Astros general manager Dana Brown said Sunday that Tucker (shin) could be activated from the 60-day injured list and "potentially play maybe Wednesday or Thursday" in Cincinnati, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

Tucker's lengthy rehab program from a deep bruise in his right shin that first cropped up in early June seems to be nearing its end. The star outfielder reached a major milestone in the recovery process by running the bases at full speed this past week, and he took another major step forward by facing off against live pitching in batting practice Sunday for the third day in a row, per Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. After Sunday's workout, manager Joe Espada concurred with Brown's assessment of the outfielder, telling McTaggart that Tucker is "really, really close" to returning. Espada didn't elaborate much further on the matter, but Tucker looks like he could bypass a rehab assignment and return to the lineup at some point during the final two games of the series in Cincinnati. His return during the final four weeks of the season would provide a major jolt to a Houston squad that has managed to climb its away to the top of the AL West standings without Tucker for the past three months.

Tucker (lower leg) ran the bases and took live batting practice again Saturday, manager Joe Espada told SportsTalk 790.

EDGE Analysis

Houston's skipper noted that Tucker homered twice in live BP and said the outfielder is "getting close." Tucker cleared a major hurdle by running the bases -- typically one of the final steps before a player is cleared to return to a game setting. Sidelined since early June with a shin injury, Tucker suggested Friday that he's eyeing a return during the team's next homestand which begins Sept. 6.

Tucker (shin) said Friday that he will likely be activated from the 60-day injured list during the Astros' Sept. 6-12 homestand, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Tucker ran at full speed and took a full round of live batting practice Friday. He still needs to run the bases at full speed, which is expected to happen soon. Tucker didn't totally rule out a return during next week's series in Cincinnati, but it sounds like the Astros' homestand is the much likelier scenario. He's been sidelined since early June with a bone bruise in his right shin.

Tucker (shin) is taking live batting practice Friday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

The 27-year-old progressed to running full speed earlier this week and is now facing live pitching. The big hurdle left for Tucker is running the bases, which Astros manager Joe Espada said Thursday could happen soon. A return in early September remains possible for Tucker, who has been sidelined since June 3.

Tucker (lower leg) has began sprinting and is close to running the bases, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Running the bases is viewed as Tucker's final checkpoint before being sent out on a rehab assignment, and he could take that step soon after being cleared to sprint. It's unclear how many rehab games Tucker will require, but he and the Astros have been tentatively aiming for an early-September return.

Astros general manager Dana Brown said Friday on MLB Network's "MLB Now" that he hopes Tucker (shin) will be able to return in early September.

EDGE Analysis

Brown noted that while Tucker has been upping his baseball activities, the outfielder still feels some soreness in his right leg "when he has to sprint or do anything at a quick pace." Tucker has also not yet run the bases, which he must do before being cleared for a rehab assignment. While a return in early September is possible, Tucker still has some boxes he needs to check before he can make it happen.

Tucker (shin) took batting practice and was involved in outfield drills Monday, but manager Joe Espada said that the outfielder won't be close to heading out on a minor-league rehab assignment until he runs the bases, MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Tucker remains limited to jogging for the time being while he recovers from a bone bruise in his right shin, which has kept him on the shelf since July 7. The Astros and fantasy managers alike had initially anticipated a brief absence for Tucker, but he's taken far longer than expected to heal from the shin injury and may now be trending toward a September return from the injured list. At the very least, managers shouldn't plan on Tucker being available for the start of the Astros' two-city road trip, which begins Thursday with a four-game set in Baltimore.

Tucker (shin) rejoined the Astros on Monday and completed an extended workout prior to the team's series opener versus the Rays, MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Tucker didn't travel with the team for the first two legs of its road trip, but the Tampa, Fla. native met up with the Astros while they kicked off a three-game series against his hometown squad. The 27-year-old proceeded to turn in a rigorous workout, doing some throwing while also taking part in drills in the outfield that included some short sprints, side-to-side movements and fielding pop flies hit by a fungo bat. Manager Joe Espada came away pleased with how Tucker looked during the workout, but the skipper noted that the outfielder still needs to show more improvement before the Astros are able to map out a rehab assignment for him. Tucker has been on the injured list since June 7 with what general manager Dana Brown has previously described as a deep bruise in his right shin bone, derailing what had been shaping up as a career-best season.

Astros manager Joe Espada said Sunday that Tucker (shin) seems to have turned a corner in his recovery and is "getting close" to running the bases, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

Tucker will meet up with the Astros in Tampa ahead of the team's three-game series against the Rays that begins Monday. He'll presumably get his right shin checked out by team trainers, and if they're satisfied with Tucker's progress, the outfielder could start running the bases again. Because he's been on the shelf since June 7, Tucker will require a rehab assignment or will need to take part in multiple simulated games before the Astros are comfortable activating him from the 60-day injured list. Tucker remains without a precise timeline for being activated, though barring any further setbacks, a return in late August seems within reach.

Astros manager Joe Espada said Wednesday that Tucker (shin) remains unable to sprint but has been jogging without issue, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Astros seem encouraged by Tucker's recent progress from a right shin contusion, but clearly his return is not imminent if he's not yet able to run at full speed. Tucker will continue to rehab in Houston for now rather than joining the major-league club on the road. He's been sidelined since early June.