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Kaleb Ort Kaleb Ort Another rehab outing Friday Fri, Apr 25, 2025, 5:27 PM Ort (oblique) will make a rehab appearance with Triple-A Sugar Land on Friday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports. Analysis: Ort was placed on the 15-day injured list at the beginning of the season due to a left oblique strain. He started his rehab assignment April 7, and and across six minor-league outings he's allowed three runs (two earned) on seven hits and three walks while striking out four across 5.1 innings. Ort is nearing a return to the majors, and barring any setbacks, he could be activated off the IL during the Astros' weekend series against the Royals.
Shawn Dubin Shawn Dubin Starting rehab assignment Saturday Fri, Apr 25, 2025, 5:24 PM Dubin (shoulder) will be available to pitch for Double-A Corpus Christi on Saturday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports. Analysis: Dubin started the season on the 15-day injured list due to right shoulder inflammation that he experienced for most of spring training. He returned to mound work Wednesday with a bullpen session, and he'll take the next step in his throwing program by embarking on a rehab assignment Saturday. Dubin appeared in 31 regular-season games (two starts) for the Astros in 2024 and posted a 4.17 ERA, 1.57 WHIP and 49:26 K:BB across 45.1 innings.
Brendan Rodgers Brendan Rodgers On bench Friday Fri, Apr 25, 2025, 3:47 PM Rodgers is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Royals, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports. Analysis: It's the second straight game on the bench for Rodgers, who has gone 3-for-21 while striking out nine times in his past eight contests. Jose Altuve will come in to play second base while Zach Dezenzo picks up a start in left field.
Yainer Diaz Yainer Diaz Getting breather Friday Fri, Apr 25, 2025, 3:44 PM Diaz is not in the lineup for Friday's contest in Kansas City, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports. Analysis: Diaz caught all three games of the Astros' previous series against the Blue Jays, so he'll get a breather Friday. Victor Caratini is behind the dish and batting seventh for Houston.
Ryan Gusto Ryan Gusto Punches out six for third win Wed, Apr 23, 2025, 9:54 PM Gusto (3-1) earned the win against the Blue Jays on Wednesday, allowing one run on three hits and one walk while striking out six over 5.2 innings. Analysis: Gusto yielded only four base runners in Wednesday's start, with his lone blemish coming in the fourth inning when he gave up an RBI double to George Springer. Gusto generated 12 whiffs on a season-high 80 pitches (47 strikes) and was one out shy from recording his first quality start of the season. He's gone five innings in each of his last two outings, and for the season he's registered a 2.78 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 23:4 K:BB over 22.2 innings. He's lined up to face the Tigers at home next week.
Zach Dezenzo Zach Dezenzo RBI single in return Wed, Apr 23, 2025, 9:32 PM Dezenzo went 3-for-4 with an RBI single and a run scored in Wednesday's 3-1 win over the Blue Jays. Analysis: Dezenzo returned Wednesday from a one-game absence due to a thumb injury, and he gave the Astros a two-run lead in the second inning on a single that brought Yainer Diaz home. Dezenzo has gone 5-for-7 with one walk, three runs scored and two RBI over his last two games.
Christian Walker Christian Walker Cracks solo homer Wed, Apr 23, 2025, 9:29 PM Walker went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 3-1 win over Toronto. Analysis: Walker got the Astros on the board in the second inning, when he took Bowden Francis deep to left-center field for a solo homer. Walker seems to have a turned a corner as of late, and over his last five games he's gone 7-for-19 with four runs scored, two home runs and four RBI.
Josh Hader Josh Hader Escapes with seventh save Wed, Apr 23, 2025, 9:24 PM Hader allowed one hit and one walk in a scoreless ninth inning to earn the save in Wednesday's 3-1 win over the Blue Jays. He struck out two batters. Analysis: Hader put himself in a bit of hot water when he gave up a walk and a double, but he bounced back to fan Alejandro Kirk before getting Myles Straw to fly out to center field to close out Wednesday's contest. He needed 23 pitches (16 strikes) to get through the ninth inning, but with an off-day Thursday the 31-year-old southpaw should be available for Friday's series opener against the Royals. Hader has not yielded a run since Opening Day against the Mets and boasts a 0.69 ERA, 0.69 WHIP and 17:3 K:BB over 13 innings.
Jake Meyers Jake Meyers Getting day off Wed, Apr 23, 2025, 2:47 PM Meyers is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's contest against the Blue Jays, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. Analysis: Meyers will get a breather after going 0-for-8 with six strikeouts in the first two games of the three-game set. Chas McCormick will start in center field and bat ninth as the Astros go for the sweep Wednesday.
Brendan Rodgers Brendan Rodgers Absent from Houston lineup Wed, Apr 23, 2025, 2:45 PM Rodgers is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Blue Jays, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. Analysis: Rodgers started the first two games of the series but will take a seat in Wednesday's finale. Mauricio Dubon is at second base and batting eighth for the Astros.
Cam Smith Cam Smith Grabbing seat Wednesday Wed, Apr 23, 2025, 2:44 PM Smith is not in the lineup for Wednesday's tilt against the Blue Jays, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. Analysis: Smith had started each of the previous 13 contests but will get a breather Wednesday as the Astros try to complete a series sweep. Zach Dezenzo will cover right field and bat seventh.
Zach Dezenzo Zach Dezenzo Back in action Wednesday Wed, Apr 23, 2025, 2:42 PM Dezenzo (thumb) will start in right field and bat seventh in Wednesday's game versus the Blue Jays, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. Analysis: Dezenzo jammed his thumb on a slide into second base during Monday's game and didn't play Tuesday, but he's feeling well enough to give it a go as the Astros attempt to complete the sweep. Cam Smith is getting a night off.
Cam Smith Cam Smith Could see time in center field Wed, Apr 23, 2025, 8:42 AM Smith took flyballs in center field prior to Monday's game against the Blue Jays and the Astros are considering using him at the position, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports. Analysis: Smith has exceeded expectations with how well he's taken to right field, a position he had never played before. The transition has been so seamless that the team is mulling using Smith in center field on days when it's looking to inject more offense into the lineup. The idea of Smith playing center field "is in its infancy," per Rome, and may never happen, but if it does, Zach Dezenzo would likely play right field those days, with Jake Meyers on the bench.
Zach Dezenzo Zach Dezenzo Nursing thumb injury Tue, Apr 22, 2025, 10:22 PM Dezenzo sat out Tuesday's game versus Toronto due to a jammed thumb, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports. Analysis: Dezenzo injured himself while sliding into second base during Monday's game. Manager Joe Espada said after Tuesday's contest that the 24-year-old is feeling better after a day of rest and is expected to rejoin the starting lineup Wednesday, per Brian McTaggart of MLB.com.
Isaac Paredes Isaac Paredes Gets back on track with solo homer Tue, Apr 22, 2025, 10:17 PM Paredes went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's win over Toronto. Analysis: The infielder followed up a three-game homer streak in mid-April with a 3-for-24 skid with no extra-base hits, but he got back on track Tuesday with a seventh-inning shot to give the Astros a late insurance run. Through his first 100 plate appearances, Paredes is slashing .233/.340/.384 with four long balls, one double, 13 RBI and 10 runs scored. As long as he maintains a spot in the heart of Houston's lineup, Paredes should have plenty of RBI chances going forward.
Jeremy Pena Jeremy Pena Runs hitting streak up to 13 games Tue, Apr 22, 2025, 10:10 PM Pena went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored in Tuesday's win over Toronto. Analysis: It was the first three-hit attack of the campaign by Pena, who extended his hitting streak to 13 games Tuesday. During this stretch, the speedy shortstop is batting .333 (16-for-48) with one home run, six RBI, nine runs scored and three stolen bases. Pena may not have the same run-scoring fantasy upside as he would in a higher spot in the lineup, but his hot hitting could help him work his way up the batting order.
Ronel Blanco Ronel Blanco Works into seventh inning in win Tue, Apr 22, 2025, 9:45 PM Blanco (2-2) gained the win against the Blue Jays on Tuesday after allowing one run on two hits and two walks in 6.2 innings. He struck out three. Analysis: It was a much-needed bounce-back effort by Blanco, who induced 12 whiffs and gave up just two hits Tuesday after entering play with a dismal 6.38 ERA through his first four starts in 2025. The right-hander did yield a solo shot to Nathan Lukes in the third inning, but it was still Blanco's longest outing of the season in terms of innings pitched. Blanco now holds a 5.01 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 20:12 K:BB over 23.1 frames ahead of his next scheduled appearance, currently projected for next week at home against the Tigers.
Kaleb Ort Kaleb Ort Needs another rehab outing Tue, Apr 22, 2025, 4:23 PM Ort (oblique) will make one more rehab appearance Wednesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. Analysis: Ort has already appeared in five games during his rehab assignment, during which he's allowed three runs (two earned) while striking out four batters and walking three across 4.1 innings. The Astros will now get him one final tune-up before he joins the active roster for the team's weekend series against Kansas City. Once he returns, the 33-year-old righty is likely to work in middle relief.
Luis Garcia Luis Garcia Plays catch Tuesday Tue, Apr 22, 2025, 2:47 PM Garcia (elbow) played catch at Daikin Park on Tuesday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports. Analysis: The right-hander was diagnosed with right elbow inflammation in early April, the latest in a series of setbacks suffered by Garcia as he comes back from May 2023 Tommy John surgery. Previous reports indicated that Garcia would remain shut down until early May, so it appears he might be a bit ahead of schedule. Still, it's way too soon for any sort of timetable for the righty to be established.
Hunter Brown Hunter Brown Continues dominant campaign Mon, Apr 21, 2025, 11:22 PM Brown (3-1) earned the win over Toronto on Monday, pitching seven scoreless innings during which he allowed two hits and one walk while striking out nine batters. Analysis: That's now five quality starts in five outings this season for Brown, who recorded perhaps his best start of 2025 so far Monday. Both the seven innings and nine punchouts were season-best marks for the right-hander, and he pitched his third straight scoreless outing while extending his scoreless innings streak to 24 frames. It's too early in the campaign to be prognosticating end-of-season awards, but Brown certainly has the look of a Cy Young contender considering his dominance so far. He ranks sixth among qualified pitchers with a 1.16 ERA and first with a 0.74 WHIP while registering a 31:6 K:BB through 31 innings.