Astros' Kyle Tucker: Running at full speed

Astros manager Joe Espada said Tuesday that Tucker (shin) has begun sprinting and is close to running the bases, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

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 might need before being activated from the 60-day injured list, but he and the Astros have been tentatively aiming for an early-September return.