J.P. France's return is on the horizon as the Houston Astros right-hander is set to face hitters during live batting practice, marking progress from his shoulder surgery. He underwent a capsule tear repair last July and had shown resilience during his previous 28 starts, where he recorded a 4.40 ERA. Other Astros pitchers such as Cristian Javier and Luis Garcia are also on the mend post-surgeries, but remain out of the batting practice phase.

Pedro León, meanwhile, faces setbacks after aggravating a knee injury while rehabbing with Triple-A Sugar Land. León, who had a brief MLB stint last season, is now back on the sidelines. Additionally, the Astros have signed veteran reliever Jordan Weems to bolster their pitching depth, after he had a lackluster season with the Nationals.

The Houston Astros are facing challenges in their outfield due to injuries to Taylor Trammell and Pedro Leon. While Leon's discomfort is less concerning, Trammell's significant calf strain has him in a walking boot, shaking up the Astros' lineup. Chas McCormick is set to fill Kyle Tucker's shoes in right field, with Jake Meyers in center. A surprising twist may see Jose Altuve take on left field responsibilities, marking a first in his professional career.

McCormick is under pressure to perform following a disappointing 2024 season after a breakout 2023, where he hit 22 home runs and posted an OPS+ of 130. The Astros need him to regain that form to offset the loss of Tucker and Alex Bregman. If McCormick falters, Houston may have to reconsider its outfield strategy early in the season.