Astros report six starters on IL

The Houston Astros’ injury list has become one of the defining facts of their season. By May 20, MLB.com’s team injury tracker listed Carlos Correa, José Altuve, Joey Loperfido, Yainer Diaz and several other regular contributors on the shelf, while Houston’s loss to Minnesota dropped the club to 20-31. Carlos Correa is out for the rest of the 2026 season after surgery to repair the peroneus brevis tendon in his left ankle, according to MLB.com. José Altuve joined the injured list on May 18 with a Grade 2 left oblique strain, manager Joe Espada said, adding another everyday player to a roster that has been cycling through replacements for weeks. The result is a roster that has been patched together around absences in the infield, outfield and at catcher. (mlb.com) MLB.com reported on May 15 that Houston had 14 players on the injured list, including starting third baseman Correa, starting shortstop Jeremy Peña, starting left fielder Loperfido, starting center fielder Jake Meyers, starting catcher Yainer Diaz, ace Hunter Brown and closer Josh Hader. ### Which Astros starters are actually on the injured list? José Altuve, Carlos Correa, Joey Loperfido and Yainer Diaz were all on the injured list as of May 20, according to MLB.com’s Astros transactions page. That same page also listed Jake Meyers on the IL earlier in the week, though he had been nearing a return through a rehab assignment. May 18 was the key date for Altuve’s move. (mlb.com) MLB.com said Altuve underwent an MRI after exiting Houston’s May 16 win over Texas and was placed on the 10-day injured list two days later with a Grade 2 left oblique strain. Espada called the diagnosis “not what we wanted to hear.” ### What happened to Carlos Correa? May 6 was the day Houston learned Correa would miss the rest of the regular season. (mlb.com) MLB.com reported that Correa told Espada he needed surgery after injuring a tendon in his left ankle, and the club later said he underwent the operation on May 11. Correa’s expected return is 2027, according to MLB.com’s May 20 injury page. (mlb.com) Espada said on May 6 that talking with Correa that morning was “really, really hard,” and Correa said the news was “not what I was expecting.” ### How extensive is the broader injury damage? May 15 offered the clearest snapshot of the scale. MLB.com wrote that Houston had 14 players on the injured list, stretching beyond position players to include Brown, Cristian Javier and Hader. (mlb.com) Joey Loperfido was listed with a right quad strain and Yainer Diaz with a left oblique strain on MLB.com’s May 20 tracker. (mlb.com) Loperfido’s IL date was April 19, and Diaz’s was May 5, with both players still working toward returns. ### Who is coming back, and when? Jeremy Peña returned from the injured list on May 18, the same day Altuve went on it, according to MLB.com. (mlb.com) Jake Meyers and Nate Pearson were also described as among the players closest to returning in a May 15 team update. Joey Loperfido was nearing a minor league rehab assignment as of May 20, while Yainer Diaz had resumed running and swinging and was building toward hitting off a tee, MLB.com said. (mlb.com) Hunter Brown was scheduled to begin a rehab assignment if he responded well to a live batting-practice session. ### What comes next for Houston? Minnesota beat Houston 4-1 on May 20, leaving the Astros at 20-31 after the series in Minneapolis. (mlb.com) Houston’s next games come against Oakland, with Espada still waiting on returns from Meyers, Loperfido, Diaz and several pitchers as the club tries to stabilize its lineup. (mlb.com)