In a blow to the Houston Astros, right fielder Kyle Tucker has been placed on the 10-day injured list due to a right shin contusion. The move, which is retroactive to Tuesday, comes after Tucker fouled a pitch off his right leg during Monday's game against the St. Louis Cardinals. With 19 home runs, Tucker is currently tied for second in the majors.

In addition to Tucker's injury, the Astros also confirmed that pitchers Cristian Javier and Jose Urquidy underwent Tommy John surgery this week. General Manager Dana Brown had previously announced that both pitchers needed elbow surgery, but the specific procedure was not disclosed until Friday. Urquidy underwent surgery on Wednesday, while Javier had his surgery on Thursday.

The team is hopeful that both pitchers will return to action during the 2025 season. Urquidy, who had previously undergone Tommy John surgery in 2017, had been sidelined since spring training with a forearm strain. Despite making three rehab starts last month, he was unable to make a successful comeback. Javier, in his fifth season in the majors, has a record of 3-1 with a 3.89 ERA in seven starts for the Astros this season. He was placed on the injured list on May 27 due to forearm discomfort.

On a positive note, pitcher Framber Valdez delivered a stellar performance on Friday night against the Los Angeles Angels, pitching a four-hit complete game and striking out eight in the Astros' 7-1 victory. Valdez dedicated his outstanding outing to his injured teammate, Javier, stating that he wanted to deliver a great game for him.

With Tucker, Javier, and Urquidy out of action, the Astros are now down to only five healthy starting pitchers on their 40-man roster. However, there is some good news on the horizon as Luis Garcia and Lance McCullers are both expected to return from their injuries in the coming weeks.

As for Tucker, the two-time All-Star and seventh-year player for Houston has been an important contributor to the Astros' success. With a batting average of .266, 40 RBIs, and 10 stolen bases this season, Tucker has proven to be a formidable force on both offense and defense. Last year, he drove in an impressive 112 runs and finished fifth in MVP voting. Tucker's absence from the outfield was filled by Trey Cabbage on Friday, who is hitting .238 with one home run and four RBIs in his 12 games with the Astros.

The Astros will now have to rely on their remaining healthy players to step up and fill the void left by the injuries. The team remains determined to overcome these setbacks and continue their quest for success in the 2021 season.