Astros: Gurriel close, Correa amps it up, Pressly and Peacock throwing

Injured Astros players Yuli Gurriel, Carlos Correa, Ryan Pressly, Brad Peacock, and Collin McHugh are all striving to be healthy by regular season’s end.

With just three weeks left in the regular season, the Astros have a few key players that are doing their best to return healthy. It’s crucial to get Correa, Gurriel, and Pressly back for this last stretch of the season and be ready come playoff time. Peacock may be on the bubble as far as getting healthy enough in time and making a spot on the playoff roster.

Yuli Gurriel is the only one of the bunch that wasn’t placed on the 10-day Injured List. He was just listed as day-to-day and is also the closest to return to the club. He left last Friday night’s game in the fifth inning after feeling some pain in his hamstring stretching out a single.

He’ll be fully tested on the field today and a decision will be made depending on the results. He feels good and it’s expected that he will be able to get back into action Tuesday or Wednesday. “He feels really good and has no symptoms, so that is a good sign,” the manager A.J. Hinch said.

Carlos Correa hasn’t played since he exited the game back on August 19 with discomfort in his back. After some rest, he has been slowly increasing his workload. Correa took some batting practice yesterday morning along with some fielding and agility drills. He has been feeling really good and is pleased with his recovery process.

"“Big step, not only getting to take ground balls but feeling great out there,” Correa said. “Obviously, it feels really good to be out there with the guys working every day. It’s just one step closer to me getting back. I’m excited.”"

He’ll take some more batting practice from the field today, and after a day of rest tomorrow, he may step up to live batting practice and possibly a rehab game or two with the Round Rock Express, who are in the Pacific League playoffs.

Ryan Pressly and Brad Peacock have begun doing a little throwing. Pressly, who is recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his knee, threw a bullpen session yesterday. He’ll have a couple of more bullpen sessions and then advance to some live batting practice. It’s looking more and more likely that he will be activated and back in the bullpen before the end of the season.

Hinch is happy with Peacock’s progress and they’re taking it slowly, being that he has had a couple of setbacks already this year. Whether Peacock is able to return this season is still up in the air and will depend on the speed of his progression. Collin McHugh has yet to start throwing and it’s looking less likely that he’ll be returning this season.