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Jose Altuve Jose Altuve Played through painful foot injury
Tue, Oct 7, 2025, 1:03 PM
Altuve said during the final weekend of the regular season that he played through a "pretty painful" right foot injury and would visit with doctors in the offseason before determining a treatment plan, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Altuve injured his foot in mid-September and missed one game before gutting it out over the final two weeks of the regular season. It's unclear whether Altuve has met with doctors yet to have the foot examined. Altuve finished the 2025 season with a .265/.329/.442 batting line, 26 home runs and 10 stolen bases over 155 games. The 35-year-old split his time fairly evenly between second base, left field and designated hitter, and it's uncertain where the Astros will have Altuve slotted in in 2026. |
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Luis Garcia Luis Garcia Requires UCL, flexor surgery
Fri, Oct 3, 2025, 3:01 PM
Garcia's right elbow surgery Wednesday involved a reconstruction of his UCL and repair of his flexor tendon, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: The Astros had already previously ruled Garcia out for next season, and now the team has offered more details regarding the operation on Garcia's pitching arm. It's the second time Garcia has had his UCL repaired, as he missed most of the last two seasons following Tommy John surgery. The 2026 season is the final one Garcia is under team control, so he will likely be non-tendered this offseason. |
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Colton Gordon Colton Gordon Earns win in relief
Sun, Sep 28, 2025, 6:14 PM
Gordon (6-4) earned the win against the Angels on Sunday, allowing one walk while striking out three across five scoreless innings. He did not yield a hit.
Analysis: Lance McCullers took care of the first three innings of Sunday's regular-season finale before Gordon entered for the fourth frame. Gordon put on a dominant display, allowing just one baserunner while generating eight whiffs on 68 pitches (45 strikes). The 26-year-old southpaw made his major-league debut May 14 and bounced back and fourth between the big club and Triple-A Sugar Land. Gordon will end his first season in the majors with a 6-4 record and one save across 20 games (14 starts) with a 5.34 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 72:19 K:BB across 86 innings. |
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Yainer Diaz Yainer Diaz Smacks homer in season finale
Sun, Sep 28, 2025, 5:17 PM
Diaz went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and an RBI single during the Astros' 6-2 win over the Angels on Sunday.
Analysis: Diaz got Sunday's scoring started with an RBI single in the first inning before giving the Astros a 2-1 lead with a solo shot in the fifth. His long shot was his 20th of the season, and he has reached the 20-homer mark in two of the last three years. With the Astros eliminated from playoff contention, Diaz will end the year with a .256/.284/.417 slash line with one steal, 56 runs, 25 doubles and 70 RBI over 567 plate appearances. |
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Lance McCullers Jr. Lance McCullers Jr. No-decision in season finale
Sun, Sep 28, 2025, 5:13 PM
McCullers did not factor into Sunday's decision against the Angels, allowing one run on two hits and one walk while striking out four across three innings.
Analysis: McCullers was activated from the 15-day injured list Saturday after recovering from a right hand injury. He gave up a solo homer to Mike Trout in the first before keeping the Angels off the board over the next two frames, but he did return to the mound for the fourth frame after tossing 54 pitches (35 strikes). McCullers will end the 2025 regular season with a 2-5 record across 16 games (13 starts) with a 6.51 ERA, 1.81 WHIP and 61:39 K:BB over 55.1 innings. The 32-year-old right-hander is under contract with Houston through 2026. |
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Isaac Paredes Isaac Paredes Getting Sunday off
Sun, Sep 28, 2025, 1:36 PM
Paredes is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Angels.
Analysis: With Houston having been officially eliminated from playoff contention following Saturday's action, Paredes and other key regulars will sit for the season finale. Jesus Sanchez will serve as the Astros' designated hitter in place of Paredes, who went 5-for-27 (.185) with one home run, three RBI and two runs while starting eight consecutive games following his Sept. 19 reinstatement from the injured list. |
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Carlos Correa Carlos Correa Sitting out season finale
Sun, Sep 28, 2025, 1:33 PM
Correa is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Angels.
Analysis: With Houston having been officially eliminated from playoff contention following Saturday's action, Correa and other key regulars will sit for the season finale. Ramon Urias will step in at third base in place of Correa, who rebounded with a .290/.355/.430 slash line, six home runs, 21 RBI and 23 runs in 51 games with the Astros after being acquired from the Twins on July 31. |
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Jose Altuve Jose Altuve Taking seat Sunday
Sun, Sep 28, 2025, 1:30 PM
Altuve is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Angels.
Analysis: With Houston having been officially eliminated from playoff contention following Saturday's action, Altuve and other key regulars will sit for the season finale. Brice Matthews will step in at second base in place of Altuve, who has hit .265 with 26 home runs, 10 stolen bases, 77 RBI and 80 runs over 155 games on the campaign. |
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Jeremy Pena Jeremy Pena Shelved to end season
Sun, Sep 28, 2025, 1:29 PM
The Astros placed Pena (oblique) on the 10-day injured list Sunday.
Analysis: Pena had sat out the Astros' last six games due to a left oblique strain, and with Houston officially getting eliminated from playoff contention following Saturday's action, he won't be called on to play in Sunday's season finale. The Astros recalled outfielder Jacob Melton from Triple-A Sugar Land in a corresponding move, but the team hasn't suggested that Pena's oblique strain will affect his offseason plans. The shortstop put together his best campaign in the majors so far, besting his previous career high in OPS by 125 points. |
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Christian Walker Christian Walker Idle for season finale
Sun, Sep 28, 2025, 1:29 PM
Walker is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Angels.
Analysis: With Houston having been officially eliminated from playoff contention following Saturday's action, Walker and other key regulars will sit for the season finale. Victor Caratini will step in at first base in place of Walker, who has hit .238 with 27 home runs, two stolen bases, 88 RBI and 72 runs over 154 games during his first campaign in Houston. |
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Jacob Melton Jacob Melton Recalled to start in finale
Sun, Sep 28, 2025, 1:26 PM
The Astros recalled Melton from Triple-A Sugar Land on Sunday. He'll start in center field and bat ninth in the season finale versus the Angels.
Analysis: With one game remaining in the season and the Astros having been officially eliminated from playoff contention, Melton will join Houston after shortstop Jeremy Pena (oblique) was placed on the injured list. Over 73 plate appearances with the big club this season, Melton has slashed .149/.219/.179 with a 38.4 percent strikeout rate. |
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Brice Matthews Brice Matthews Back in big leagues
Sat, Sep 27, 2025, 7:02 PM
Matthews was called up from Triple-A Sugar Land on Saturday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Analysis: Matthews will return to the major-league roster after being sent down Aug. 26, batting .209 with four home runs, 17 RBI, 12 runs scored and 11 stolen bases over 24 games following his demotion. Matthews will replace Jake Meyers (calf) with the big-league club after Meyers was placed on the 10-day injured list Saturday. |
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Jake Meyers Jake Meyers Placed on IL
Sat, Sep 27, 2025, 7:00 PM
Meyers (calf) was placed on the 10-day injured list Saturday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Analysis: Meyers has been dealing with right calf soreness for a few days, and he'll now be forced to miss the conclusion of the regular season. The outfielder would be eligible to return to action if Houston were to make the postseason and ultimately advance to the ALDS. In the meantime, Brice Matthews was called up from Triple-A Sugar Land on Saturday to replace Meyers with the Astros. |
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Nick Hernandez Nick Hernandez Dropped from 40-man roster
Sat, Sep 27, 2025, 6:55 PM
Hernandez was designated for assignment by the Astros on Saturday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Hernandez was dropped from the 40-man roster to make room for Lance McCullers on the major-league roster after McCullers was activated from the 15-day injured list Saturday. Hernandez made five appearances with Houston after being called up from Triple-A Sugar Land on Sept. 10, surrendering two runs on four hits and three walks, while striking out four over 4.0 innings. |
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Lance McCullers Jr. Lance McCullers Jr. Activated from IL
Sat, Sep 27, 2025, 6:52 PM
McCullers (hand) was activated from the 15-day injured list Saturday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: McCullers will make his return to the major-league roster with just two games left in the regular season. The 31-year-old has been sidelined since Sept. 12 with right hand soreness, and he was described to be "highly unlikely" to return to action in September by general manager Dana Brown, but he appears to have done so. McCullers has posted a 6.71 ERA and 1.85 WHIP with 57 strikeouts over 52.1 innings in 15 appearances, including 12 starts, with Houston this season. In a corresponding move, Nick Hernandez was designated for assignment Saturday. |
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Jake Meyers Jake Meyers Not in Saturday's lineup
Sat, Sep 27, 2025, 5:50 PM
Meyers (calf) isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Angels, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Meyers was a late scratch from Friday's lineup due to right calf soreness, and he'll now remain on the bench to begin Saturday's contest. Taylor Trammell, Zach Cole and Jesus Sanchez will form Houston's outfield trio while Meyers rests. |
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Jeremy Pena Jeremy Pena Out again Saturday
Sat, Sep 27, 2025, 5:46 PM
Pena (oblique) isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game versus the Angels, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Saturday will mark the sixth consecutive game that Pena has missed due to his strained left oblique. The Astros are still considering him day-to-day for now, but he only has one more chance to return to the starting nine before the regular season ends. Mauricio Dubon will start at shortstop again and bat eighth. |
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AJ Blubaugh AJ Blubaugh Returning to starting role Saturday
Sat, Sep 27, 2025, 5:00 PM
Blubaugh is slated to start Saturday's game against the Angels in Anaheim, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: The rookie right-hander has handled a versatile role for the Astros down the stretch, as he'll be making his second start in September after having yet to yield a run while striking out 17 and scattering five hits and four walks across 14 innings. Though he'll be taking the hill Saturday on six days' rest, Blubaugh may not be stretched out enough to reach the five innings he would need to qualify for a win. Most likely, the Astros will plan for an abbreviated start for Blubaugh before turning to a slew of higher-leverage bullpen arms to close out the contest as Houston looks to remain alive in the AL wild-card race. |
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Christian Walker Christian Walker Slugs homer No. 25
Sat, Sep 27, 2025, 9:19 AM
Walker went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 4-3 loss to the Angels.
Analysis: The veteran first baseman took Kyle Hendricks deep in the fourth inning to open the scoring. Walker had a rough start to his first campaign in Houston, but since the beginning of July he's slashing .261/.316/.467, a performance in line with his last few years with Arizona. Friday's homer was Walker's 25th, a mark he's reached in four straight seasons, and he needs four more RBI in the final two games to reach 90 for the third time in his career. |
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Jason Alexander Jason Alexander Can't complete five frames Friday
Sat, Sep 27, 2025, 9:14 AM
Alexander didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 4-3 loss to the Angels, giving up two runs on four hits and a walk over 4.2 innings. He struck out four.
Analysis: The 32-year-old righty has crashed back to earth after blanking the Blue Jays over seven innings back on Sept. 10. Alexander has failed to complete five innings in any of his last three starts, stumbling to an 8.44 ERA, 1.78 WHIP and 10:3 K:BB in 10.2 innings while serving up four homers, including a Mike Trout solo shot Friday. The Astros are on the brink of being eliminated from the playoffs -- they need to win their last two games, and have either the Guardians or Tigers lose both their final contests -- but if the squeak in, it's not clear what role Alexander might have on the postseason staff. He wraps up the regular season having posted a 3.66 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 60:21 K:BB over 71.1 innings for Houston. |
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