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Tatsuya Imai Tatsuya Imai Avoids trouble in relief
Thu, Aug 13, 2026, 7:36 AM
Imai did not factor into the decision Wednesday against the Giants, allowing three hits and two walks over three scoreless innings. He struck out three.
Analysis: Making his second appearance in relief for the Astros, Imai managed to work his way through danger, including a bases-loaded jam in the second inning, ultimately holding San Francisco scoreless. Imai has now delivered back-to-back scoreless outings out of the bullpen, allowing just three hits while striking out eight over six innings. Overall, his ERA sits at 5.29 this season with a 1.47 WHIP and 80:42 K:BB across 64.2 innings. |
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Josh Hader Josh Hader Notches 17th save
Wed, Aug 12, 2026, 6:37 PM
Hader turned in a perfect ninth inning to earn the save in Wednesday's 2-1 win over the Giants.
Analysis: Hader has been nearly untouchable of late, turning in nine straight hitless appearances (9.2 innings), issuing just two walks while striking out nine in that span. Hader improved to a perfect 17-for-17 in save chances this season while lowering his ERA to 0.96 with a 0.71 WHIP and 38:10 K:BB across 28 innings. |
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Ronel Blanco Ronel Blanco Available in relief Wednesday
Wed, Aug 12, 2026, 2:19 PM
Astros manager Joe Espada said that Blanco will be available out of the bullpen for Wednesday's game against the Giants, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Analysis: Blanco has struggled to the tune of a 6.98 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 17:11 K:BB over 19.1 innings while starting in his first four appearances since coming off the 60-day injured list July 20. The Astros will have reliever Bryan King open Wednesday's game and presumably cover an inning or two, but it's unclear if Espada intends to use Blanco or Tatsuya Imai in bulk relief, or if both pitchers will be called upon to eat innings. If Blanco ends up going unused Wednesday, he could step back into the rotation at some point during this weekend's series versus the Mariners. |
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Christian Walker Christian Walker Retreating to bench Wednesday
Wed, Aug 12, 2026, 2:08 PM
Walker is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Giants.
Analysis: Walker appears to be getting a planned day off after he had started in each of the Astros' last 14 games. LaMonte Wade will fill in at first base for Walker, who went hitless in 10 at-bats over his most recent three starts to bring his average down to .236 for the season. |
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Yainer Diaz Yainer Diaz Resting up Wednesday
Wed, Aug 12, 2026, 2:05 PM
Diaz is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Giants.
Analysis: The Astros will give Diaz a breather for Wednesday's matinee after he caught eight innings of a 4-1 loss Tuesday night. Christian Vazquez will step in behind the plate in place of Diaz. |
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Jose Altuve Jose Altuve Absent from Houston lineup
Wed, Aug 12, 2026, 12:25 PM
Altuve (foot) is out of the lineup for Wednesday's tilt in San Francisco.
Analysis: Altuve departed Tuesday's 4-1 loss after being hit on the left foot by a pitch. Astros manager Joe Espada said Wednesday that Altuve remains sore and will be evaluated by team doctors when the team returns home this weekend, according to Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle. Nick Allen will fill in for Altuve at second base Wednesday. |
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Tatsuya Imai Tatsuya Imai Bulk-relief outing likely awaits
Wed, Aug 12, 2026, 11:06 AM
Imai is expected to work in bulk relief behind opening pitcher Bryan King during Wednesday's game in San Francisco, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Analysis: The Astros haven't provided official word that Imai will pitch Wednesday, but he hasn't been used since Aug. 3 and didn't join the team's other relievers in the bullpen for Tuesday's 4-1 loss, which seemingly signaled that he was being saved for the series finale. Since being dropped from the rotation in late July, Imai has made two relief appearances and was sharp in his most recent outing, striking out five over three perfect innings. King will likely cover the first inning or two before giving way to Imai, who should be capable of providing a decent amount of length since he had only recently been removed from a starting role. |
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Jose Altuve Jose Altuve Exits after HBP
Tue, Aug 11, 2026, 9:26 PM
Altuve was removed from Tuesday's game against the Giants after getting hit on the foot by a pitch, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Analysis: Altuve took an 82-mph slider off his left foot in the first inning. He initially remained in the game afterward but was eventually replaced on defense in the bottom of the second. He was diagnosed with a contusion after his removal, which suggests that he avoided a fracture, though the Astros may still keep him out another game or two as a precaution. |
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Taylor Trammell Taylor Trammell Riding pine Tuesday
Tue, Aug 11, 2026, 5:56 PM
Trammell is absent from Tuesday's lineup against the Giants.
Analysis: Trammell will sit out the second game of a three-game set with the Giants after going 0-for-3 with two walks in Monday's series opener. Nelson Velazquez, who was recently claimed off waivers by the Astros, will take over in left field and bat sixth for Houston. |
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Jake Meyers Jake Meyers Sent to Triple-A
Tue, Aug 11, 2026, 3:44 PM
The Astros optioned Meyers to Triple-A Sugar Land on Tuesday, Julia Morales of Space City Home Network reports.
Analysis: With Nelson Velazquez joining Houston, Meyers is the odd man out in the outfield mix. After hitting .292 with a .727 OPS in 2025, Meyers has appeared in 54 games with the Astros this season but has slashed an ugly .213/.268/.326 with three homers, 11 RBI, 15 runs scored, one stolen base and a 10:31 BB:K across 153 plate appearances. |
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Carlos Correa Carlos Correa Progresses to tee work
Mon, Aug 10, 2026, 8:20 PM
Correa (ankle) has been cleared to hit off a tee, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Analysis: Correa was given the green light to swing a bat nearly one week ago, and he's since been able to progress to tee work. It remains to be seen whether he'll be able to return before the end of the season after undergoing ankle surgery in May, but a timeline should come into focus as he continues to ramp up baseball activities. |
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Mike Burrows Mike Burrows Making rehab start Friday
Mon, Aug 10, 2026, 7:16 PM
Burrows (elbow) will make a rehab start for Triple-A Sugar Land on Friday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Burrows tossed 55 pitches over three innings at Houston's complex Saturday, and as previously reported, he'll make his next appearance at Triple-A. He figures to need at least a few rehab starts for Sugar Land, and he may remain in the minors once deemed healthy, as the Astros had optioned him to Triple-A Sugar Land on July 7 before later placing him on the injured list, which nullified the demotion. |
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Yainer Diaz Yainer Diaz Taking seat Monday
Mon, Aug 10, 2026, 6:08 PM
Diaz is absent from the lineup for Monday's game in San Francisco.
Analysis: Diaz started at catcher in Sunday's contest versus the Padres, but he will exit the lineup Monday for the second time over the last three games. Christian Vazquez will be behind the dish and will bat ninth for the Astros. |
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Shay Whitcomb Shay Whitcomb Scrubbed from 40-man roster
Mon, Aug 10, 2026, 3:08 PM
The Astros designated Whitcomb for assignment Monday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: The transaction frees a spot on the 40-man roster for the addition of waiver claim Nelson Velazquez. Whitcomb has slashed just .167/.216/.292 in his limited opportunities at the big-league level the past three seasons. The 27-year-old has hit .265/.342/.479 at the Triple-A level and can play all over the field defensively, so he could draw interest via waivers. |
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Nelson Velazquez Nelson Velazquez Claimed off waivers by Houston
Mon, Aug 10, 2026, 3:04 PM
The Astros claimed Velazquez off waivers from the Cardinals on Monday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Velazquez had been booted off the Cardinals' 40-man roster this past weekend after slashing .216/.289/.432 with four home runs over 83 plate appearances. The 27-year-old is a candidate to get some starts in the outfield against left-handed pitching. |
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Cam Smith Cam Smith Sitting Sunday
Sun, Aug 9, 2026, 4:41 PM
Smith is out of the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Padres, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Analysis: Smith will head to the bench after he went 3-for-7 with two solo home runs, a walk and three runs scored over the first two games of the series. Taylor Trammell will slot in as Houston's right fielder while LaMonte Wade will enter the lineup in left field in the series finale in San Diego. |
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Jason Alexander Jason Alexander Healthy again at Triple-A
Sun, Aug 9, 2026, 4:12 PM
Alexander (undisclosed) has struck out eight and allowed four earned runs on eight hits and three walks over eight innings between two appearances for Triple-A Sugar Land since being reinstated from the 7-day injured list July 30.
Analysis: The 33-year-old righty was stuck on Sugar Land's IL for about six weeks due to an unspecified injury. Alexander possesses a spot on the Astros' 40-man roster, but he's unlikely to get a look in the big leagues in the near future unless Houston loses multiple starters or long relievers to injury. |
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Mike Burrows Mike Burrows Nearing rehab stint
Sat, Aug 8, 2026, 4:46 PM
Burrows (elbow) threw 55 pitches over three innings at the Astros' complex Saturday and will next make a rehab start with Triple-A Sugar Land, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Burrows is progressing toward a return from right elbow inflammation, which has kept him out of game action since July 6. It's unclear how many rehab appearances the right-hander will make, but he had been slated to be optioned prior to landing on the IL, so Burrows may not be added back to the MLB roster once he's ready to be activated. |
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Yainer Diaz Yainer Diaz Out of lineup Saturday
Sat, Aug 8, 2026, 4:36 PM
Diaz isn't in the starting lineup Saturday versus San Diego.
Analysis: Diaz will get a deserved rest after starting behind the plate in each of Houston's previous four games. Christian Vazquez is getting a turn at catcher in Diaz's stead against the Padres. |
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Cristian Javier Cristian Javier Getting another start Sunday
Sat, Aug 8, 2026, 4:15 PM
Javier will start Sunday's game against San Diego, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: After making two straight appearances out of the bullpen in late July, Javier moved back into the rotation this past Monday. He took the loss against Toronto but pitched relatively well, giving up three runs on seven hits with two strikeouts and no walks over a season-high six innings. That was good enough for Houston to award him another start, and he'll go up against a Padres club that has scored the fifth-most runs in the league since the All-Star break. |
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