with a 5.48 ERA and 74:27 K:BB over 90.1 innings covering 17 starts before being left off the Astros wild-card roster. He began the year on the injured list with a shoulder problem and also missed substantial time with a neck issue, an injury which he has indicated he might have come back too soon from and could have affected his performance. Given his age and the season he just had, Verlander will enter free agency with question marks, but he shouldn't have trouble finding a team willing to take a shot on a bounce-back showing in 2025.
Singleton is not in the lineup Wednesday for Game 2 of the American League Wild Card Series versus the Tigers, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Lefty Tyler Holton is opening for the Tigers, with righty Reese Olson seen as likely to cover multiple innings in relief. Singleton could enter mid-game when a righty is in there, but the Astros will go with the switch-hitting Victor Caratini again at first base to begin the contest.
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Astros' Jake Meyers: Not in Game 2 lineup
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Meyers is not in the lineup Wednesday for Game 2 of the American League Wild Card Series against the Tigers, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Meyers went hitless in two plate appearances in Game 1 before being removed for a pinch hitter. Chas McCormick is getting the start in center field and will bat ninth Wednesday.
Kikuchi is slated to start Thursday in Game 3 of the American League Wild Card Series against the Tigers, assuming he's not needed in relief in Game 2 on Wednesday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Kikuchi has been told to be ready in relief for Game 2 with the Astros having all hands on deck as they try to avoid elimination. If Houston wins and doesn't have to use Kikuchi on Wednesday, he'll take the ball Thursday. The left-hander was outstanding after being acquired by the Astros at the trade deadline, putting up a 2.70 ERA and 76:14 K:BB over 60 innings.
Brown will start Wednesday in Game 2 of the American League Wild Card Series against the Tigers, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
The Astros fell to the Tigers, 3-1, in Game 1 on Tuesday and will send Brown to the bump for an elimination game. The 26-year-old allowed one run on three hits and a walk in his last start Sept. 23. The right-hander, who'll be on extended rest, will look to help preserve Houston's season.
