Despite a shaky start to September, the Houston Astros are still atop the AL West with a 78-66 record.
The Astros have opened the month 3-4, while the Seattle Mariners have also struggled but remain in striking distance of the top spot in the division. After Sunday, the Mariners are just 2.5 games behind the Astros for the division lead.
On Sunday, general manager Dana Brown provided an underwhelming injury update to two relief pitchers.
Dana Brown: Bennett Sousa and Kaleb Ort “unlikely” to return in regular season
Injuries to the Houston Astros’ pitching rotation have been the talk of the team all season. They have lost a lot of top talent, from Ronel Blanco (Tommy John surgery) to Josh Hader (shoulder sprain); it seems that it won’t stop.
On Sunday, general manager Dana Brown spoke on the Astros’ pre-game radio show before the game against the Texas Rangers. He mentioned that bullpen pitchers Bennett Sousa and Kaleb Ort are “unlikely” to return for the last three weeks of the regular season, according to Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle.
MORE: Astros’ Josh Hader receives positive injury update from Joe Espada
Sousa, 30, was placed on the injured list on Aug. 22 (retroactive to Aug. 20) after being diagnosed with an elbow strain in his throwing arm. If his 2025 regular season is over, he’ll finish with a 5-1 record, 2.84 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, and 59 strikeouts over 50.2 innings.
Ort, 33, has been on the 15-day injured list on Sept. 3 (retroactive to Aug. 31) after discovering elbow inflammation in his throwing arm. In 2025, he has a 2-2 record, 4.89 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, and 49 strikeouts in 46 innings.
