Valdez (elbow) said he's scheduled to play catch Tuesday and hopes to return from the 15-day injured list when first eligible, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
The quick return to throwing bodes well for the left-hander after he landed on the injured list with elbow inflammation, though that hardly guarantees a quick return from the IL. The Astros should provide more clarity on Valdez's outlook after he throws Tuesday.