Espada indicated that Brown could resume throwing this weekend, marking an important milestone in his recovery from a right shoulder strain. The right-hander has been sidelined since early April, and this step signals meaningful progress toward Brown’s return.

Meanwhile, Pena continues to progress toward game action. The All-Star shortstop in 2025, sidelined since mid-April with a hamstring strain, could begin a rehab assignment this weekend—putting him on track to rejoin the lineup in the coming weeks.

After speaking with Astros manager Joe Espada, MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart shared updates on X, formerly Twitter, offering additional insight into the club’s evolving injury situation following Monday’s media availability.

“Some updates from Espada:

Some updates from Espada:

– Hunter Browne could play catch this weekend.
– Jeremy Peña could play in rehab the games this weekend.
– Cristian Javier is playing catch.
– Ryan Weiss will get the bulk of the innings tonight.

— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) May 4, 2026

Brown’s return to throwing would mark his first step after a shutdown period. At the same time, Pena’s potential rehab assignment suggests his return could help stabilize both the Astros’ defense and offensive production.

Javier’s progress offers longer-term encouragement, while Weiss provides immediate support on the mound. Together, these developments reflect the club’s measured approach to balancing recovery and performance.

If these timelines hold, the Astros could soon regain important contributors, providing a much-needed boost to both their lineup depth and pitching stability. This would help improve their footing as the season progresses and division competition intensifies, as they look to build momentum during a challenging stretch and gain ground in a tightly contested AL West race.