Detroit Tigers right-hander Jose Urquidy (elbow) is playing catch out to 120 feet three times a week, according to MLive's Evan Woodbery. Urquidy is slowly making his way back from his second Tommy John surgery last June and isn't expected to be an option to make his Tigers debut until after the All-Star break in mid-July. As a result, he shouldn't be rostered in single-year fantasy leagues right now. If he doesn't suffer any setbacks in his throwing program, the 29-year-old could resume throwing off a mound by the end of April. Whenever Urquidy is eventually activated from the injured list in the second half of 2025, there's no guarantee he'll have a spot waiting for him in the starting rotation. The Mexican hurler has a career 3.98 ERA and 1.14 WHIP with a below-average 19.6% strikeout rate and a 5.8% walk rate in 405 innings over 79 outings (70 starts), which have all come with the Astros.

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Jose Urquidy (elbow) has been cleared to play catch from 105 feet this week and will do so three times. Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reported the news. The 29-year-old is recovering from Tommy John surgery he underwent in June of last year. It's a step in the right direction for Urquidy, but he still has a long way to go before toeing the rubber again and is projected to return to the field sometime in the second half of the season. The last time we saw the veteran pitch was in late September of 2023, a season in which he sported a 5.29 ERA and 1.43 WHIP across 63 innings of work. The former Houston Astro could be a boost to fantasy managers later this summer for those who choose to stash him. Still, there's no guarantee he will return to a starting role in 2025.

The Detroit Tigers signed free-agent right-hander Jose Urquidy (elbow) to a one-year, $1 million deal on Saturday that includes a $4 million club option for 2026, according to the Detroit Free Press' Evan Petzold. Urquidy underwent Tommy John surgery in June of last year. After signing him, the Tigers placed both Urquidy and right-hander Sawyer Gipson-Long (elbow, hip) on the 60-day injured list. The 29-year-old Urquidy won't be able to make his debut with Detroit until sometime in the second half of the season, but if the Tigers like what they see when he returns, they can pick up his option for next season. Depending on the state of Detroit's starting rotation, there's a good chance Urquidy returns in a relief role later this year. In his five years with the Houston Astros, Urquidy had a 3.98 ERA and 1.14 WHIP with a below-average 19.6% strikeout rate and 5.8% walk rate in 405 innings pitched.

Houston Astros general manager Dana Brown said on Thursday that right-handers Cristian Javier (elbow) and Jose Urquidy (elbow) are both projected to return at the end of July in 2025, "hopefully earlier." Javier and Urquidy both had Tommy John surgery in June of this year, so they will most likely miss all of the first half of next season as they recover. Javier is the more attractive fantasy option, but neither pitcher is going to be able to make any kind of impact until after the All-Star break, and even then, they'll both be risky coming of TJ surgery. The 27-year-old Javier only made seven starts for Houston in 2024, going 3-1 with a 3.89 ERA and 1.41 WHIP with 27 K's and 19 walks in 34 2/3 innings. Urquidy was unable to pitch at all in the big leagues in 2024, and he only appeared in 16 (10 starts) games in 2023 due to injuries as well.

Houston Astros starting pitcher Jose Urquidy (forearm), who was recently pulled from his minor-league rehab start, will soon visit with Dr. Keith Meister in Dallas and could be headed for the second Tommy John surgery of his career, according to sources. Urquidy is having a second opinion on his injured right forearm after already consulting with a specialist after he was pulled from his rehab assignment with Triple-A Sugar Land late last month. The 29-year-old veteran was shut down in mid-March in spring training with a right-forearm strain and has yet to pitch at all in 2024 for Houston. Urquidy also missed a big chunk of time in 2023 and could be on his way to missing the entire 2024 campaign. The upside was very limited to begin with for Urquidy, and now it looks like he may not be back until around midseason in 2025.

Houston Astros manager Joe Espada said on Wednesday that both starting pitchers Cristian Javier (forearm) and Jose Urquidy (forearm) are "getting opinions from other doctors." Espada said earlier this week that both pitchers were examined by doctors on Monday, but their imaging results haven't been disclosed. Javier was unable to throw a scheduled bullpen session on Sunday due to right forearm discomfort, and he was then placed on the injured list for the second time this season. Urquidy, on the other hand, has missed the entire season with a right forearm strain and was close to rejoining Houston's rotation before suffering a setback during a minor-league rehab assignment. This could lead to a pretty significant development for the two hurlers, who both currently have no clear timetable for a return to the Astros. Although Urquidy isn't a must-stash fantasy player, we'd recommend holding onto Javier until more is known.

Houston Astros right-hander Jose Urquidy (forearm) will be re-evaluated by team physicians on Tuesday. Urquidy was removed from his rehab start early on Friday due to forearm discomfort. The 29-year-old appeared to be very close to re-joining the Astros starting rotation, but that is now in serious doubt. Urquidy has struggled with injuries for the better part of two seasons as he only managed to make 10 starts in 2023 and has yet to appear in the majors in 2024. More information about the extent of the injury will be available after Tuesday's evaluation.

Houston Astros starting pitcher Jose Urquidy (forearm) exited his rehab start early on Friday. Urquidy had thrown just 56 pitches in his start. Urquidy attempted a warmup pitch, lobbed it in and then walked off the mound. He was also seen flexing his hand and fingers before the trainers visited him. This is a bad sign for the right-hander who was very close to rejoining an Astros rotation that's desperately needing help. Urquidy has also been battling injuries for much of the past two seasons and missed the majority of the 2023 season. Fantasy managers should stand pat on Urquidy's status and hope for the best when doctor's evaluate his arm. Regardless, it doesn't seem like the right-hander will be joining the Astros' rotation any time soon.

Houston Astros right-hander Jose Urquidy (forearm) will make his next minor-league rehab start on Friday at Triple-A Sugar Land and he's set to throw around 70 to 75 pitches, according to manager Joe Espada. The Astros are slow-playing a pitcher that missed a big chunk of the 2023 campaign with an arm injury. Urquidy is now recovering from a right-forearm injury but is on the cusp of making his 2024 debut. The 29-year-old Mexican hurler reached 59 pitches in his last rehab outing on Saturday and should be cleared to join the Astros' starting rotation if he gets out of this weekend's outing without any setbacks. Given all the injuries to Houston's rotation this year, Urquidy's return will be a welcomed sight. Urquidy had a career-worst 5.29 ERA in 63 innings in 2023 and holds a subpar 19.6% strikeout rate in five big-league seasons, but he'll be in play as a matchup-based streamer in deeper fantasy leagues when he's back in the fold.

Houston Astros starting pitcher Jose Urquidy (forearm) made his second minor league rehab start on Saturday. The right-hander got smacked around for three runs in 2 2/3 innings during his start last weekend. He didn't do much better this time around allowing four runs on seven hits over four innings of work. The good news is that Urquidy feels better and says his velocity should increase during his next start. The right-hander should be able to return to the Astros rotation in late May or early June.

Houston Astros right-hander Jose Urquidy (forearm) allowed three runs on three hits while striking out three in 2 2/3 innings in his first minor-league rehab start with Triple-A Sugar Land on Sunday. Urquidy threw 28 of his 46 pitches for strikes and will make another rehab start this Saturday with Double-A Corpus Christi, where he's expected to throw 70 pitches. "When I finished the game, I didn't feel anything bad," said Urquidy, who was topping out at 90-93 mph. "I wasn't thinking to not put too much stress on my arm, but I think I've got more than that. I think next outing, I'm going to have more velocity for sure." The Mexican hurler went 3-3 with a 5.29 ERA in 16 games (10 starts) in 2023 and spent three months on the injured list with right-shoulder discomfort. Given all the injuries to Houston's rotation early this year, Urquidy figures to have a spot waiting for him when he's healthy enough to return.

Houston Astros right-hander Jose Urquidy (forearm) is scheduled to make his first minor-league rehab start for Triple-A Sugar Land on Sunday. Manager Joe Espada said the plan is for Urquidy to go around four innings or 60 to 65 pitches. Urquidy is finally ready to start pitching in games again after being out since the middle of March in spring training with a right-forearm strain. Given how long the 29-year-old has been out, we should expect him to make multiple rehab outings in the minors before the Astros even consider activating him from the injured list. Urquidy, who missed a large chunk of last season as well due to injury, won't even be guaranteed a starting rotation spot when he's cleared to rejoin the big-league club.

Houston Astros starting pitcher Jose Urquidy (forearm) is scheduled to begin a minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Sugar Land this weekend. The right-hander has been sidelined since spring training due to inflammation in his forearm. The expectation is that Urquidy is going to need a few rehab starts before rejoining the Astros rotation. Possibly, Urquidy is able to rejoin the Astros rotation by the end of May. Fantasy managers will have to stay tuned for more updates over the next week or two.

Houston Astros starting pitcher Jose Urquidy (forearm) is expected to begin a rehab assignment after logging another bullpen session on May 7. The 29-year-old tossed 30 pitches of live BP earlier in the week on May 1 and was scheduled to do so again on Sunday, May 5, but will now do so on May 7. Urquidy has yet to see the mound this season due to a right forearm strain but should be back on the mound before the end of the month. He posted a 5.29 ERA and 1.43 WHIP in 63 innings last season with 43 strikeouts and is best left for DFS and streaming in deep leagues.

Houston Astros pitchers Luis Garcia (elbow), Lance McCullers Jr. (elbow), Jose Urquidy (forearm) and Penn Murfee (elbow) all played catch at Minute Maid Park on Monday. Left-hander Framber Valdez (elbow) is scheduled to play catch Tuesday. Garcia, McCullers and Murfee are all currently on the 60-day injured list. Garcia is recovering from Tommy John surgery last May and isn't expected to be an option for the 'Stros until around midseason at least. McCullers, 30, is expected to be out until late June or early July as he recovers from right-elbow surgery. After missing a huge chunk of last season, the 28-year-old Urquidy has now been out almost a month with a right-forearm strain. Barring a setback, he should be the first of this group to return for Houston's rotation.

Houston Astros right-hander Jose Urquidy (forearm) is "really close" to throwing off a mound, according to manager Joe Espada. It's good news for Urquidy, but he still has a ways to go before thinking about rejoining Houston's starting rotation. The 28-year-old Mexican hurler has been out for almost a month due to a right-forearm strain suffered in spring training and probably won't be ready to return until some point in May. And when he does return, there's no guarantee that he'll have a rotation spot waiting for him if Justin Verlander (shoulder) and Framber Valdez (elbow) are back and healthy by then. Urquidy also missed significant time due to a shoulder injury in 2023 and doesn't have much fantasy upside for those in mixed leagues when he's healthy.

Houston Astros right-hander Jose Urquidy (forearm) said he's hopeful that he can resume throwing after a break of 10 to 15 days. He said his MRI exam showed inflammation but no structural issues with his elbow ligament. It's great news that Urquidy doesn't have any damage to his ligament, but he'll obviously be forced to start the 2024 season on the injured list and he could miss the first month of the year. The 28-year-old appeared in only 16 games (10 starts) for Houston during the regular season in 2023, too, so the injuries have piled up for him of late. There was already limited fantasy upside to begin with, so managers in mixed leagues can look elsewhere. With Justin Verlander (shoulder) also opening the year on the injured list, the Astros' starting rotation will be lacking in depth to open the season.

Houston Astros right-hander Jose Urquidy (forearm) won't throw "for a while" after being diagnosed with a right-forearm strain on Monday, according to manager Joe Espada. Urquidy is obviously going to begin the 2024 season on the injured list and could miss a good chunk of the first of the season, if not the entire year, depending on whether he needs surgery on his arm. Houston's starting rotation is going to be undermanned to begin the year, with future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander (shoulder) also set to start the year on the injured list as he works his way back from right-shoulder issues. Urquidy wasn't a fantasy factor in mixed leagues to begin with, but now he can also be avoided in AL-only single-year leagues.

Houston Astros right-hander Jose Urquidy (forearm) has been diagnosed with a forearm muscle strain, according to manager Joe Espada. Urquidy is not throwing for now in camp and will not open the 2024 regular season in the team's starting rotation. The 28-year-old pulled himself out of a minor-league game in camp last Friday and will now be forced to open the year on the injured list. It's bad news for a pitcher that already wasn't very attractive in mixed fantasy leagues after he missed most of 2023 due to arm injuries. He had a 5.29 ERA and 1.43 WHIP in only 63 innings last season. With both Urquidy and Justin Verlander (shoulder) set to begin the year on the IL, and with Lance McCullers Jr. (forearm) and Luis Garcia (elbow) to miss the first half of the season, J.P. France and Ronel Blanco are expected to open the year in the starting rotation.