Odorizzi ready for two-game stint at Sugar Land

Astros pitcher Jake Odorizzi said he is slated to begin a two-game rehab assignment with Class AAA Sugar Land on Friday, 5½ weeks after he injured his ankle during his May 16 start in Boston.

Odorizzi’s injury appeared gruesome at first but turned out to be strained tendons in his left ankle, an outcome he called a “best case” scenario. He has been on the injured list since May 17 and is scheduled to start Friday for the Space Cowboys against Tacoma at Constellation Field in what will be his first game action in more than a month.

The Astros went from a six-man starting rotation back to a traditional fiveman setup after Odorizzi’s injury. Astros manager Dusty Baker said Tuesday he is unsure what the rotation will look like once Odorizzi is ready to rejoin the club.

“He’s worked hard to get back to that point, so I’m sure he’s anxious to get back on the mound,” Baker said. “He’ll probably have to have a couple assignments to get his workload in. So we’re excited about it and excited to get him back.”

Peña takes swings for first time

Shortstop Jeremy Peña fielded ground balls and swung a bat Tuesday for the first time since left thumb discomfort sidelined him.

The Astros placed Peña on the injured list retroactive to June 14 after he landed on his hand while diving in a loss to the Rangers.

Peña plans to take more swings in his next session and then face a live arm.

“We kept it light, but the swings I did take felt pretty good,” he said. “I know tomorrow we’re gonna ramp it up a little bit.”

While Peña is eligible to be activated later this week while the Astros are at Yankee Stadium, no timetable for his return has been provided.

Alvarez returns after one game

Yordan Alvarez returned to the Astros’ lineup Tuesday against the Mets after missing one game with an unspecified hand injury.

Alvarez made an early exit from Saturday’s 7-0 loss to the White Sox after hurting himself on a swing and did not play in Sunday’s series finale at Minute Maid Park.

“That’s like having Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, one of those big boys in there in the heart of the lineup,” Baker said.

Utilityman Aledmys Díaz, who also left Saturday with what the Astros described as “left shoulder discomfort,” was still out.

Cowboys win on Hensley’s HR

David Hensley hit a three-run walkoff homer in the 10th inning Tuesday night to give the Sugar Land Space Cowboys a 3-1 victory over Tacoma at Constellation Field.

For the first time in their history, the Space Cowboys played a game that was scoreless through nine innings. Andrew Knapp’s RBI groundout gave Tacoma a 1-0 lead in the top of the 10th. After Lewis Brinson walked with a runner at second to start the Sugar Land 10th, Hensley delivered his oppositefield homer to right off Matt Brash.

Starter Shawn Dubin, Joe Record, Enoli Paredes and Ronel Blanco teamed on a two-hitter for Sugar Land.