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Colton Gordon Colton Gordon No-decision in major-league debut
Wed, May 14, 2025, 10:50 PM
Gordon didn't factor into the decision Wednesday against the Royals after allowing three runs on seven hits and two walks in 4.1 innings. He struck out three.
Analysis: Gordon mostly struggled in his major-league debut, yielding three extra-base hits and generating a mere two whiffs over his 85 pitches. It's unclear if the rookie left-hander will get another chance in Houston's current six-man rotation following Wednesday's shaky performance, but he does feature a strong 2.55 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 43:8 K:BB across 42.1 frames with Triple-A Sugar Land in 2025. Gordon's next outing tentatively lines up to come next week in a favorable matchup against the Rays, who have a poor .577 OPS versus left-handed pitching in their first 41 games. |
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Josh Hader Josh Hader Remains perfect in save situations
Wed, May 14, 2025, 9:51 PM
Hader picked up the save in Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Royals after allowing one walk in a scoreless ninth inning. He struck out one.
Analysis: Hader has now posted 14 scoreless outings out of 16 appearances in 2025. The All-Star left-hander has converted each of his 10 save opportunities, producing a 1.50 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 26:5 K:BB over 18 innings. Hader is locked in as Houston's closer so far. |
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Brendan Rodgers Brendan Rodgers Playing time trending down
Wed, May 14, 2025, 5:19 PM
Rodgers is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Royals.
Analysis: Rodgers has seemingly moved into a part-time role at the keystone, as he'll hit the bench for the third time in five games. Mauricio Dubon will get the nod at second base Wednesday, and Jose Altuve will also remain in the mix for playing time at the position on days that he's not playing left field or serving as a designated hitter. |
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Victor Caratini Victor Caratini Benefiting from Alvarez's absence
Wed, May 14, 2025, 5:16 PM
Caratini will start at catcher and bat sixth in Wednesday's game against the Royals.
Analysis: Caratini has been a beneficiary of Yordan Alvarez's (hand) recent move to the injured list, which has freed up a regular spot in the lineup at designated hitter. The Astros haven't settled on any one player to replace Alvarez, but because top backstop Yainer Diaz has been included in the DH rotation, Caratini has seen his playing time pick up. Caratini will be making his fourth start in five games Wednesday. |
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Cam Smith Cam Smith Sitting after four straight starts
Wed, May 14, 2025, 5:12 PM
Smith is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Royals.
Analysis: Smith will hit the bench after he occupied right field in each of the previous four games while going 3-for-13 with three walks, three runs and one RBI. With Jose Altuve shifting back to left field Wednesday after starting at second base and designated hitter in the first two games of the series, Zach Dezenzo will slide over to right field, leaving no room in the lineup for Smith. |
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Colton Gordon Colton Gordon Recalled ahead of MLB debut
Wed, May 14, 2025, 3:00 PM
The Astros recalled Gordon from Triple-A Sugar Land on Wednesday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Analysis: Gordon will make his major-league debut Wednesday with a start against the Royals. The left-hander has put up a 2.55 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 43:8 K:BB over 42.1 innings covering eight starts this season at Sugar Land and might make additional starts with the big club if he pitches well, as Houston plans to employ a temporary six-man rotation as it navigates a busy portion of the schedule lacking in off days. |
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Tayler Scott Tayler Scott Booted from 40-man roster
Wed, May 14, 2025, 2:57 PM
The Astros designated Scott for assignment Wednesday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Analysis: Scott has struggled in 2025 to replicate his success from last season, posting a 5.40 ERA and 16:12 K:BB over 16.2 frames. He had a 2.23 ERA and 71:35 K:BB across 68.2 innings in 2024, so Scott could draw interest via trade or waivers. |
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Isaac Paredes Isaac Paredes Walks it off with solo shot
Tue, May 13, 2025, 10:41 PM
Paredes went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 2-1 win over Kansas City.
Analysis: Paredes played the role of hero Tuesday, taking Royals right-hander John Schreiber deep for a walk-off home run in the ninth inning. The slugging infielder snapped a 16-game homerless skid, and he also tallied his ninth multi-hit game of the campaign. Paredes has at least one hit in 15 of his last 18 games, batting .308 with two long balls, five doubles, six RBI and nine runs scored over 65 at-bats in that span. |
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Framber Valdez Framber Valdez Highly efficient in no-decision
Tue, May 13, 2025, 9:33 PM
Valdez didn't factor into the decision Tuesday against the Royals after allowing one run on six hits and one walk in eight innings. He struck out seven.
Analysis: Valdez was highly efficient with his 89 pitches, inducing a whopping 12 groundouts and tossing eight innings for the second time this year. The star left-hander has experienced a few hiccups in 2025, but he's now fired at least six innings while giving up two runs or fewer in six of his nine starts this season. Valdez will carry a strong 3.54 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 51:18 K:BB across 56 innings overall into his next scheduled outing against the Rays, who have a miserable .571 OPS versus left-handed pitching over their first 40 games. |
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Yordan Alvarez Yordan Alvarez Will not be activated Tuesday
Tue, May 13, 2025, 12:45 PM
Astros manager Joe Espada confirmed that Alvarez (hand) will not be activated from the 10-day injured list when first eligible Tuesday, Matt Thomas of SportsTalk 790 in Houston reports.
Analysis: Espada did say that he expected Alvarez back soon, and indications are that it will likely be for the start of the team's series in Texas against the Rangers on Thursday. Alvarez is coming back from a right hand muscle strain and resumed hitting in the batting cage Monday. |
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Colton Gordon Colton Gordon Set for MLB debut Wednesday
Tue, May 13, 2025, 8:46 AM
The Astros will recall Gordon from Triple-A Sugar Land on Wednesday to make his major-league debut against the Royals, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Analysis: Gordon is off to a stellar start this season with Sugar Land, collecting a 2.55 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 43:8 K:BB over 42.1 innings covering eight starts. The left-hander could make additional starts with the big club after Wednesday's outing, as the Astros plan to temporarily maintain a six-man rotation amidst a stretch of the schedule without off days. |
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Ryan Gusto Ryan Gusto Clobbered in loss
Mon, May 12, 2025, 10:38 PM
Gusto (3-2) took the loss Monday against Kansas City, allowing seven runs on seven hits and three walks over 2.1 innings. He struck out one.
Analysis: The Houston right-hander looked rusty in this 68-pitch outing, as he hadn't pitched since May 4 and was filling in for Hayden Wesneski (elbow). The floodgates opened in the second when Michael Massey opened the frame with a solo homer, fueling a four-run, five-hit inning. Gusto fully unraveled in the third, as he allowed another run and departed after loading the bases. Reliever Tayler Scott would allow two additional runs to score. Despite this rough performance, Gusto should continue to occupy Wesneski's rotation spot while the latter is on the injured list. Gusto is currently in line to make his next start at Texas this weekend. |
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Brendan Rodgers Brendan Rodgers Not starting Monday
Mon, May 12, 2025, 5:47 PM
Rodgers is not in the Astros' starting lineup against the Royals on Monday.
Analysis: Rodgers will be on the bench to begin Monday's game while Jose Altuve starts at second base and bats second. Rodgers has reached base safely in nine straight games, but over that span he has slashed just .229/.270/.343 with six runs, one home run, three RBI and a 37.8 percent strikeout rate. |
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Yordan Alvarez Yordan Alvarez Hits in batting cage Monday
Mon, May 12, 2025, 4:26 PM
Alvarez (hand) hit in the batting cage prior to Monday's game against the Royals, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Alvarez is eligible for activation from the 10-day injured list Tuesday, and while a return that day has not been ruled out, it's looking like he has a better shot to be activated Thursday when the Astros begin a road trip. The slugger is working his way back from a right hand muscle strain. |
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Jose Altuve Jose Altuve Back in lineup Monday
Mon, May 12, 2025, 3:16 PM
Altuve (hamstring) will start at second base and bat second in Monday's game against the Royals, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Altuve exited Saturday's contest versus the Reds and didn't play Sunday because of a tight hamstring. However, he is feeling well enough to give it a go in Monday's series opener after missing just one start. |
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Colton Gordon Colton Gordon Could join rotation this week
Mon, May 12, 2025, 11:26 AM
Astros general manager Dana Brown said Sunday that Gordon is a candidate to be called up from Triple-A Sugar Land to start Wednesday's game against the Royals in Houston, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Houston recently kicked off a stretch of 17 games in as many days and are planning to at least temporarily maintain a six-man rotation to provide each starter with additional rest between outings. Hayden Wesneski's (elbow) move to the injured list Friday has created an opening in the rotation, and Gordon looks to be the most realistic option to fill the void. Gordon has yet to make his MLB debut, but he seems to have little left to prove at the Triple-A level after ringing up a 2.55 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 43:8 K:BB in 42.1 innings over his eight starts with Sugar Land. |
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Christian Walker Christian Walker Five RBI across weekend series
Mon, May 12, 2025, 8:57 AM
Walker went 2-for-2 with a walk, three RBI and a run scored Sunday against the Reds.
Analysis: Walker extended his hitting streak to seven games with a strong weekend series. He's struck out only 16.1 percent of the time across 31 plate appearances in that span while hitting .385 with six RBI and four runs scored. Since the start of May, Walker has raised his batting average from .198 to .225. |
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Yainer Diaz Yainer Diaz Goes deep in win
Sun, May 11, 2025, 7:59 PM
Diaz went 1-for-5 with a three-run homer in Sunday's win over the Reds.
Analysis: Diaz got the scoring started with his three-run shot in the third inning. It was his fourth home run of the year and first since May 2. Sunday was Diaz's 34th appearance of the season, and it's been a tale of two halves to begin his 2025 campaign. After posting an ugly .404 OPS through the first 17 games, he's gone 22-for-67 (.328) with three homers and 14 RBI over his last 17 contests. Diaz's OPS now sits at .652 through 135 plate appearances. |
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Ronel Blanco Ronel Blanco Dominates in victory
Sun, May 11, 2025, 7:32 PM
Blanco (3-3) allowed two hits and a walk over eight shutout innings Sunday, striking out 11 and earning a win over the Reds.
Analysis: Blanco was nearly untouchable in his dominant outing Sunday. He retired the first nine batters he faced and did not allow a runner to reach third base. It was his first career double-digit strikeout performance and his longest start since throwing a no-hitter April 1, 2024. Blanco threw 65 of 101 pitches for strikes and generated 16 whiffs, including nine with the slider. He dropped his ERA to 4.04 with a 43:17 K:BB through 42.1 innings. Blanco is currently lined up for a road start against the Rangers next weekend. |
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Logan VanWey Logan VanWey Returns to Triple-A
Sun, May 11, 2025, 1:19 PM
The Astros optioned VanWey to Triple-A Sugar Land on Sunday.
Analysis: The right-hander was called up by Houston on Friday and will return to Triple-A after giving up five runs over two innings Saturday versus the Reds. VanWey is being sent down to create roster space for Shawn Dubin (shoulder), who was reinstated from the injured list. |
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