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AJ Blubaugh AJ Blubaugh Earns first career save
Sun, Aug 2, 2026, 9:45 PM
Blubaugh recorded his first major-league save Sunday against the Rangers, striking out one over 1.1 scoreless innings.
Analysis: With five relievers, including Josh Hader, having pitched the previous night, Blubaugh was called upon with two outs and two runners aboard in the eighth inning. He escaped the jam by striking out Jake Burger before retiring the Rangers in order on just nine pitches in the ninth to secure the first save of his MLB career. The right-hander has now recorded consecutive scoreless appearances for the first time since July 1, though he has continued to miss bats throughout that stretch, compiling a 21:3 K:BB across 16 innings. |
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Peter Lambert Peter Lambert Fans eight in no-decision
Sun, Aug 2, 2026, 9:25 PM
Lambert did not factor into the decision Sunday against the Rangers, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out eight over 5.2 innings.
Analysis: Lambert was perfect through his first four innings, piling up seven strikeouts before Texas finally broke through. In the fifth, the right-hander allowed four consecutive baserunners to begin the inning, resulting in the only two runs charged to him. Lambert has now held opponents to two runs or fewer in 11 of his last 12 starts while posting a 2.63 ERA during that stretch. He's scheduled to make his next start Saturday against the Padres. |
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Cristian Javier Cristian Javier Getting start Monday
Sun, Aug 2, 2026, 4:05 PM
Javier is scheduled to start Monday's game against the Blue Jays, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: It will be the fifth start of the season for Javier, who came out of the bullpen in his past two appearances and allowed just four hits with a 9:0 K:BB across six scoreless innings. The right-hander has a 3.00 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 17:6 K:BB over 12 frames in five appearances since returning from a shoulder strain in early July. |
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LaMonte Wade Jr. LaMonte Wade Jr. Moving to bench Sunday
Sun, Aug 2, 2026, 1:08 PM
Wade is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rangers.
Analysis: Wade had started in left field in the first two games of the series, going 2-for-5 with a double, a walk, two RBI and a run scored between those contests. He'll exit the lineup Sunday while Yordan Alvarez receives a turn in left field, but Wade still looks to have a hold on at least a semi-regular spot in the lineup versus right-handed pitching. |
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Taylor Trammell Taylor Trammell Emerging as primary center fielder
Sun, Aug 2, 2026, 1:06 PM
Trammell will start in center field and bat fifth in Sunday's game against the Rangers.
Analysis: Trammell will stick in the lineup for a seventh straight game after getting on base at a .423 clip over the prior six contests while adding two home runs, five runs and four RBI. He appears to have usurped Lucas Spence as the Astros' preferred option in center field. |
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Lucas Spence Lucas Spence Losing out to Trammell in CF
Sun, Aug 2, 2026, 1:04 PM
Spence is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rangers.
Analysis: On the bench for the fourth time in the past five games, Spence appears to have faded into a reserve role while Taylor Trammell has emerged as the Astros' preferred option in center field. Since receiving his first big-league call-up July 17, Spence has hit just .162 while striking out at a 36.6 percent clip. He could be headed back to Triple-A Sugar Land in the near future if playing time remains difficult to come by. |
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Yainer Diaz Yainer Diaz Taking seat Sunday
Sun, Aug 2, 2026, 1:01 PM
Diaz is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rangers.
Analysis: Diaz will get a chance to catch his breath after he started behind the dish in each of the Astros' previous three contests. Christian Vazquez will handle catching duties for Houston in the series finale. |
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Ronel Blanco Ronel Blanco Allows three runs in no-decision
Sat, Aug 1, 2026, 9:39 PM
Blanco did not factor into the decision in Saturday's 5-4 win over the Rangers, allowing three runs on five hits and two walks with four strikeouts over 4.2 innings.
Analysis: Blanco allowed three runs over the third and fourth innings, throwing 53 of 82 pitches for strikes and falling one out shy of qualifying for his first win of the season. The 32-year-old has now yielded 12 earned runs and five homers over three outings with the Astros, though Saturday marked the first time he didn't surrender multiple long balls. He'll take a 7.36 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 16:8 K:BB across 14.2 innings into a road matchup with the Padres next weekend. |
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Josh Hader Josh Hader Cruises to 15th save
Sat, Aug 1, 2026, 9:26 PM
Hader earned the save in Saturday's 5-4 win over the Rangers, striking out one in a perfect ninth inning.
Analysis: Hader was summoned to close out a one-run lead in the ninth inning and did so on just 10 pitches. The veteran southpaw remains a perfect 15-for-15 in save chances this season, and he hasn't allowed a hit over his past five outings. On the year, he owns a 1.17 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and 34:10 K:BB across 23 innings while holding opponents scoreless in 22 of 25 appearances. |
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Jeremy Pena Jeremy Pena Three RBI in rout
Fri, Jul 31, 2026, 11:08 PM
Pena went 3-for-5 with a double, three RBI and one run scored in Friday's 11-2 win over the Rangers.
Analysis: Pena set the tone from the top of the order, driving in a run on a single in the fourth inning before smacking a two-run double in the seventh. The 28-year-old has now hit safely in 12 straight games to open the second half, tallying six homers, 12 RBI and 16 runs scored during that stretch. He's battled injuries this year but has been excellent when healthy, slashing .317/.370/.508 with 12 homers, 34 RBI, 51 runs scored and eight steals across 270 plate appearances. |
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Isaac Paredes Isaac Paredes Goes deep in rout
Fri, Jul 31, 2026, 11:04 PM
Paredes went 2-for-3 with a home run, two walks and two RBI in Saturday's 11-2 win over the Rangers.
Analysis: Paredes was a consistent contributor all night, highlighted by a solo shot in the fifth inning. Despite entering the contest in a 1-for-17 skid over his previous four games, the 27-year-old finishes July with an .836 OPS and 15 RBI in 23 games. For the year, he's slashing .257/.352/.428 with 15 homers, 60 RBI and 44 runs scored across 443 plate appearances. |
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Yainer Diaz Yainer Diaz Stays hot Friday
Fri, Jul 31, 2026, 10:54 PM
Diaz went 4-for-5 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Friday's 11-2 win over the Rangers.
Analysis: Diaz was a thorn in the Rangers' side all game, highlighted by a solo shot in the seventh. The 27-year-old has now posted back-to-back four-hit efforts with a home run, and he'll finish July with an .891 OPS and five homers over 16 games. For the year, he's slashing .261/.287/.427 with eight long balls, 26 RBI and 24 runs scored across 209 plate appearances. |
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Hunter Brown Hunter Brown Solid again in win
Fri, Jul 31, 2026, 10:41 PM
Brown (3-1) earned the win against the Rangers on Friday, allowing two runs on six hits and two walks with five strikeouts over 5.2 innings.
Analysis: Brown opened with five scoreless innings before allowing two runs in the sixth, falling one out shy of a quality start at a season-high 104 pitches. The 27-year-old generated only nine whiffs but yielded just four hard-hit balls en route to his second straight victory. He owns a 3.42 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 55:30 K:BB across 52.2 innings this season and lines up for a home matchup with the Blue Jays next week. |
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Tatsuya Imai Tatsuya Imai Moving to bullpen
Fri, Jul 31, 2026, 4:19 PM
Astros manager Joe Espada said Friday that Imai will be moving to the bullpen for the team's weekend series against the Rangers, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Analysis: Imai struggled in his last start against the Angels on Monday, when tossed only 12 of 33 pitches for strikes and allowed two runs on one hit and four walks while striking out one batter over two-thirds of an inning. He was in line to start in Sunday's series finale, and while a replacement has yet to been announced, Chandler Rome of The Athletic suggested Thursday that Peter Lambert could be on the mound on short rest. |
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Mike Burrows Mike Burrows Completes live BP session
Fri, Jul 31, 2026, 3:17 PM
Burrows (elbow) threw a 35-pitch live batting practice session Friday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Analysis: It's the first time the right-hander has faced hitters since he landed on the 15-day injured list in mid-July with right elbow neuritis. Burrows had initially been optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land before the injury was discovered, so he could head there once healthy rather than rejoining the big club. |
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Carlos Correa Carlos Correa Begins running progression
Fri, Jul 31, 2026, 3:08 PM
Correa (ankle) has begun light on-field baseball activities as well as a running progression, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Correa underwent season-ending left ankle surgery in May. Nothing has changed regarding Correa's timetable, but being able to re-incorporate baseball activities in late July gives him a good chance to enter the offseason without any restrictions. |
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Braden Shewmake Braden Shewmake Re-signs with Houston
Fri, Jul 31, 2026, 3:06 PM
The Astros re-signed Shewmake to a minor league deal and assigned him to Triple-A Sugar Land on Friday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: After spending over three months with Houston to start the season before being traded to Milwaukee, Shewmake is back with the Astros. Between Houston and Milwaukee this season, the 28-year-old has slashed .259/.270/.424 with three home runs in 91 plate appearances. |
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LaMonte Wade Jr. LaMonte Wade Jr. Idle Wednesday
Wed, Jul 29, 2026, 5:52 PM
Wade isn't in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Angels, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Wade will miss out on the starting nine for a second consecutive game after going just 2-for-28 since the All-Star break. Taylor Trammell, Lucas Spence and Cam Smith will form Houston's outfield trio while Wade sits. |
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Hayden Wesneski Hayden Wesneski Activated ahead of start
Wed, Jul 29, 2026, 4:47 PM
The Astros reinstated Wesneski (elbow) from the injured list ahead of his start Wednesday against the Angels.
Analysis: Wesneski's start will mark his first appearance on a big-league mound since May 2025, as he's been on the shelf for more than a year recovering from Tommy John surgery. The right-hander has made five appearances in the minor leagues over the past month, however, turning in a 2.25 ERA and 1.00 WHIP alongside a 21:4 K:BB in 20 innings. Miguel Ullola was optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land in a corresponding move. |
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Miguel Ullola Miguel Ullola Back in minors
Wed, Jul 29, 2026, 4:42 PM
The Astros optioned Ullola to Triple-A Sugar Land on Wednesday.
Analysis: Ullola gave up three earned runs in just one inning after getting called up Sunday, and he'll now lose his spot in the Astros' bullpen in order to make room for Hayden Wesneski's (elbow) return from the IL. Ullola owns a 4.92 ERA and 1.40 WHIP through 53 innings at Sugar Land and could make a few more appearances for Houston down the stretch as a replacement for a tired arm. |
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