- Day-To-DayChase DeLauter (RF) — DeLauter (ribs) isn't in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Brewers.06/16
- Day-To-DayCarlos Hernandez (RP) — Hernandez (shoulder) began his rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha on Friday.05/08
- 10-Day-ILJose Ramirez (3B) — Ramirez underwent surgery to address the hamate bone fracture in his left hand Tuesday and is expected to be sidelined 5-to-7 weeks, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.06/16
- 10-Day-ILAngel Martinez (LF) — Martinez (foot) will be placed on the 10-day injured list Tuesday, reports Cade Cracas of Sports Illustrated.06/16
- 15-Day-ILErik Sabrowski (RP) — Sabrowski (elbow) joined High-A Lake County on Sunday to begin a rehab assignment, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.06/15
- Day-To-DayWalker Janek (C) — Double-A Corpus Christi placed Janek on its 7-day injured list Sunday due to an unspecified injury.05/08
- 10-Day-ILBraden Shewmake (SS) — The Astros announced Monday that Shewmake (adductor) has taken part in baseball activity and is working his way through a running progression at the team's facility in Florida, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.06/15
- 10-Day-ILLaMonte Wade Jr. (1B) — Wade left Monday's game against the Angels with right hamstring soreness, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.06/09
- 10-Day-ILNick Allen (SS) — Allen was removed from Sunday's game against the Athletics due to left hamstring discomfort.06/08
- 15-Day-ILLance McCullers Jr. (SP) — Astros manager Joe Espada said Saturday that McCullers (shoulder) has resumed throwing off a mound, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.06/15
- 15-Day-ILBennett Sousa (RP) — The Astros announced Friday that Sousa (elbow) has begun a throwing progression, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.06/04
- 60-Day-ILCristian Javier (SP) — Javier (shoulder) didn't make a rehab start Sunday as planned after Triple-A Sugar Land had its game against Sacramento get postponed due to rain, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.06/15
- 60-Day-ILRonel Blanco (SP) — Blanco (elbow) tossed 40 pitches in a simulated game Saturday and will soon start a rehab stint in the Florida Complex League, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.06/13
- 60-Day-ILBrandon Walter (SP) — The Astros announced Friday that Walter (elbow) is in the midst of a throwing progression at the team's complex in West Palm Beach, Fla., Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.06/04
- 60-Day-ILCarlos Correa (SS) — Correa is scheduled to undergo surgery Monday in Houston to repair the tendon in his left ankle, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.06/02
- 60-Day-ILHayden Wesneski (SP) — Wesneski (elbow) has progressed to throwing live batting practice this week, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.05/29
Houston's injury list is a small phone book. Carlos Correa is on the 60-day after ankle surgery, Lance McCullers Jr. is just now back on a mound, Cristian Javier and Ronel Blanco are still chipping away at rehabs, and LaMonte Wade Jr. and Nick Allen joined the hamstring parade earlier this month. For a team that was supposed to win the AL West walking, sitting at 34-41 and 7 games under is the result of a rotation and an infield that have basically never been whole.
Recent form actually breaks Houston's way at the margins. The Astros are 3-2 in their last 5 and just took the opener of a Tigers series 4-2 on Tuesday night. Cleveland, meanwhile, dropped a 2-1 game in Milwaukee on Tuesday and is 2-2-1 over its last 5 with the bats clearly missing Ramirez's middle-of-the-order weight.
The series storyline is simple. Cleveland is the better team on paper, by record, and by recent process, but they're trying to win in Houston while reshuffling the infield and outfield in the same week. Houston is desperate and at home with Hunter Brown stabilizing the staff. The Guardians are still the side you want here, but the gap is narrower than the records make it look — and Saturday's middle game is the swing date of a 3-game set both clubs need.