The Houston Astros welcome back reliever Forrest Whitley from the injured list ahead of their final game against the Tampa Bay Rays. Whitley, who was a highly regarded pitching prospect, has faced injuries this season, starting with a left knee bone bruise from spring training. After a brief return on April 21, he was again sidelined with a knee sprain but made two successful rehab appearances in Triple-A.

In a corresponding move, left-hander Brandon Walter was optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land after a solid spot start against the Rays, where he pitched five scoreless innings. Astros manager Joe Espada expressed confidence in Whitley's readiness, emphasizing that his addition bolsters the bullpen for the upcoming games.

The Houston Astros are set to start left-hander Brandon Walter against the Tampa Bay Rays, marking a significant moment in his career. After showcasing impressive performance with a 2.27 ERA in Triple-A, Walter looks to prove himself at the major league level. The 28-year-old, who previously played for the Boston Red Sox, had a rough debut season but has worked hard to recover from a significant shoulder injury, missing all of 2024. The Astros will need to adjust their roster to accommodate his call-up, a move that could signal their confidence in his abilities as they face a strong opponent.

Meanwhile, Forrest Whitley, another player who recently joined the team, remains on the injured list but may be activated during this series, adding depth to the Astros' pitching staff. With Walter's potential and Whitley's return on the horizon, Houston's pitching rotation could look very different soon.

Yordan Alvarez is showing signs of improvement from his right hand muscle strain, although he has yet to swing a bat, according to Astros manager Joe Espada. Placed on the 10-day injured list on May 3, Alvarez's recovery includes rest and treatment, with hopes of resuming bat work soon. He has struggled this season with a .210 batting average and three home runs over 29 games, leading to concerns about his performance potential going forward.

Additional injury updates include Forrest Whitley, who may begin a minor-league rehab stint soon, and Cristian Javier, progressing well after Tommy John surgery. Reliever Shawn Dubin is also recovering nicely from shoulder inflammation.

The Houston Astros face a pivotal offseason after their earliest playoff exit in eight years. General manager Dana Brown is open to all options for roster improvement, particularly focusing on the bullpen, which had mixed results this season.

Despite high expectations for their relief pitchers, the Astros ranked low in key metrics like ERA and blown saves. Josh Hader, Ryan Pressly, and Bryan Abreu were the standout performers, but the team struggled to maintain leads.

As they prepare for 2024, the Astros must find ways to ease the workload on their top relievers and explore potential additions to strengthen the bullpen.