Three Houston Astros to pitch in Sugar Land on Tuesday as part of rehab work

BOSTON – Several Houston Astros pitchers are scheduled to make rehab appearances Tuesday as they work toward rejoining the team from the injured list.

Tatsuya Imai is scheduled to start Tuesday’s game in Sugar Land. Imai, who was placed on the 15-day injured list on April 13 due to “arm fatigue,” made his first rehab outing this week for Double-A Corpus Christi and threw two innings, allowing five runs on six hits and three walks.

Astros manager Joe Espada said Imai’s velocity was back up during that outing. For his rehab outing on Tuesday, Espada said the Astros will look for “just better results.”

“Better outcome, more strikes, more competitive pitches in the zone,” Espada said Saturday at Fenway Park. “For him just to feel good about his outing. But health-wise, there’s no concerns right now.”

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Closer Josh Hader will also pitch Tuesday with Sugar Land, a significant step in his recovery from biceps tendinitis. Hader has faced hitters in live batting practice several times in his return but has not pitched in a game since last August, when the Astros put him on the injured list with a shoulder issue.

Hader experienced the setback with his biceps in a bullpen session prior to the start of spring training. He faced hitters for the first time since that injury on April 14.

Hader is on the 60-day injured list and not eligible to return until the final week of May. The Astros have said they intend to give Hader a full spring training-like buildup. Hader is in the third season of the five-year, $95 million deal he signed prior to the 2024 season.

Nate Pearson is scheduled to pitch Tuesday for Sugar Land, as well, his third rehab outing in his return from elbow soreness.

Pearson, signed to a one-year deal in October, had an elbow cleanup in the offseason and started the season on the injured list due to what the Astros called “recovery from right elbow surgery.” He has made two rehab starts, each comprising two innings.

The Astros intend to build Pearson up as a starter, per team officials. Pearson, who is on the 15-day injured list, owns a 5.17 ERA in 123 career major-league outings, all but six in relief. Espada said Imai is scheduled to start Tuesday’s game, followed by Hader for one inning and then Pearson.

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This article originally published at Three Houston Astros to pitch in Sugar Land on Tuesday as part of rehab work.

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