JOSÉ URQUIDY NEWS

Available in relief Friday Urquidy will be available in relief Friday against the Mariners, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Impact The Astros are currently rolling with a six-man rotation and Urquidy won't be needed to make a start in their three-game weekend series versus Seattle. A short relief outing could act as a sort of between-starts bullpen session before he slots back into the rotation early next week against the Red Sox.

AUGUST 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Bounces back with seven strikeouts Urquidy (2-3) suffered the loss Sunday against the Angels but pitched well after allowing one run on three hits and no walks while striking out seven over five innings.

Impact The lone run scored against Urquidy came off an RBI-double from Mickey Moniak in the third inning. The Astros were unable to deliver much offensive production Sunday, leaving Urquidy in line for an unlucky loss. The 28-year-old struck out a season-high seven batters and registered 15 whiffs while gearing up to 80 pitches. Astros' pitching coach Josh Miller said Urquidy was capped at 90 pitches, so it seems likely he'll be stretched out enough to potentially go six innings his next start which is tentatively lined up to be against the Mariners next weekend.

AUGUST 14, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Struggles in return Urquidy did not factor into the decision Sunday, allowing five runs on three hits and three walks over 3.1 innings against the Yankees. He struck out one.

Impact Making his first start since April, Urquidy held the Yankees to one run through his first three innings before running out of steam in the fourth, where he allowed four more runs before departing the contest. Through seven starts this season, Urquidy is 2-2 with a 6.10 with a 1.58 WHIP and 24:13 K:BB across 31 innings. The Astros will look for more length out of the 28-year-old Urquidy in his next outing, currently scheduled for next week against the Angels.

AUGUST 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Reinstated for Sunday's start Urquidy (shoulder) was activated from the 60-day injured list ahead of his start against the Yankees on Sunday.

Impact The right-hander has been sidelined by shoulder issues since late April and will make his return to MLB action for Sunday's series finale in New York. Urquidy threw 76 pitches across five innings during his final minor-league rehab start, so he'll likely still face some minor workload limitations in his first start back. J.P. France is expected to be available as a piggyback option.

AUGUST 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Confirmed for Sunday return Astros manager Dusty Baker confirmed Friday that Urquidy (shoulder) will return to the rotation Sunday versus the Yankees, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Impact J.P. France is set up for piggyback relief duties and will likely stay in the Astros' bullpen moving forward. Urquidy surrendered five earned runs on nine hits over five innings in his final rehab start last Sunday at Triple-A Sugar Land, but he is finally over the severe bout of shoulder inflammation that sent him to the injured list in early May.

AUGUST 4, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Likely to return Sunday Urquidy (shoulder) is tentatively scheduled to return to the Astros' rotation Sunday versus the Yankees, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Impact Urquidy first has to make it through one final bullpen session, but he is knocking on the door after missing all of May, June and July because of shoulder inflammation. The 28-year-old right-hander struggled in his fourth and final rehab start last weekend at Triple-A Sugar Land, yielding five earned runs on nine hits over five innings, but he threw 76 pitches in that outing and 56 of them went for strikes. He could touch 90 pitches in his first start back with Houston.

AUGUST 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Gives up nine hits in rehab start Urquidy (shoulder) covered five innings and allowed five runs on nine hits and no walks while striking out three in his rehab start Sunday for Triple-A Sugar Land.

Impact The Astros probably would have wanted to see a stronger showing from Urquidy in what was likely his fourth and final rehab start at Sugar Land, but there were some silver linings from the outing. Only one of the nine hits he allowed went for extra bases, and the right-hander was able to build up his pitch count to 76 while consistently throwing strikes throughout the day. Assuming he experiences no setbacks with his shoulder coming out of a bullpen session in the next day or two, Urquidy should be cleared to return from the 60-day injured list to make his first start for Houston since April 30. He tentatively lines up for a return to the big-league rotation this weekend on the road versus the Yankees.

JULY 31, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Making final rehab start Sunday Urquidy (shoulder) will make his fourth and final minor-league rehab start Sunday for Double-A Corpus Christi, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Impact This lines him up to return to the Astros' rotation Aug. 4 in Yankee Stadium. The right-hander built up to 53 pitches in his rehab outing Tuesday, tossing four scoreless innings with one hit allowed and four strikeouts. Urquidy wasn't pitching particularly well before the injury (5.20 ERA), with home runs being his downfall on a number of occasions, but he will likely have streaming appeal here and there down the stretch.

JULY 29, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Completes third rehab start Urquidy (shoulder) struck out four over four scoreless innings in a rehab start Tuesday with Double-A Corpus Christi. He gave up one hit and one walk in the 53-pitch outing.

Impact Urquidy spotted 37 of his pitches for strikes in his third rehab start and first with Corpus Christi after the previous two came with Triple-A Sugar Land. The right-hander has gradually built up his innings and pitch counts over the three outings, but he'll still likely require one more start in the minors before being deemed ready to return from the 60-day injured list. Urquidy compiled a 5.20 ERA and 1.55 WHIP over his six starts with Houston before he was deactivated in May with the right shoulder injury.

JULY 26, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Builds up to three innings on rehab Urquidy (shoulder) tossed three innings in his most recent rehab start Wednesday with Triple-A Sugar Land, striking out two while allowing two earned runs on four hits and one walk...

Impact Urquidy spotted 29 of his 45 pitches for strikes in the second outing of his rehab assignment as he gets stretched back out again after having been sidelined since the beginning of May with right shoulder inflammation. The 28-year-old will shift his rehab to Double-A Corpus Christi on Tuesday for his third rehab start, and he'll most likely require an additional outing after that before returning from the 60-day injured list. Brandon Bielak would seem to be most at risk of losing his spot in the Houston rotation once Urquidy is deemed ready to go.

JULY 25, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Return slated for early August Urquidy (shoulder) is expected to return to the Astros' rotation in early August, MLB.com reports.

Impact Urquidy made his second rehab start with Triple-A Sugar Land on Wednesday, and he worked three innings while throwing 45 pitches. He'll now head to Double-A Corpus Christi, with his next outing slated for four innings. Urquidy's final rehab outing will come July 30, with the goal of completing five frames. That would put him in line to return to the big-league rotation at some point during Houston's weekend series against the Yankees from Aug. 3-6.

JULY 20, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Making rehab start Friday Urquidy (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Sugar Land on Friday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Impact Urquidy threw live batting practice Sunday without any issues in what was his final hurdle to clear before pitching in a rehab game. The right-hander has been sidelined since early May with shoulder inflammation, so he would figure to require at least a couple rehab outings before rejoining the Astros' rotation.

JULY 13, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Closing in on rehab assignment Urquidy (shoulder) completed a simulated game at Minute Maid Park on Sunday, and Astros general manager Dana Brown said afterward that the right-hander will "for sure" begin a reha...

Impact The Astros will likely see how Urquidy's right shoulder is feeling a few days after the simulated game before determining whether he'll be ready to join a minor-league affiliate later this week or if he'll first need to face hitters in a controlled setting one more time. Since Urquidy has been on the IL since May 1 with an inflamed right shoulder, he'll likely need at least two or three outings on the farm to get fully stretched back out before he slots into the Houston rotation. He could be an option to return from the 60-day injured list in the final week of July if all goes well during his rehab assignment.

JULY 9, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

To face hitters Sunday Urquidy (shoulder) is scheduled to throw live batting practice Sunday in Houston, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Impact Yordan Alvarez (oblique) will be among the batters standing in against Urquidy, who's been on the shelf since May 1 due to a bad case of right shoulder inflammation. If all goes well during Sunday's workout, Urquidy could be cleared to head out on a minor-league rehab assignment sometime next week. He's on track to return to the Astros' rotation around mid-to-late July.

JULY 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Slated to face hitters Urquidy (shoulder) will throw a live batting practice session Tuesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Impact Urquidy has thrown off the mound a few times without issue and is now ready to face hitters for the first time since going down with right shoulder inflammation back in early May. He's eligible for activation at the start of the second half but presumably will require multiple rehab starts before rejoining Houston's rotation.

JULY 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Logs another bullpen session Urquidy (shoulder) threw a 30-pitch bullpen session Friday, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Impact Urquidy logged his third bullpen session in a week Saturday as he slowly nears his return from the right shoulder injury that has sidelined him since early May. With the All-Star break around the corner, Urquidy is eligible to return when the Astros are back in action June 14 versus the Angels. The right-hander will likely need multiple rehab outings, which he seems to be on the cusp of starting. Prior to getting hurt, Urquidy struggled to a career-worst 5.20 ERA and 1.55 WHIP while striking out 23 batters over 27.2 innings in six starts this season.

JUNE 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Throws bullpen session Urquidy (shoulder) threw a 25-pitch bullpen session Tuesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Impact Urquidy sat 92-93 mph with his fastball and told reporters after the workout that it represented a "big step" in his recovery from a bout of right shoulder inflammation. Out since early May, he's scheduled to do one more bullpen workout before facing live hitters. The 28-year-old could return to the Astros' rotation around mid-to-late July.

JUNE 27, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Throws bullpen session Urquidy (shoulder) threw a 25-pitch bullpen session Saturday, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Impact Everything seemed to go well for Urquidy, who has been on the injured list since the beginning of May with right shoulder inflammation. The plan is for Urquidy to throw two more bullpens next week before moving onto facing hitters. The 28-year-old righty holds a 5.20 ERA and 1.55 WHIP through 27.2 innings this season and figures to return shortly after the All-Star break.

JUNE 24, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Moved to 60-day IL The Astros transferred Urquidy (shoulder) to the 60-day injured list Friday.

Impact Urquidy landed on the injured list at the beginning of May with right shoulder inflammation, and he isn't expected to return to the Astros until closer to the All-Star break. The move to the 60-day IL opens up a 40-man roster spot for Spenser Watkins, who was acquired in a trade with Baltimore on Friday.

JUNE 23, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Completes 17-pitch 'pen session Urquidy (shoulder) tossed a 17-pitch bullpen session Wednesday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Impact Urquidy graduated last week from the flat-ground phase of his throwing program and is expected to throw two more side sessions during the Astros' upcoming road trip. He'll eventually move on to facing hitters in live batting practice before completing his build-up process over the course of multiple minor-league rehab starts. Given that he still has multiple checkpoints to hit in the recovery process, Urquidy likely won't be ready to rejoin the Houston rotation until around the All-Star break.

JUNE 21, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Mound session scheduled Urquidy (shoulder) will throw off a mound Sunday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Impact Urquidy has been out since the start of May as he battles shoulder inflammation. He's been throwing off flat ground for over three weeks but still isn't ready for a full bullpen session. His mound work Sunday is expected to consist of 20 fastballs thrown at less than full velocity.

JUNE 17, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Nearing mound work Urquidy (shoulder) said Tuesday that he thinks he could begin throwing off a mound by this weekend, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Impact Urquidy began throwing on flat ground a couple weeks ago and is almost ready to test things out from the bump. The veteran hurler is coming back from right shoulder inflammation, an injury which landed him on the IL at the beginning of May.

JUNE 13, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Throwing from 90 feet Astros manager Dusty Baker said Tuesday that Urquidy (shoulder) is throwing from 90 feet, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Impact Urquidy began throwing on flat ground Friday, and Tuesday was another sign of progress. Still, the 28-year-old righty will need to be built back up gradually and figures to be out for another month or so. Urquidy landed on the injured list May 1 due to right shoulder inflammation.

MAY 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Throws from flat ground Astros manager Dusty Baker told reporters Friday that Urquidy (shoulder) threw on flat ground, Julia Morales of AT&T SportsNet Southwest reports.

Impact Baker noted that Urquidy "will still have to build back up," but he also mentioned that he knows how to come back from it after dealing with inflammation in the past. Urquidy will have to throw several bullpens and then go on a lengthy rehab assignment, but it's possible the right-hander could return to the Houston rotation right around the All-Star break.

MAY 27, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Nearly ready to resume throwing Urquidy (shoulder) said he hopes to resume throwing next week, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Impact Urquidy has been stuck in shutdown mode since going on the injured list at the beginning of May due to right shoulder discomfort. Imaging scans showed only inflammation, but the standing expectation is that the 28-year-old won't be ready to return to the Astros' starting rotation until sometime in July. There will be more clarity on the situation once Urquidy picks up a baseball again.

MAY 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE