<
>

Astros' Tucker (shin) to IL; Javier, Urquidy have TJ surgery

Houston Astros right fielder Kyle Tucker, who is tied for second in the majors with 19 home runs, 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.

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.

On Friday night against the Los Angeles Angels, Framber Valdez pitched a four-hit complete game and struck out eight in the Astros' 7-1 victory. He dedicated his performance to Javier.

"It's one of those games for your record, for yourself, for your future, is really good," Valdez said through an interpreter. "I spoke to Cristian earlier today, and I told him, 'I'm going to throw a really good game today, because we need it.'"

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 MVP voting. He also hit .284 with 29 homers and stole 30 bases a season ago.

Tucker was replaced in right field by Trey Cabbage on Friday. In 12 games with the Astros, Cabbage is hitting .238 with one home run and four RBIs.

The Associated Press and Field Level Media contributed to this report.