| News |
|---|
|
Spencer Arrighetti Spencer Arrighetti Strikes out six in no-decision
Sat, Jul 18, 2026, 7:15 PM
Arrighetti did not factor into the decision in Saturday's 4-2 extra-innings loss to the Orioles, allowing one run on one hit and four walks with six strikeouts over five innings.
Analysis: Arrighetti allowed only one hit and battled through control issues, limiting the damage despite throwing just 45 of 85 pitches for strikes. The 26-year-old has issued 16 walks with just a 55 percent strike rate over his past four outings, a stretch that includes two one-run performances and two eight-run blowups. He'll take a 4.34 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 87:48 K:BB across 87 innings this season into a road matchup with the White Sox next weekend. |
|
Christian Walker Christian Walker Dealing with hip tightness
Sat, Jul 18, 2026, 6:10 PM
Walker was removed from Saturday's game against the Orioles due to right hip tightness.
Analysis: Walker appeared to tweak his right hip on a swing during his plate appearance in the fourth inning. He'll undergo more tests to determine the severity of the injury, but if he were to miss extended time, then LaMonte Wade and Isaac Paredes would be in line to see more reps at first base. |
|
Jeremy Pena Jeremy Pena Nursing hamstring cramps
Sat, Jul 18, 2026, 6:05 PM
Pena was removed from Saturday's game against the Orioles due to a right hamstring cramp.
Analysis: Pena was removed from the third inning of Saturday's game after taking a swing at the plate. It's unclear whether his hamstring issue will prevent him from playing in Sunday's series finale. Nick Allen would likely start at shortstop if Pena is unable to play. |
|
Christian Walker Christian Walker Exits early Saturday
Sat, Jul 18, 2026, 4:31 PM
Walker was removed from Saturday's game against the Orioles with an apparent injury, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Walker was grabbing at his right side after taking a swing in the fourth inning and had to be removed from the game before he could finish his at-bat. The Astros will presumably send him in for imaging to determine what exactly he's dealing with, and an update on his status should come in the near future. |
|
Jeremy Pena Jeremy Pena Exits with injury
Sat, Jul 18, 2026, 4:09 PM
Pena was removed from Saturday's game against the Orioles due to an apparent leg injury, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Analysis: Pena was visited by one of the Astros' trainers after taking a swing in the third inning, and he appeared to be having problems with his right leg. He was able to stay in and complete the at-bat but was replaced on defense to begin the fourth. The severity of his injury remains unknown, but the Astros may offer an update in the near future. |
|
LaMonte Wade Jr. LaMonte Wade Jr. Riding pine against lefty
Sat, Jul 18, 2026, 12:17 PM
Wade is out of the lineup for Saturday's matchup against the Orioles, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: With southpaw Trevor Rogers on the hill for Baltimore on Saturday, Wade will be on the bench for Houston. The right-handed-hitting Zach Dezenzo will take over in left field for Wade and bat eighth for the Astros. |
|
Peter Lambert Peter Lambert Thrives with career-high 10 Ks
Fri, Jul 17, 2026, 11:22 PM
Lambert didn't factor into the decision Friday in a 3-2 loss against the Orioles, allowing just one run on three walks while striking out 10 in six innings.
Analysis: Lambert recorded his third quality start in a row despite picking up the no-decision in Friday's matchup with Baltimore. The 29-year-old set a new career high in strikeouts with 10, breaking his previous record of eight which he had set twice earlier this season. An RBI walk by Pete Alonso was the only run that Lambert gave up during his outing. On the year, Lambert has posted a 3.03 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 91:36 K:BB through 92 innings. |
|
Kai-Wei Teng Kai-Wei Teng Activated from IL
Fri, Jul 17, 2026, 3:18 PM
The Astros activated Teng (knee) from the 15-day injured list Friday.
Analysis: Teng had originally been optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land in late June, but the transaction was changed to a placement on the 15-day IL with a right knee sprain. Teng will rejoin Houston's bullpen after making 10 starts for the team. He has a 4.36 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 63:28 K:BB across 64 innings spanning 23 appearances this season. |
|
Brice Matthews Brice Matthews Sent to IL with sprained knee
Fri, Jul 17, 2026, 3:14 PM
The Astros placed Matthews on the 10-day injured list Friday with a left knee sprain.
Analysis: In a corresponding move, the Astros selected Lucas Spence's contract from Triple-A Sugar Land, and he'll man center field in his major-league debut Friday against Baltimore. Matthews was injured in the Astros' final game before the All-Star break. He's hitting .197 with seven homers, 22 RBI, 23 runs scored, four stolen bases and a 15:71 BB:K across 226 plate appearances this season. |
|
Headed to big leagues
Fri, Jul 17, 2026, 3:11 PM
The Astros selected Spence's contract from Triple-A Sugar Land on Friday.
Analysis: The 23-year-old is in the lineup, batting eighth and manning center field for Houston on Friday against the Orioles. It will be Spence's major-league debut after he slashed .246/.313/.386 with one homer, 12 RBI, seven runs scored, three stolen bases and a 5:22 BB:K across 17 games at Triple-A following his promotion from Double-A. |
|
Mike Burrows Mike Burrows Week away from mound work
Wed, Jul 15, 2026, 5:13 PM
General manager Dana Brown said Wednesday that Burrows (elbow) is expected to begin throwing off a mound within the next 7-to-10 days, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Burrows was placed on the injured list Monday due to right elbow neuritis. He remains without an official timeline, though the fact that he's at least a week out from resuming bullpen work suggests that he won't be ready to return after the 15-day minimum. Once he's healthy, the Astros are likely to option him back to Triple-A Sugar Land. |
|
Dealt to Houston
Wed, Jul 15, 2026, 2:47 PM
The Astros acquired Fielder from the Brewers on Wednesday in exchange for Lance McCullers (shoulder), Colton Gordon and cash considerations.
Analysis: It was a salary dump for the Astros, who were getting out from the remainder of McCullers' five-year, $85 million deal. Jadyn is the son of Prince Fielder and has spent the 2026 season with Single-A Wilson, where he's slashed .233/.415/.398 with three homers, 23 RBI, 34 runs scored, 10 stolen bases and a 33:43 BB:K across 176 trips to the plate. The Astros announced Fielder as an outfielder, though he's also played second base in the minors. |
|
Lance McCullers Jr. Lance McCullers Jr. Trade to Milwaukee being finalized
Wed, Jul 15, 2026, 10:00 AM
The Astros are in the process of finalizing a trade that will send McCullers (shoulder) to the Brewers on Wednesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: McCullers has been on the injured list due to a shoulder impingement since mid-May, but he's made three minor-league rehab starts and may only require one more rehab outing before getting cleared for big-league action. The veteran right-hander is in the final season of the five-year, $85 million extension he signed with the Astros in 2021 and has full no-trade protection, though he's apparently already approved the potential trade, per McTaggart. After missing the full 2023 and 2024 campaigns due to arm issues, McCullers returned to the mound last year and struggled to a 6.51 ERA in 16 regular-season appearances, and he posted similar numbers before landing on the injured list this year. The full terms of the trade may not be disclosed until it's finalized. |
|
Mike Burrows Mike Burrows Reverts to IL
Mon, Jul 13, 2026, 11:28 AM
The Astros nullified Burrows' previous optional assignment to Triple-A Sugar Land and placed him on the 15-day injured list Monday due to right elbow neuritis, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Analysis: Burrows didn't make any appearance for Sugar Land after being optioned to the affiliate last Tuesday, which enabled the team to reverse the prior transaction and place him on the IL instead. The right-hander has posted a 5.99 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 75:35 K:BB across 94.2 innings over his 18 appearances (17 starts) with Houston this season, and he'll likely be headed back to Sugar Land once he fully recovers from the elbow injury. |
|
Alimber Santa Alimber Santa Returning to minors
Mon, Jul 13, 2026, 11:24 AM
The Astros optioned Santa to Triple-A Sugar Land on Monday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Santa will open the second half in the minors after making two appearances out of the bullpen during his latest stint with the Astros. The young right-hander owns a 1.17 ERA and 0.91 WHIP over his first 15.1 innings in the big leagues, though a weak 5.1 K-BB% indicates that he hasn't been nearly as dominant as the other two ratios would suggest. |
|
Moving on to High-A
Mon, Jul 13, 2026, 10:26 AM
The Astros promoted Neyens from Single-A Fayetteville to High-A Asheville on Monday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Neyens will begin the second half of the season with the Astros' South Atlantic League affiliate after opening his professional career in impressive fashion at Fayetteville. The No. 21 overall pick in the 2025 First-Year Player Draft, Neyens totaled 14 home runs and 16 stolen bases while slashing .240/.449/.462 with a 25.9 percent walk rate and 30.2 percent strikeout rate across 305 plate appearances in the Carolina League. |
|
Cam Smith Cam Smith Homers in loss
Sun, Jul 12, 2026, 6:29 PM
Smith went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 6-5 loss to the Rangers.
Analysis: Smith had gone 0-for-11 with a sacrifice fly over his previous four games. He was well on his way to another poor showing, but he turned it around with an eighth-inning homer. The outfielder is batting .218 with a .669 OPS, 12 homers, 34 RBI, 39 runs scored, 13 doubles, one triple and nine stolen bases over 96 contests this season. |
|
Jose Altuve Jose Altuve Clubs homer in loss
Sun, Jul 12, 2026, 6:20 PM
Altuve went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 6-5 loss to the Rangers.
Analysis: Altuve went yard in the fourth inning to get the Astros on the board. The second baseman has homered three times over his last six games, though he's at just 11 long balls on the year. He's also batting .235 with a .711 OPS, 27 RBI, 45 runs scored, 13 doubles, one triple and two stolen bases across 74 contests. He's been declining for a few years, but his OPS would be his lowest since he had a .630 mark in the abbreviated 2020 campaign. |
|
Josh Hader Josh Hader Takes walk-off loss
Sun, Jul 12, 2026, 6:17 PM
Hader (3-1) allowed a run on three hits while failing to record an out, taking the loss Sunday versus the Rangers.
Analysis: Hader was called upon in a non-save situation Sunday, but he failed to keep the game tied at 5-5. He allowed a walk-off single to Brandon Nimmo. It's just the second time in 17 appearances Hader has given up a run this season, and he remains a perfect 10-for-10 in save chances. Hader has added a 1.17 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 25:8 K:BB over 15.1 innings as the Astros' unquestioned closer since making his season debut June 3. |
|
Cristian Javier Cristian Javier Shaky in three-inning start
Sun, Jul 12, 2026, 6:14 PM
Javier allowed three runs on four hits and three walks while striking out four over three innings in a no-decision versus the Rangers on Sunday.
Analysis: Javier made his first start and third appearance since returning from a three-month absence due to a shoulder injury. The results weren't great, as he struggled heavily in the second inning, though the Astros were able to get him off the hook later in the contest. Javier has pitched to a 9.98 ERA and 12:15 K:BB across 15.1 innings over six appearances (four starts) this season. With reinforcements on the way from the injured list in the latter part of July, Javier will need to show a better overall performance if he's to stay in the conversation for a rotation spot. |
Connect With Us:
