Major bummer out of the Astros camp this week as pitcher Mike Burrows hit a serious snag in his recovery. The team just yanked him from his minor-league rehab assignment on Wednesday, just two days after he felt his shoulder “barking” while playing catch. Imaging confirmed what everyone feared: inflammation. This guy was pushing to come back from elbow neuritis, making three Triple-A rehab starts, and now this. His timeline for returning to the Astros is totally up in the air.
Another Setback for Burrows’ Comeback Bid
Burrows’ journey back to the big league mound just took a detour nobody wanted. Manager Joe Espada confirmed the shoulder discomfort flared up Monday, leading to the assignment halt. The tricky part? Pitchers can only be on a minor-league rehab assignment for 30 days. By stopping it now, the Astros *could* start him on a fresh one down the line if he needs more innings once he’s actually cleared to pitch again. Right now, he’s staying on that 15-day injured list, which is just brutal. Espada said Burrows is “day to day” and will keep up a throwing program, but the manager also acknowledged that when a shoulder flares up during rehab, you just gotta monitor it super closely. They haven’t ruled out a September return, but it sounds like a long shot with this kind of uncertainty.
Matthews Nearing His Own Rehab Start
It’s not all bad news on the injury front, though. Outfielder Brice Matthews, sidelined since mid-July with a left knee sprain, is actually making some progress. He’s been grinding through his rehab work this week at the Astros’ minor-league facility down in West Palm Beach, Fla. The goal for Matthews is to actually start his own minor-league rehab assignment this weekend. He’s played 82 games this season for the Astros, hitting .197/.250/.332 across center, left, second, and third base before the knee injury before the All-Star break.
So what’s next? Burrows is going to keep throwing, but it’s a waiting game on that shoulder. Every day is crucial. Matthews gets his chance to finally get back on the field this weekend. Fingers crossed for some clear answers on Burrows soon, because September is already here and every arm counts!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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