CHICAGO — Houston Astros ace Hunter Brown is likely to make his first rehab start Sunday in his recovery from a right shoulder strain, manager Joe Espada said.
Brown, who faced hitters in live batting practice Tuesday, would start Sunday for Double-A Corpus Christi, who are at home against Midland.
Brown, a Cy Young finalist last year, made two starts this season before landing on the injured list with a Grade 2 shoulder strain. He is expected to require a spring training-type buildup, which usually includes four or five starts to increase pitch count.
Astros general manager Dana Brown has said Hunter Brown could rejoin the major-league team in mid-June, barring any setbacks. Brown is one of three starters from Houston’s season-opening rotation who are on the injured list along with Cristian Javier (shoulder strain) and Lance McCullers Jr. (shoulder inflammation).
• Closer Josh Hader is also scheduled to pitch Sunday with Double-A Corpus Christi in his recovery from biceps tendinitis. It would be Hader’s third rehab appearance since Espada said last weekend that Hader would need five more outings before rejoining the major-league team.
• Outfielder Taylor Trammell is slated to play Saturday and Sunday at Double-A in his return from a groin strain. If it goes well, Trammell “should be in a position to join us at some point next week,” Espada said.
• Outfielder Joey Loperfido could begin a rehab assignment this weekend in his return from a quad strain, but a date for his first game is not set.