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Braden Shewmake Braden Shewmake In midst of rehab assignment
Thu, Jul 2, 2026, 12:40 PM
Shewmake (adductor) has gone 3-for-9 with two doubles, three walks, one stolen base, three runs and one RBI over three rehab games between the rookie-level Florida Complex League and Triple-A Sugar Land.
Analysis: Shewmake began the minor-league assignment Saturday, appearing in two games in the FCL before moving to Triple-A on Wednesday. The 28-year-old is working his way back from a right adductor strain, which sent him to the injured list June 2. Once he's ready to rejoin Houston, Shewmake is likely to serve as a utility infielder. |
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Lance McCullers Jr. Lance McCullers Jr. Another strong rehab start
Thu, Jul 2, 2026, 11:25 AM
McCullers (shoulder) struck out three and allowed one earned run on four hits and one walk across four innings Wednesday in a rehab start with Triple-A Sugar Land.
Analysis: McCullers has been stellar through his first two rehab outings at Sugar Land, allowing just one earned run while posting a 7:1 K:BB over seven innings. The right-hander tossed 60 pitches in Wednesday's appearance, so he'll likely need to make at least one more start in the minors before Houston brings him back from the 15-day injured list. McCullers had posted a lowly 6.86 ERA and 1.53 WHIP in eight starts for Houston before being shelved May 19 due to a rotator cuff impingement, and despite the strong form he's showed in the minors, he could face an uphill battle to reclaim a spot in a crowded big-league rotation once activated. Though the Astros have already decided that Cristian Javier (shoulder) will go to the bullpen when he returns from the 60-day IL on Friday, Ronel Blanco (elbow) has also built up to the 60-pitch mark during his rehab assignment and could be prioritized ahead of McCullers for a starting role upon his activation from the IL. |
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Ronel Blanco Ronel Blanco Hits 60 pitches in rehab start
Thu, Jul 2, 2026, 11:19 AM
Blanco (elbow) struck out four and allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits and one walk across 4.1 innings Wednesday in a rehab start with Double-A Corpus Christi.
Analysis: Blanco pushed his pitch count up to 60 (45 strikes) in his third rehab start as he works his way back from the Tommy John surgery with an internal brace that he underwent last June. The right-hander will likely need to get stretched out to around 70-to-80 pitches before becoming a viable option for the Houston rotation, likely at some point shortly after the All-Star break. Before going under the knife last summer, Blanco turned in a 4.10 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 48:20 K:BB in 48.1 innings over nine starts with Houston. |
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Christian Walker Christian Walker Dealing with stiff back
Wed, Jul 1, 2026, 10:57 PM
Walker was removed from Wednesday's game against the Twins with lower-back stiffness, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Walker went 0-for-2 with a pair of strikeouts before being replaced by a pinch hitter in the sixth inning. He'll get an extra day to rest up before the Astros begin their next series Friday against the Rays, but if he's unable to play in the opener, Isaac Paredes would likely be next in line to start at first base, creating an opportunity at third for Brice Matthews. |
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Raynel Delgado Raynel Delgado Exits with injury
Wed, Jul 1, 2026, 9:10 PM
Delgado was removed from Wednesday's game against Minnesota with an apparent hand injury due to a dislocated pinky on his right hand.
Analysis: A groundball off the bat of Trevor Larnach bounced off of second base and connected with Delgado's right hand, forcing the latter to come out of the game in the fifth inning. The Astros may provide an update on his status after the game. |
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Cristian Javier Cristian Javier Moving to bullpen
Wed, Jul 1, 2026, 4:29 PM
Javier (shoulder) will be activated from the injured list Friday and work out of the bullpen going forward, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Javier hasn't thrown more than 40 innings in the majors since 2023, so his move to the bullpen could be an attempt by Houston to limit his workload once he comes off the IL. The 29-year-old righty has already pitched 9.1 frames across three starts with Houston this season, coughing up 13 earned runs while striking out four batters and walking nine. Manager Joe Espada noted that Javier's move to the pen isn't necessarily permanent, so he could reclaim a spot in the rotation after he settles in. |
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Kai-Wei Teng Kai-Wei Teng Goes on IL after option rescinded
Wed, Jul 1, 2026, 3:47 PM
The Astros rescinded Teng's option and placed him on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with a right knee sprain, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Teng had been sent down to Triple-A Sugar Land following Saturday's start versus the Tigers, but it's been determined he suffered an injury before that transaction and will instead hit the injured list. It's unclear how long the right-hander might be sidelined. |
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Jeremy Pena Jeremy Pena Does some light running
Wed, Jul 1, 2026, 3:28 PM
Pena (calf) did some light running at Daikin Park on Wednesday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Analysis: Pena was placed on the 10-day injured list Tuesday due to a left calf strain that had been lingering. The Astros are optimistic that the shortstop can return when his 10 days are up, and his ability to do some light running already bodes well for potentially reaching that goal. Raynel Delgado is filling in at shortstop for the Astros on Wednesday versus the Twins after Nick Allen manned the position the previous two days. |
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Bennett Sousa Bennett Sousa Set for simulated game
Wed, Jul 1, 2026, 3:08 PM
Sousa (elbow) will throw a simulated game at Daikin Park on Wednesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Sousa has been limited to only five appearances for the Astros this season, first missing time due to an oblique strain and more recently battling left elbow inflammation. He's been shelved for nearly two months but appears close to throwing in a game. Sousa appears unlikely to join the Astros' active roster before the All-Star break. |
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Hayden Wesneski Hayden Wesneski Begins rehab assignment
Wed, Jul 1, 2026, 8:53 AM
Wesneski (elbow) began a rehab assignment at the rookie-level Florida Complex League on Tuesday, tossing three scoreless innings with one strikeout.
Analysis: Wesneski yielded just one hit, retiring nine of the 10 batters he faced. It's a big step as the right-hander continues to work his way back from May 2025 Tommy John surgery. Wesneski will likely need to use most, if not all, of his 30 rehab days, setting him up to rejoin the Astros' active roster around Aug. 1. |
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Joey Loperfido Joey Loperfido On bench Tuesday
Tue, Jun 30, 2026, 6:01 PM
Loperfido is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Twins.
Analysis: Loperfido will head to the bench Tuesday after he had started in each of the Astros' last five matchups versus right-handed pitchers. With Loperfido taking a seat, Houston will go with Isaac Paredes at designated hitter and Yordan Alvarez, Taylor Trammell and Cam Smith as its outfield trio. |
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Raynel Delgado Raynel Delgado Back in majors
Tue, Jun 30, 2026, 3:03 PM
The Astros recalled Delgado from Triple-A Sugar Land on Tuesday, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: The 26-year-old was optioned to Sugar Land on Monday but will quickly return to the majors since Jeremy Pena (calf) landed on the injured list. Delgado received his first promotion to the majors in mid-June and is batting .280 (7-for-25) with a homer, four RBI and two runs in his first 13 games. |
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LaMonte Wade Jr. LaMonte Wade Jr. Kicking off rehab assignment
Tue, Jun 30, 2026, 3:02 PM
Wade (hamstring) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Sugar Land on Tuesday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Analysis: Wade is ready to test things out in a game setting after missing the past three weeks with a right hamstring strain. He shouldn't need too many rehab games before rejoining the Astros' active roster, perhaps as soon as Friday's series opener against the Rays. |
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Jeremy Pena Jeremy Pena Move to IL official
Tue, Jun 30, 2026, 2:58 PM
The Astros placed Pena on the 10-day injured list Tuesday due to a mild left calf strain, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Pena was held out of Monday's lineup due to leg discomfort, and manager Joe Espada said after the game that the shortstop would require an IL stint. Espada expressed optimism that it can be a minimum-length stay on the injured list, which would result in Pena rejoining the active roster July 10. |
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Taylor Trammell Taylor Trammell Launches third homer
Tue, Jun 30, 2026, 11:04 AM
Trammell went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in Monday's 5-4 loss to the Twins.
Analysis: Trammell made things interesting in the ninth inning with his two-run, 412-foot blast off Travis Adams that cut Houston's deficit to 5-3. The homer is Trammell's third this season, all of which have come in his last six games. Trammell has seen his playing time tick up of late, as he's settled into the strong side of a platoon role with Jake Meyers. |
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Miguel Ullola Miguel Ullola Impresses in debut
Tue, Jun 30, 2026, 10:57 AM
Ullola pitched two scoreless innings in Monday's loss against the Twins, allowing two hits while striking out four.
Analysis: It was an impressive major-league debut from the 24-year-old Ullola, who relied heavily on his fastball that averaged 95.2 MPH. After shifting to a relief role earlier this year, Ullola posted a 2.70 ERA with 16 strikeouts across 10 innings with Triple-A Sugar Land. Ullola should continue to work in lower-leverage spots for the time being, though his strikeout rate does afford him some intrigue as a late-inning prospect. |
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Ronel Blanco Ronel Blanco Works 3.1 scoreless in rehab start
Tue, Jun 30, 2026, 8:36 AM
Blanco (elbow) struck out two and allowed two hits and two walks over 3.1 scoreless innings Thursday in a rehab start for Double-A Corpus Christi.
Analysis: On the comeback trail after undergoing Tommy John surgery with an internal brace last June, Blanco has delivered a pair of strong performances to begin his rehab assignment. After tossing three scoreless frames in his first start in the rookie-level Florida Complex League on June 19, Blanco jumped up a few levels for his second outing and again held the opposition scoreless while building up to 50 pitches (31 strikes). Blanco should be able to get in at least two more rehab starts before the All-Star break, after which the Astros will assess whether he's worthy of a spot in their crowded rotation. The right-hander has a minor-league option remaining, so once he's activated from the 60-day injured list, the Astros could send Blanco to Triple-A Sugar Land to stay stretched out as a starter if they don't have room for him in the big-league rotation. |
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Lance McCullers Jr. Lance McCullers Jr. Sharp in first rehab outing
Tue, Jun 30, 2026, 8:24 AM
McCullers (shoulder) struck out four and allowed two hits and no walks over three scoreless innings in a rehab start Thursday with Triple-A Sugar Land.
Analysis: Pitching in a game for the first time since May 13 after being sent to the injured list due to a right rotator cuff impingement, McCullers delivered an encouraging performance. He mixed in five different offerings in the 42-pitch appearance, averaging 90.9 mph with his sinker while displaying strong control. McCullers had issued 22 free passes in 39.1 innings with the Astros prior to landing on the shelf, so keeping his walks in check in his subsequent rehab outings will be imperative if he hopes to reclaim a spot in a crowded Houston rotation once he returns from the 15-day IL. In addition to their current five starters, the Astros are expected to bring Cristian Javier (shoulder) back from the 60-day IL later this week, and Ronel Blanco (elbow) is also in the midst of a rehab assignment and could be an option for the rotation around the same time McCullers is ready for activation. |
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Cristian Javier Cristian Javier Fires six scoreless in rehab start
Tue, Jun 30, 2026, 8:10 AM
Javier (shoulder) struck out four and scattered three hits and two walks over six scoreless innings Saturday in a rehab start with Triple-A Sugar Land.
Analysis: Making the fifth start of his rehab assignment and his fourth in a row with Sugar Land, Javier turned in a brilliant performance while building up to 85 pitches (52 strikes). Though he averaged 91.8 mph with his four-seam fastball -- down a full tick from his average in three starts with Houston before landing on the shelf -- Javier was still able to make bats miss, as he induced six whiffs on that pitch and along five whiffs on his changeup. Javier will likely return from the 60-day injured list to make a start this weekend against the Rays in Houston, sliding into the rotation spot vacated by Kai-Wei Teng, who was demoted to Triple-A last weekend. |
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Jeremy Pena Jeremy Pena Headed to injured list
Mon, Jun 29, 2026, 10:18 PM
Pena has been diagnosed with a mild left calf strain and will be placed on the 10-day injured list, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Pena was held out of the starting lineup Monday after experiencing left leg discomfort, and manager Joe Espada revealed after the game that the shortstop will require a trip to the shelf. Espada noted that he's hopeful this will be a minimum stint on the IL, which would put Pena in line to return July 10 against the Rangers. Look for Nick Allen and Brice Matthews to see time at shortstop in Pena's absence. |
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