Houston Astros general manager Dana Brown said on KBME-AM in Houston on Sunday that outfielder Ben Gamel (leg) is likely done for the year due to a left-fibula fracture. Gamel injured his knee running into the fall to make a catch against the Los Angeles Angels on Sept. 14. "Most likely probably takes him out for the postseason," Brown said. "It's really a shame because he was playing really well." The 32-year-old came to Houston after being cut from the New York Mets' roster. He ended up playing in just 38 total games in 2024 and hit .247 (20-for-81) with one homer and four RBI in 99 plate appearances with the Mets and Astros. He was much better in his 20 games in Houston, batting .259 (15-for-58) with a homer and four RBI. With Gamel out for the rest of the way as the club gets set for another playoff appearance, the left-handed-hitting Jason Heyward will benefit from platoon work in the outfield.

Chicago White Sox Cuban catching prospect Edgar Quero was added to the taxi squad for the last week of the regular season, according to sources. Quero could be activated to the active roster this Tuesday to make his major-league debut at home against the Los Angeles Angels. He is baseball's 59th-ranked prospect, per MLB Pipeline, and is the team's No. 4 prospect. The 21-year-old could debut against his former team after the Angels traded him to Chicago last summer. In 98 games this year with Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte, Quero has hit .280/.366/.463 with an .829 OPS, 16 home runs, 70 RBI and 41 runs scored. He missed some time with a back injury but has been good since his return and seemed to handle Triple-A pitching just fine. Quero is the future at the position in Chicago and should be stashed in dynasty/keeper leagues.

Houston Astros right-hander Tayler Scott (spine) will be sidelined for the rest of the 2024 regular season but could return at some point in the American League wild-card series. Scott has been one of the team's best relievers this year, posting a 2.23 ERA while appearing in a career-high 62 games and throwing 68 2/3 innings, but he's currently recovering from a thoracic spine strain. The 32-year-old veteran landed on the 15-day injured list over the weekend, and his injury explains why he was pretty bad of late. In five outings in the month of September before going on the IL, Scott allowed four earned runs on nine hits (one homer) while walking five and striking out four in 5 2/3 innings. Getting Scott back for the postseason would be big for Houston's bullpen, but only if he can rediscover his form from earlier this year.

Houston Astros general manager Dana Brown said on KBME-AM in Houston on Sunday that outfielder Chas McCormick (hand) will start swinging a bat on Monday with the hope that he can return for the final weekend of the regular season against the Cleveland Guardians. McCormick suffered a small fracture in his right hand on Sept. 10 while chasing a fly ball in Houston and crashing into the outfield wall. He said the fracture is on a bone just below his index finger. Barring a setback, though, the Astros should have McCormick available for the postseason in October, although he's unlikely to have a big role. Before his injury, he had started seven games in a row and was 9-for-23. It came after the 29-year-old struggled for much of the year and was sent to Triple-A Sugar Land. McCormick has hit .211/.271/.306 with a career-worst .576 OPS, five homers, 27 RBI and eight steals in 94 games in 2024.

Even though Houston Astros right-hander Luis Garcia (elbow) was ruled out for the rest of the 2024 season last month, he is throwing bullpen sessions and is set to advance to live batting practice sessions as the end of the regular season nears. Garcia suffered a setback when he experienced a sore elbow on Aug. 2, which eventually ended his return from Tommy John surgery that he had in 2023. Before needing TJ surgery, Garcia had been a workhorse for the Astros in previous seasons. Houston was hoping that they could maybe have the 27-year-old as an option in the postseason, but that won't be the case. He made just two minor-league rehab appearances this summer before being shut down. If Garcia doesn't have any more setbacks this offseason, the Venezuelan hurler could be a nice fantasy sleeper with a career 3.61 ERA and 1.16 WHIP in four MLB seasons in Houston.