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Cam Smith Cam Smith Launches eighth homer
Wed, Jun 24, 2026, 9:06 AM
Smith went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and an additional RBI in Tuesday's 9-7 win over the Blue Jays.
Analysis: Smith extended the Astros' lead to 3-0 with a 436-foot blast off Shane Bieber in the fourth inning, his eighth homer of the year, before adding a second RBI with a sacrifice fly that tied the game 6-6 in the ninth. The homer was Smith's first in 10 games -- he'd gone 7-for-33 (.212) in his previous nine contests. Overall, Smith is slashing .223/.301/.366 with 28 RBI and 31 runs scored across 299 plate appearances this season. |
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Taylor Trammell Taylor Trammell Homers Tuesday
Wed, Jun 24, 2026, 9:01 AM
Trammell went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 9-7 win over Toronto.
Analysis: Trammell extended Houston's lead to 4-0 in the fourth inning with his 421-foot blast off Shane Bieber, his first homer this season. Trammell, who'd gone just 2-for-14 in his previous 10 games, had been relegated to a bench role since Joey Loperfido was recalled from Triple-A in early June. Tuesday's start was Trammell's first in over a week. Overall, the outfielder is slashing .275/.333/.400 with eight RBI and 10 runs scored over 88 plate appearances this season. |
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Yainer Diaz Yainer Diaz Homers in win
Wed, Jun 24, 2026, 8:54 AM
Diaz went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 9-7 win over the Blue Jays.
Analysis: Diaz extended Houston's lead to 2-0 in the four inning with his 391-foot blast off Shane Bieber, his third homer of the year and first in five games following his returning from an oblique strain that had sidelined the catcher since early May. Overall, Diaz is slashing .246/.272/.373 with 16 RBI and nine runs scored through his first 125 plate appearances this season. |
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Jose Altuve Jose Altuve Crosses plate three times in win
Wed, Jun 24, 2026, 7:48 AM
Altuve went 3-for-6 with a double and three runs scored in Tuesday's 9-7 extra-innings win over the Blue Jays.
Analysis: The veteran second baseman was a pest on the basepaths all afternoon, as he scored three or more runs in a game for the first time since March 30. Altuve has multiple hits in three of his last five games, batting .381 (8-for-21) during that span as he shakes off a slump that had seen him slash .158/.220/.395 over his first 11 games since returning from an oblique strain in early June. |
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Joey Loperfido Joey Loperfido Gets extra-inning revenge Tuesday
Wed, Jun 24, 2026, 7:44 AM
Loperfido went 1-for-1 with a home run and four RBI in Tuesday's 9-7 extra-innings win over the Blue Jays.
Analysis: Traded from Toronto back to Houston over the winter, Loperfido came off the bench for a revenge game. The 27-year-old outfielder pinch hit for Jake Meyers and was credited with an RBI as part of a ninth-inning rally on a bases-loaded catcher's interference call, before slugging a game-winning, three-run homer off Braydon Fisher in the top of the 11th. The long ball was Loperfido's first of the season in 32 big-league games, and while he's batting just .154 (4-for-26) since returning to the 26-man roster in early June, three of the four hits have gone for extra bases and he's drawn six walks. |
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Peter Lambert Peter Lambert Early exit in no-decision
Wed, Jun 24, 2026, 7:39 AM
Lambert didn't factor into the decision in Tuesday's 9-7 extra-innings win over the Blue Jays, giving up two runs on six hits and three walks over 4.2 innings. He struck out six.
Analysis: Toronto ran up Lambert's pitch count early, and the right-hander was lifted after 92 pitches (52 strikes) with Houston ahead 4-2, although the lead changed hands a couple times after he left the mound. It was Lambert's shortest outing since April 30, but he still allowed three runs or fewer for a sixth straight start, a stretch in which he's gone 4-0 while posting a 2.97 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 29:14 K:BB over 33.1 innings. He'll look to get back in the win column in his next start, which lines up to come at home early next week against the Twins. |
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Joey Loperfido Joey Loperfido Exiting starting nine
Tue, Jun 23, 2026, 1:10 PM
Loperfido is not in the lineup for Tuesday's contest versus the Blue Jays.
Analysis: The left-handed-hitting Loperfido had started each of the last four games against righties, but he will take a seat Tuesday as Toronto sends righty Shane Bieber to the bump. Taylor Trammell will play left field. |
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Jake Meyers Jake Meyers Out of lineup Tuesday
Tue, Jun 23, 2026, 1:07 PM
Meyers is absent from the lineup for Tuesday's game in Toronto.
Analysis: Meyers is slashing only .188/.233/.294 in 31 games since coming off the injured list in mid-May, and he's now started only four of the past eight contests. Brice Matthews will patrol center field for the Astros on Tuesday. |
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Jeremy Pena Jeremy Pena Absent from Tuesday's lineup
Tue, Jun 23, 2026, 12:29 PM
Pena (hamstring) is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game in Toronto.
Analysis: Pena was forced to depart Monday's contest versus the Blue Jays with a right hamstring cramp. Astros manager Joe Espada said that Pena will go through a full pregame workout and could be available off the bench Tuesday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports. Raynel Delgado is covering shortstop for Houston on Tuesday. |
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Enyel De Los Santos Enyel De Los Santos Takes second loss
Tue, Jun 23, 2026, 6:54 AM
De Los Santos (0-2) took the loss Monday against the Blue Jays, allowing a run on two hits while striking out two over 1.1 innings.
Analysis: De Los Santos looked good in the sixth inning, setting down the top of Toronto's lineup in order, but he'd give up a pair of hits after coming back out in the seventh and ultimately took the loss in a 4-2 defeat. It's been a tough stretch of late for De Los Santos of late -- he's given up seven runs on nine hits in his last 6.1 innings. Overall, the right-hander sports a 4.32 ERA with a 1.11 WHIP and 33:8 K:BB across 33.1 innings this year. |
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Jeremy Pena Jeremy Pena Cramping in right hamstring
Mon, Jun 22, 2026, 9:49 PM
The Astros announced that Pena left Monday's game with a right hamstring cramp.
Analysis: Pena was removed from Monday's game in the sixth inning with what is now diagnosed as a right hamstring cramp. Houston's infield, specifically their depth at shortstop, has been brutalized by injuries this season with Carlos Correa (ankle), Braden Shewmake (thigh) and Nick Allen (hamstring) all on the injured list. |
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Hunter Brown Hunter Brown Lasts three innings vs. Blue Jays
Mon, Jun 22, 2026, 9:17 PM
Brown did not factor into the decision Monday against the Blue Jays, allowing one run on four hits and two walks while striking out four over three innings.
Analysis: The right-hander threw 54 of his 85 pitches for strikes but struggled to consistently find the zone, issuing two walks and plunking two batters. His lone run allowed came via Kazuma Okamoto, who led off the second inning with a solo homer. Despite lasting only three innings, Brown did not appear to be working under any workload limitations, as his pitch count suggests Houston is willing to let him work through trouble. Through two starts since returning, he has allowed just two runs across 8.2 innings while posting an 11:5 K:BB. Brown is scheduled to make his next start on the road against Detroit. |
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Jeremy Pena Jeremy Pena Leaves game early Monday
Mon, Jun 22, 2026, 8:19 PM
The Astros removed Pena from the game after fouling off a pitch mid-at-bat, reports Julia Morales of Space City Home Network.
Analysis: Brice Matthews replaced Pena at shortstop in the sixth inning after fouling off a pitch in the middle of his at-bat. The shortstop left the game with a trainer after going 1-for-2 with two stolen bases and a run scored. Houston has yet to announce the specificity of the injury Pena suffered. |
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Christian Vazquez Christian Vazquez Back in No. 2 role
Mon, Jun 22, 2026, 4:33 PM
Vazquez is out of the lineup for Monday's game in Toronto.
Analysis: After serving as the Astros' primary option behind the plate for about six weeks, Vazquez has moved down to the No. 2 spot on the depth chart following Yainer Diaz's return from the injured list last Tuesday. In the Astros' ensuing six games, Diaz has made four starts to Vazquez's two. |
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Cam Smith Cam Smith Hitting bench Monday
Mon, Jun 22, 2026, 4:30 PM
Smith is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Blue Jays.
Analysis: After going 1-for-9 with a walk and a run scored in the Astros' weekend series versus Cleveland, Smith will hit the bench as Houston kicks off a three-game set in Toronto. Joey Loperfido will step in for Smith in right field and will bat seventh. |
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Logan VanWey Logan VanWey Rejoins big-league bullpen
Mon, Jun 22, 2026, 3:20 PM
The Astros recalled VanWey from Triple-A Sugar Land on Monday.
Analysis: VanWey has retired nine of 10 batters faced in the big leagues this season, striking out five over three scoreless innings. He'll handle a low-leverage role out of the bullpen while he's up with Houston. |
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Bryan Abreu Bryan Abreu Placed on restricted list
Mon, Jun 22, 2026, 3:16 PM
The Astros placed Abreu on the restricted list Monday.
Analysis: Manager Joe Espada said Monday that Abreu is dealing with a personal matter, per Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports. It's unclear whether the reliever could rejoin the team before the end of its series in Toronto, or if it's likelier Abreu meets the Astros later this week in Detroit. Logan VanWey was promoted from Triple-A Sugar Land to replace Abreu on the active roster and in the bullpen. |
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Cristian Javier Cristian Javier Hits 75 pitches in rehab start
Mon, Jun 22, 2026, 9:53 AM
Javier (shoulder) struck out five and allowed three earned runs on five hits and three walks across 4.2 innings Sunday in his rehab start with Triple-A Sugar Land.
Analysis: Javier's control wasn't on point during Sunday's start -- the fourth of his rehab assignment -- but he was able to build up to 75 pitches (43 strikes) and looks ready to return from the 60-day injured list from a workload standpoint. He'll presumably join the Astros on their road trip this week and throw a bullpen session Tuesday or Wednesday before likely slotting back into the big-league rotation this weekend in Detroit. Javier, who has been on the shelf since April 10 due to a Grade 2 right shoulder strain, posted a 6.17 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 16:6 K:BB in 11.2 innings over his four starts between Sugar Land and Double-A Corpus Christi. |
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Nick Allen Nick Allen Nearing rehab assignment
Mon, Jun 22, 2026, 9:47 AM
Allen (hamstring) resumed taking batting practice and shagging flyballs over the weekend, MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Allen appears poised to head out on a rehab assignment in the near future, perhaps as soon as later this week. The 27-year-old has been on the shelf since June 8 due to a Grade 1 left hamstring strain and should serve as a utility infielder for Houston once he's activated. |
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LaMonte Wade Jr. LaMonte Wade Jr. Closing in on rehab assignment
Mon, Jun 22, 2026, 9:45 AM
Wade (hamstring) has resumed taking batting practice and shagging flyballs and is expected to head out on a minor-league rehab assignment soon, MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Houston deactivated Wade on the 10-day injured list June 9 after he was diagnosed with a right hamstring injury, but his ability to take part in baseball activities just over a week later suggests that he's dealing with just a mild strain. Wade likely won't need more than a handful of rehab games to prove his health, so he could return from the IL before the end of June if the Astros have room for him on the active roster. |
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