Castro was removed from Houston's World Series roster due to COVID-19 protocols Saturday, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Castro has tested positive for the virus, per Mark Berman of Fox 26. The move probably won't have a major impact on Houston's plans, as Castro wasn't slated to see much playing time as the team's backup catcher, a role which will now be filled by Garrett Stubbs. Castro was one of the team's better pinch-hitting options, however, so he'll be at least a modest loss during Game 4 and Game 5 in Atlanta.

Castro went 3-for-4 with a three-run home run in an 8-6 loss to Oakland on Friday.

EDGE Analysis

Castro singled in the second and fourth innings and laced a three-run shot in the eighth to cap a four-run inning for Houston and nearly complete a comeback. The veteran backstop has been hot since being activated from the IL Sep. 17 with a .474/.550/1.000 slash line in 19 at-bats.

Castro replaced an injured Martin Maldonado (shoulder) during Wednesday's 7-0 loss to Tampa Bay.

EDGE Analysis

Maldonado injured his left shoulder while making a diving catch off a bunt attempt to end the fourth inning. He stayed in the game to play defense in the fifth but was removed to start the sixth when he was scheduled to bat. Castro, who singled in two at-bats, will start if Maldonado is deemed unavailable for Thursday's series finale.

Castro went 1-for-5 with a solo home run Wednesday in a win over the Angels.

EDGE Analysis

Facing the team he played for during part of last season, Castro slugged a fifth-inning solo shot to right field to pad an early Astros lead. The long ball was the fifth in what has been an injury-plagued campaign for the veteran backstop. Castro has gone 3-for-9 with two RBI since returning from his latest stint on the IL on Sept. 17.

Castro (knee) was activated from the 10-day injured list ahead of Friday's game against the Diamondbacks, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Castro has been on the injured list since Aug. 29 with right knee discomfort. He began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Sugar Land on Monday and wound up going 2-for-6 with a pair of walks and a run scored across two games. He should resume serving as Martin Maldonado's backup going forward, but per Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle, he's set to start behind the plate Friday and bat ninth.

Astros manager Dusty Baker said Sunday that Castro (knee) will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Sugar Land during the upcoming week, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

Baker didn't provide a specific day for the start of Castro's rehab assignment, but the veteran catcher looks like he'll soon be ready to take the next step forward in his recovery program after he caught a bullpen session Sunday. Castro has been on the shelf since Aug. 29 with the right knee injury.

Castro (knee) was spotted taking part in batting practice prior to Wednesday's game against the Mariners, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

Castro has been taking part in a variety of baseball activities in recent days after landing on the 10-day injured list Aug. 29 with right knee discomfort, but the Astros will likely want to see him catch multiple bullpen sessions and/or simulated games without incident before activating him. Until Castro is ready to go, Garrett Stubbs will serve as the top understudy to No. 1 catcher Martin Maldonado.

Castro (knee) has started to squat, hit off a tee and run on an anti-gravity treadmill, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. The catcher was placed on the injured list Aug. 29.

EDGE Analysis

Astros general manager James Click remains hopeful that this will be "a very short-term thing," which suggests Castro could return before the end of the regular season. "The returns right now have been very positive," Click said Sunday on the team's pregame radio show. While Castro is unavailable, the Astros have Garrett Stubbs as a backup and added veteran backstop Drew Butera to the organization on a minor-league deal. They also brought catcher Michael Papierski onto its taxi squad for the road trip that ended Sunday in San Diego.

The Astros placed Castro on the 10-day injured list Sunday with right knee discomfort, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

Manager Dusty Baker said prior to Sunday's series finale with the Rangers in Arlington that Castro has already returned to Houston to get his knee examined. Castro didn't appear in the Astros' first two games of their series with Texas, so his injury may have stemmed from his appearance as a defensive replacement in Wednesday's game against the Royals. Houston called up Garrett Stubbs from Triple-A Sugar Land to step in for Castro as the No. 2 catcher behind Martin Maldonado.

Castro went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a strikeout in a 5-3 loss to Minnesota on Thursday.

EDGE Analysis

Castro tagged Minnesota starter Griffin Jax for a 351-foot bomb in the sixth to get Houston on the board but failed to do anything else productive at the dish. The veteran backstop has provided quality on base numbers despite a low average and minimal power with a .196/.339/.333 slash line in 102 at-bats this season.