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Jose Altuve Jose Altuve Might avoid rehab assignment
Wed, May 27, 2026, 5:42 PM
Astros manager Joe Espada said Wednesday that the Astros could have Altuve (oblique) simulate at-bats rather than embark on a rehab assignment, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Espada relayed that Altuve has been healing at an "incredible" pace, with the latter having already progressed to swinging at 75-to-80 percent effort. Given the veteran second baseman's recovery from a Grade 2 left oblique strain, he may take simulated at-bats in lieu of a rehab assignment and be back with the Astros quicker than anticipated. |
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Cristian Javier Cristian Javier Slated for live BP
Wed, May 27, 2026, 5:26 PM
Javier (shoulder) is scheduled to throw a live batting practice session Friday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Javier is ready to take the next step in his recovery from a Grade 2 right shoulder strain that landed him on the injured list in mid-April. He'll continue to throw bullpen sessions and live batting practices until he's progressed enough to embark on a rehab assignment. The expectation is that Javier will need multiple starts in the minors, so he may not be ready to be activated from the IL until early July. |
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Josh Hader Josh Hader Final steps of rehab assignment
Wed, May 27, 2026, 5:20 PM
Hader (biceps) will pitch for Triple-A Sugar Land on Wednesday and Thursday, which should represent his final steps before he's activated from the 60-day injured list, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Hader embarked on his minor-league rehab assignment in early May, and across seven outings he has allowed one run on four hits and one walk while striking out 11 batters over seven innings. Per Brian McTaggart of MLB.com on Sunday, Hader is expected to be activated from the 60-day IL in the first week of June, so he's unlikely to be available for the Astros' weekend series against the Brewers. However, the left-hander could be activated for Houston's following series against Pittsburgh that starts Tuesday. |
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Isaac Paredes Isaac Paredes Not in Wednesday's lineup
Wed, May 27, 2026, 4:26 PM
Paredes is not in the Astros' starting lineup against the Rangers on Wednesday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Analysis: Paredes will get a breather after going 0-for-8 over the first two games of the series against Texas. Brice Matthews and Braden Shewmake will start at second and third base, respectively, in Wednesday's game. |
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Logan VanWey Logan VanWey Rejoins big-league bullpen
Wed, May 27, 2026, 4:03 PM
The Astros recalled VanWey from Triple-A Sugar Land on Wednesday.
Analysis: VanWey will give manager Joe Espada a fresh bullpen arm. He's made two scoreless appearances for the Astros this season and holds a 7.20 ERA, but he's fashioned an impressive 27:7 K:BB across 20 frames at Sugar Land in 2026. |
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Jason Alexander Jason Alexander Optioned to Triple-A
Wed, May 27, 2026, 4:01 PM
The Astros optioned Alexander to Triple-A Sugar Land on Wednesday.
Analysis: Alexander saved the Astros' bullpen Tuesday against the Rangers by managing to go six innings despite allowing eight runs in the opening frame. Nevertheless, he will head back to the minors as Houston adds Logan VanWey to the bullpen. |
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Cam Smith Cam Smith Homers Tuesday
Wed, May 27, 2026, 6:49 AM
Smith went 1-for-3 with a solo homer and an additional run scored in Tuesday's 10-7 loss to the Rangers.
Analysis: Smith cut the Astros' deficit to 9-6 in the eighth inning with a two-out, 457-foot blast off Jalen Beeks, his fifth homer this year. Smith has slowly started to turn things around at the plate -- he's logged at least one hit in six straight contests, going 7-for-21 with a .940 OPS in that span, after going just 2-for-26 in his previous 11 games. Overall, Smith is slashing .213/.307/.337 with 24 runs scored, 18 RBI and seven steals across 205 plate appearances this season. |
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Jeremy Pena Jeremy Pena Tallies first homer
Wed, May 27, 2026, 6:44 AM
Pena went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Tuesday's 10-7 loss to the Rangers.
Analysis: Pena made things interesting in the ninth inning with a 454-foot blast off Jacob Latz, his first homer this season, cutting Houston's deficit to 10-7. The home run was also Pena's first extra-base hit in eight games since he returned from a month-long IL stint. After batting .304 with 17 homers, 20 steals and an .840 OPS across 125 games in 2025, the 28-year-old Pena is slashing .247/.309/.342 with five RBI, 11 runs scored and two stolen bases across 81 plate appearances this year. |
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Jake Meyers Jake Meyers Getting rest Tuesday
Tue, May 26, 2026, 4:28 PM
Meyers isn't in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Rangers, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Meyers will get a break after going 0-for-5 with a run scored during Monday's contest. While he rests, Taylor Trammell, Brice Matthews and Cam Smith will form the Astros' outfield trio. |
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Zach Dezenzo Zach Dezenzo Sitting Tuesday
Tue, May 26, 2026, 4:25 PM
Dezenzo isn't in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Rangers, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Dezenzo will get a breather Tuesday after going 0-for-2 with a walk and a run scored during Houston's win in Monday's series opener. Taylor Trammell starts in left field, batting fifth. |
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Christian Vazquez Christian Vazquez Idle Tuesday
Tue, May 26, 2026, 4:22 PM
Vazquez isn't in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Rangers, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Vazquez will take a seat Tuesday after going 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored during Monday's series opener. Cesar Salazar will fill in behind the plate and bat ninth. |
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Taylor Trammell Taylor Trammell Activated from injured list
Tue, May 26, 2026, 3:51 PM
The Astros activated Trammell (groin) from the 10-day injured list Tuesday.
Analysis: Trammell was shelved for more than a month with a left groin strain but has been cleared to return after going 4-for-16 with a pair of home runs across four rehab games. With Zach Cole back in the minors and Joey Loperfido (quad/foot) having recently suffered a setback, the left-handed-swinging Trammell could see playing time versus right-handed pitching. He'll slot into the starting nine right away in Tuesday's game against the Rangers, occupying left field and batting fifth. |
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Zach Cole Zach Cole Dispatched back to Triple-A
Tue, May 26, 2026, 3:47 PM
The Astros optioned Cole to Triple-A Sugar Land on Tuesday.
Analysis: Cole had started only three of the past seven games, and he's sported an untenable 39.6 percent strikeout rate in 18 games with the Astros this season. He's clearing off the active roster to make room for the return of Taylor Trammell (groin). |
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Christian Walker Christian Walker Blasts another three-run homer
Mon, May 25, 2026, 10:33 PM
Walker went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Monday's 9-0 win over the Rangers.
Analysis: Amid the Astros' no-hit bid, Walker broke the game wide open with a line-drive, three-run homer to extend the lead to 7-0 in the seventh inning. It was deja vu for the first baseman, as it marked the second consecutive game in which he launched a three-run homer to left-center field after taking Shota Imanaga deep Sunday. On the heels of a relatively disappointing first campaign with Houston in 2025, Walker has re-emerged as a feared slugger at the plate in 2026, slashing .265/.339/.540 with 15 homers, 10 doubles, 40 RBI and 32 runs across 55 games. |
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Yordan Alvarez Yordan Alvarez Slugs 16th homer
Mon, May 25, 2026, 10:25 PM
Alvarez went 1-for-3 with a home run, an additional RBI and a walk in Monday's win over the Rangers.
Analysis: After sitting out Sunday's contest due to back spasms, Alvarez returned to the lineup and got back to mashing, tallying a sacrifice fly in the first inning before blasting a 110.6 mph rocket over the right-center field wall for a solo homer in the fourth frame. The star designated hitter entered Monday's game in a mini-slump, going 4-for-25 (.160) across the previous three series. On the year, the 28-year-old has been one of the top hitters in MLB, slashing .301/.415/.606 with 16 homers, 11 doubles, 33 RBI, 32 runs and a stolen base across 54 games. |
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Alimber Santa Alimber Santa Secures combined no-hitter in debut
Mon, May 25, 2026, 9:44 PM
Santa threw two perfect innings while striking out one in Monday's 9-0 win over the Rangers.
Analysis: Following Tatsuya Imai and Steven Okert, Santa's big-league debut was one to remember as he recorded the final six outs to secure the first no-hitter of the 2026 campaign. Prior to having his contract selected Friday by the Astros, the right-hander posted a 1.42 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 24:7 K:BB across 19 innings with Triple-A Sugar Land. |
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Tatsuya Imai Tatsuya Imai Logs six frames in no-hitter
Mon, May 25, 2026, 9:33 PM
Imai (2-2) earned the win Monday, allowing no hits and four walks over six scoreless innings against Texas. He struck out two.
Analysis: Imai totaled just six whiffs and matched a season high with four walks, but he kept the Texas lineup at bay through 97 pitches (57 strikes) before departing after six innings. Steven Okert and Alimber Santa handled the final three frames to complete the first no-hitter of the 2026 season. While the no-hitter is an incredible accomplishment for both Imai and Houston, simply turning in an effective outing was also significant for the southpaw, who has struggled mightily during his first MLB campaign. Despite Monday's gem, Imai still owns a 6.17 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 23:18 K:BB across 23.1 innings (six starts). He'll look to build off the performance next time out, which is tentatively scheduled for Sunday against Milwaukee. |
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Hunter Brown Hunter Brown Shifting rehab to Triple-A
Mon, May 25, 2026, 4:21 PM
Brown (shoulder) will make his next rehab start this weekend at Triple-A Sugar Land, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Brown opened his rehab assignment Sunday with Double-A Corpus Christie, when he struck out five batters while allowing one hit across two scoreless innings. He'll make his next rehab start in Triple-A and is aiming to be activated from the 60-day injured list in mid-June, per McTaggart. Brown is in the final stages of his recovery from a Grade 2 right shoulder strain that landed him on the IL in early April. |
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Joey Loperfido Joey Loperfido Dealing with foot injury
Mon, May 25, 2026, 4:18 PM
Astros manager Joe Espada told reporters Monday that Loperfido (quadriceps) will pause his rehab assignment until Wednesday after fouling a ball off his foot during Sunday's game with Double-A Corpus Christie, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Loperfido started his rehab assignment in Double-A on Sunday, when he went 0-for-2 with two strikeouts and a hit-by-pitch. He sustained a foot injury during that contest, but it doesn't appear to be a serious issue as he's expected to be back in action Wednesday. Loperfido continues to recover from a right quadriceps strain that landed him on the 10-day injured list in mid-April. |
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Yordan Alvarez Yordan Alvarez Back in Astros' lineup
Mon, May 25, 2026, 3:47 PM
Alvarez (back) will start at designated hitter and bat third in Monday's game versus the Rangers.
Analysis: Alvarez was pulled from Saturday's contest against the Cubs due to back spasms and then didn't play in Sunday's series finale, though the slugger contended it was unrelated to the back issue and it was merely a scheduled day off. Either way, he's back in there for Monday's tilt. |
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