Astros and Dodgers Rotations Near Full Strength as Key Arms Hit Crucial All-Star Break Rehab Milestones

The Major League Baseball All-Star break is traditionally a period of rest and recalibration, but for several high-profile pitchers on the Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers, the mid-July pause marks a critical acceleration in their rehabilitation programs.[1][4]

As both clubs jockey for postseason positioning in their respective leagues, the impending return of frontline starters and elite relievers offers a midsummer boost that no trade deadline acquisition could easily match.[4][5]

In the Astros organization, the focus is squarely on the minor league affiliates, where a trio of key arms is making significant strides toward rejoining the major league rotation.[1]

Veteran right-hander Lance McCullers Jr., sidelined with a right rotator cuff impingement, is scheduled to make his fourth minor league rehab start on July 17 for the Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks.[1]

Joining the rehab wave in the Astros system is Hayden Wesneski, who is diligently working his way back from a torn right ulnar collateral ligament (UCL).[1]

Wesneski took a massive step forward on July 11, making his second rehab start for the Triple-A Sugar Land Space Cowboys. He threw 61 pitches—landing 45 for strikes—over 4 2/3 impressive innings.[1]

Ronel Blanco, also recovering from a torn right UCL, is slated to make his next start for Sugar Land on July 12, signaling that Houston's pitching depth is on the verge of a massive, simultaneous reinforcement.[1]

Out West, the Los Angeles Dodgers are receiving similarly encouraging news regarding their star-studded pitching staff, which has been battered by injuries throughout the first half of the 2026 campaign.[1][5]

Tyler Glasnow, dealing with lower back spasms, officially started a bullpen progression on July 11, a crucial first step toward ramping his arm back up for the rigors of the National League West pennant race.[1]

Meanwhile, left-hander Blake Snell, recovering from loose bodies in his left elbow, threw his first live batting practice session on July 11. The Dodgers anticipate Snell could begin a formal minor league rehab assignment immediately following the All-Star break.[1]

The Dodgers' bullpen is also nearing full strength, with elite reliever Edwin Díaz—who underwent a procedure for loose bodies in his right elbow—beginning a rehab assignment with the Single-A Ontario Tower Buzzers on July 11.[1]

While the Dodgers and Astros celebrate these milestones, the break also provides a necessary pause for other ailing stars who need immediate medical intervention.[1]

Dodgers two-way phenom Shohei Ohtani was scratched from his final first-half pitching start against the Arizona Diamondbacks due to ongoing left knee inflammation.[1]

Ohtani will forgo the All-Star Game festivities in Philadelphia to receive targeted interventions on his knee, ensuring the discomfort he feels during his pitching delivery is resolved for the second half.[1]

Across the league, the grueling nature of the 162-game season continues to take its toll on other contenders. The Diamondbacks placed ace Zac Gallen on the 15-day injured list with right elbow inflammation just days before the break.[2]

The Texas Rangers also suffered a significant blow, losing World Series MVP Corey Seager to the injured list with lingering back issues, while the Baltimore Orioles lost breakout utilityman Blaze Alexander to a fractured hand after a hit-by-pitch.[2][3]

Yet, for Houston and Los Angeles, the narrative heading into the break is overwhelmingly positive. The successful rehab outings of McCullers, Wesneski, Blanco, Glasnow, Snell, and Díaz represent a shifting tide in their respective clubhouses.[1]

As the August trade deadline looms, these returning arms will serve as internal acquisitions, providing fresh, high-leverage innings without the cost of premier prospect capital.[4][5]