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Tatsuya Imai Tatsuya Imai Plays catch Thursday
Thu, Apr 16, 2026, 3:19 PM
Imai (arm) played catch at Daikin Park on Thursday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Analysis: Imai landed on the injured list Monday due to right arm fatigue, but imaging came back clean and he has begun a throwing progression. The right-hander is eligible to return later this month, but a timetable for Imai rejoining the Astros' rotation won't be available until he further ramps things up. |
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Peter Lambert Peter Lambert In line to start Friday
Thu, Apr 16, 2026, 2:50 PM
The Astros have added Lambert to their taxi squad and appear poised to give him a start Friday against the Cardinals, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Analysis: The Astros have Lance McCullers starting Saturday and Mike Burrows on Sunday but currently have Friday's starter listed as TBA. Barring something unforeseen, that assignment will go to Lambert, who will need to be added to the 40-man roster. Lambert boasts a 1.84 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 12:3 K:BB over 14.2 innings at Triple-A Sugar Land and will be on six days' rest Friday. He last pitched in the majors in 2024 with the Rockies. |
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Spencer Arrighetti Spencer Arrighetti Fans 10, earns win Wednesday
Thu, Apr 16, 2026, 9:45 AM
Arrighetti (1-0) earned the win Wednesday against the Rockies after tossing six innings of one-run ball, striking out 10 while allowing two hits and four walks.
Analysis: The four free passes were a bit concerning for Arrighetti, who tossed 61 of his 100 pitches for strikes, but he delivered an excellent performance in what was a strong matchup on paper. Given all the injuries in the Astros' rotation, Arrighetti isn't going back to Triple-A Sugar Land any time soon, and he lines up to make his next start next week on the road against the Guardians. |
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Josh Hader Josh Hader Approximately one month out
Thu, Apr 16, 2026, 4:47 AM
Hader (biceps) threw 20 pitches in a live batting practice session Tuesday and said afterward that it was akin to his first live BP of spring training, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: McTaggart notes Hader was sitting 91-to-93 mph with his fastball during the live session, and he says given Hader's quotes about where he is in his recovery the southpaw is "perhaps about a month away from returning, without any setbacks." Hader, who is working his way back slowly from a bout of left biceps tendinitis, added, "I'm feeling good, feeling strong. I got through it throwing relatively hard and commanded the baseball in the zone, commanded the slider, getting good whiffs on it. Ideally, that's what you want." Meanwhile, Bryan Abreu has struggled in the ninth inning for the Astros this season, opening the door for Enyel De Los Santos to earn a couple saves in recent days. |
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Enyel De Los Santos Enyel De Los Santos Another save for Houston
Thu, Apr 16, 2026, 4:25 AM
De Los Santos earned the save with a perfect ninth inning in a 3-1 victory over the Rockies on Wednesday. He struck out two.
Analysis: The 30-year-old right-hander has now earned saves on consecutive days for Houston, career saves No. 4 and 5, as De Los Santos appears to be entering the closer mix in the absence of Josh Hader (biceps) and in light of Bryan Abreu's struggles this season. Abreu pitched 1.1 scoreless innings in Wednesday's victory, setting up the save chance for De Los Santos after Bryan King did as much Tuesday. De Los Santos' fastball velocity is down a couple ticks to around 94 mph this season, but it seems to be by design since he's cut his walk rate by more than half in the early going, an improvement that has helped fuel a 1.35 ERA and 0.75 WHIP through six appearances and 6.2 innings so far in 2026. |
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Ryan Weiss Ryan Weiss Starting Thursday
Wed, Apr 15, 2026, 10:27 PM
Weiss will start Thursday's game against the Rockies, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Weiss has been hit around quite a bit during his last two outings, conceding nine runs (eight earned) on 12 hits and four walks while striking out eight batters over five innings. However, the Astros are running low on options with seven starting pitchers currently on the injured list, so the 29-year-old righty will be called upon to make his first MLB start. He'll at least benefit from a favorable matchup, as the Rockies rank in the bottom third of MLB with a .681 OPS. |
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Taylor Trammell Taylor Trammell Heading to bench Wednesday
Wed, Apr 15, 2026, 5:11 PM
Trammell is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rockies.
Analysis: After getting called up from Triple-A Sugar Land on Friday, Trammell has started in three of the Astros' ensuing six games while going a collective 4-for-13 with a double, two walks, three RBI and two runs. He'll likely be part of a timeshare in center field with Joey Loperfido until Jake Meyers (oblique) is ready to return from the injured list. |
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Jose Altuve Jose Altuve Receiving night off
Wed, Apr 15, 2026, 5:06 PM
Altuve is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rockies.
Analysis: Per Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle, manager Joe Espada said that Altuve's absence from the lineup is a routine rest day after the 35-year-old infielder started each of Houston's first 18 games. Isaac Paredes will spell Altuve at second base and will bat third. |
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Cody Bolton Cody Bolton Placed on IL with back injury
Wed, Apr 15, 2026, 3:29 PM
The Astros placed Bolton on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with mid-back inflammation, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Bolton was lifted from his previous start Sunday against the Mariners with a back issue that had lingered since his previous outing. The injury doesn't seem to be a long-term issue, but the loss of Bolton for any period of time represents yet another blow to the Astros' rotation depth. |
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Spencer Arrighetti Spencer Arrighetti Recalled for season debut
Wed, Apr 15, 2026, 3:18 PM
The Astros recalled Arrighetti from Triple-A Sugar Land on Wednesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Arrighetti is set to start Wednesday's game at home against the Rockies in what will be his first start with the big club this season. The right-hander had been in a groove with Sugar Land, authoring a 1.26 ERA, 0.77 WHIP and 20:6 K:BB over 14.1 innings in his first three starts. The Houston rotation has been decimated by injuries, providing Arrighetti with an opportunity to stick around indefinitely. |
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Brandon Bielak Brandon Bielak Grabs minors deal from Astros
Wed, Apr 15, 2026, 9:19 AM
The Astros signed Bielak to a minor-league contract Wednesday, Tread Athletics reports.
Analysis: Bielak missed most of the 2025 season following shoulder surgery, but he's healthy now and was sitting in the 90-to-93 mph range recently while pitching for Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos of the Mexican League. Most of the 30-year-old's major-league experience has come with the Astros, though Bielak's last stint in the big leagues came in 2024 with the Athletics. He should be assigned to Triple-A Sugar Land, but it's unclear whether Houston intends to use him as a starter or reliever. |
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Yainer Diaz Yainer Diaz On bench Tuesday
Tue, Apr 14, 2026, 5:42 PM
Diaz is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Rockies, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Analysis: Diaz started the previous three games and will receive a day off after going 2-for-11 with a solo homer and an additional RBI during that stretch. Christian Vazquez will work behind the plate and bat ninth versus Colorado righty Michael Lorenzen. |
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Spencer Arrighetti Spencer Arrighetti Set to start against Colorado
Tue, Apr 14, 2026, 4:38 PM
Arrighetti will be recalled from Triple-A Sugar Land to start against the Rockies on Wednesday or Thursday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Houston's rotation has been hit hard by injuries, losing Cristian Javier (shoulder) and Tatsuya Imai (arm) within the past week alone. Arrighetti will come up to fill one of the vacancies, and his first matchup will come at home against a Rockies offense that's struggled to a .674 OPS through its first 16 games. |
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Tatsuya Imai Tatsuya Imai Imaging comes back clean
Tue, Apr 14, 2026, 4:33 PM
Imaging on Imai's right arm came back negative, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Imai landed on the injured list Monday due to right arm fatigue, but he doesn't appear to be dealing with a structural issue. The team now plans to build up the 27-year-old's arm strength before having him begin a throwing progression. It remains unclear how soon he will be able to return to the Astros' rotation. |
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Josh Hader Josh Hader Throwing live BP
Tue, Apr 14, 2026, 3:46 PM
Hader (biceps) is throwing live batting practice Tuesday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: The veteran left-hander has been throwing bullpen sessions for a while and has finally been cleared to face live batters after sitting out all of spring training due to biceps inflammation. Making his season debut for the Astros before the end of April still appears to be in play. However, early May seems more realistic for Hader given that he's likely to require a handful of rehab outings in the minors before being fully cleared. |
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Mike Burrows Mike Burrows Hit hard in third loss
Mon, Apr 13, 2026, 6:03 PM
Burrows (1-3) took the loss Monday against the Mariners, allowing six runs on 11 hits and one walk in six innings. He struck out three.
Analysis: Although Burrows fired 69 of his 98 pitches for strikes and amassed 17 swinging strikes, he was perhaps a bit too haphazard in targeting the zone Monday. The Mariners tagged him for four-extra base hits, with two leaving the yard off the bat of Josh Naylor, and Burrows wound up giving up a career-high 11 hits and matching a career worst in runs allowed. The 26-year-old right-hander is off to a rocky start in his Astros tenure, posting a 6.55 ERA, 1.82 WHIP and 18:7 K:BB over 22 frames, but he'll have an opportunity to turn things around in a favorable home matchup against the Cardinals this weekend. |
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Colton Gordon Colton Gordon Starting Tuesday vs. Colorado
Mon, Apr 13, 2026, 5:43 PM
Gordon will start for the Astros in Tuesday's series opener against the Rockies, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Analysis: Gordon was recalled by the Astros from Triple-A Sugar Land on Monday to give the parent club more depth in the rotation due to Hunter Brown (shoulder), Tatsuya Imai (arm) and Cristian Javier (shoulder) all being placed on the injured list this past week. Gordon appeared in 20 games (14 starts) for the Astros in 2025, posting a 6-4 record with a 5.34 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 72:19 K:BB across 86 innings. He's been sharp in three starts in Triple-A this season and boasts a 1.76 ERA and 0.98 WHIP over 15.1 frames with Sugar Land. |
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Joey Loperfido Joey Loperfido Idle for series finale
Mon, Apr 13, 2026, 1:15 PM
Loperfido is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Mariners.
Analysis: Loperfido started in center field in Friday's series opener versus Seattle after Jake Meyers (oblique) was placed on the injured list prior to that game, but Taylor Trammell has manned that position in each of the subsequent three contests. Even if the Astros proceed with Trammell as their primary center fielder in Meyers' absence, Loperfido should still see regular reps against right-handed pitching as Houston's left fielder. Shortstop Jeremy Pena's (hamstring) move to the IL on Monday should free up playing time on the left side of the infield for both Carlos Correa and Isaac Paredes in the short term, enabling Yordan Alvarez to serve as a designated hitter on a full-time basis rather than poaching starts from Loperfido in left. |
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Shay Whitcomb Shay Whitcomb Summoned from minors
Mon, Apr 13, 2026, 12:47 PM
The Astros recalled Whitcomb from Triple-A Sugar Land on Monday.
Analysis: Whitcomb was up briefly with the big club earlier this season, going 0-for-2 with a walk. The 27-year-old has a .255/.286/.489 batting line with three home runs and four stolen bases in his first 12 contests with Sugar Land this season. Whitcomb is capable of handling most positions but is unlikely to find steady playing time with the Astros. |
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Jayden Murray Jayden Murray Headed back to Triple-A
Mon, Apr 13, 2026, 12:42 PM
The Astros optioned Murray to Triple-A Sugar Land on Monday.
Analysis: Houston will replace Murray on the active roster with Colton Gordon, who was called up from Triple-A in a corresponding move and would appear to be a strong candidate to make a start during the team's upcoming three-game series versus the Rockies after the Astros lost three rotation members to the injured list within the last week. Murray was unlikely to be available out of the Houston bullpen for at least another day or two after he was pressed into long relief in Sunday's 6-1 loss to the Mariners. He tossed two innings and 38 pitches in his 2026 big-league debut, giving up two earned runs on two hits and three walks while striking out three batters. |
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