ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Astros will welcome no second-half addition more than Carlos Correa, their star shortstop whose absence is soon to exceed a month.



Yet as the defending World Series champions opened play Friday after the All-Star break, a timetable for Correa’s return was as much as mystery as it had been the week before.



Correa, who hasn’t played since June 25 because of an injury the Astros have described as “back soreness,” still isn’t scheduled for his inevitable minor-league rehab assignment, the length of which grows as his absence prolongs. As the team plays out its five-game trip to Anaheim and Denver into next week, Correa will continue to rehab in Houston.



About a week ago, the Astros had hoped Correa would begin his rehab assignment during the All-Star break. Those hopes ended when, after swinging a bat late last week, Correa “didn’t feel great,” manager A.J. Hinch said, a development that...