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Kai-Wei Teng Kai-Wei Teng Part of six-man rotation
Thu, May 14, 2026, 11:56 AM
Astros manager Joe Espada said Thursday that Teng will be part of a six-man rotation moving forward, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Circumstances could alter things down the line, but for now Houston plans a six-man setup indefinitely. Espada said that he expects Teng -- who threw 63 pitches over three innings in a start Sunday in Cincinnati -- to be able to handle 80-to-85 pitches in Saturday's start versus the Rangers. Teng holds a 3.12 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 23:8 K:BB over 26 innings covering two starts and 13 relief outings this season. |
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Jeremy Pena Jeremy Pena Aiming to resume rehab Friday
Thu, May 14, 2026, 11:19 AM
Pena (hamstring/neck) hopes to resume his rehab assignment with Double-A Corpus Christi on Friday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Analysis: Pena has lingering neck soreness after being involved in a collision with a runner during Tuesday's game at Corpus Christi. He'll sit out a second straight game Thursday but is aiming to return to action Friday. Pena -- who initially went on the 10-day injured list just over a month ago with a right hamstring strain -- could be activated as soon as this weekend if all goes well. |
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Cody Bolton Cody Bolton Back in bullpen
Thu, May 14, 2026, 10:55 AM
Bolton struck out four and allowed two earned runs on two hits and three walks over two innings of relief Sunday in the Astros' 5-0 loss to the Reds.
Analysis: After being activated from the injured list April 30, Bolton made a one-inning relief appearance later that day before he was called upon to start three days later in the Astros' series finale in Boston. He covered just 2.1 innings in that start and then went unused for a week before the Astros turned to him this past Sunday to fill innings behind starter Kai-Wei Teng, who was chased from the game after covering the first three frames. The Astros are continuing to run a six-man rotation this week, but with Teng on track to get another start Saturday, Bolton looks like he'll stick in the bullpen. Through six appearances (three starts) on the season, Bolton has submitted a 5.27 ERA, 1.90 WHIP and 18:12 K:BB over 13.2 innings. |
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Jeremy Pena Jeremy Pena Managing neck soreness
Wed, May 13, 2026, 6:37 PM
Pena (hamstring) is dealing with neck soreness following a collision with a runner during a rehab game Tuesday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Analysis: Pena's neck prevented him from working as the DH in Double-A Corpus Christi's game Wednesday, but Astros manager Joe Espada didn't seem concerned about it becoming a long-term issue. The 28-year-old infielder is expected to return to minor-league action Thursday and could make his return to Houston's lineup sometime during the weekend series against Texas. |
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Cam Smith Cam Smith Getting day off
Wed, May 13, 2026, 3:45 PM
Smith is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Mariners.
Analysis: It's a rare day off for Smith, who had started the previous 12 contests. Zach Cole will patrol right field and bat eighth for the Astros in Smith's stead. |
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Tatsuya Imai Tatsuya Imai Takes loss in return
Tue, May 12, 2026, 10:41 PM
Imai (1-1) allowed six runs on five hits, three walks and two hit batsmen while striking out three over four innings to take the loss Tuesday versus the Mariners.
Analysis: Imai missed a month due to right arm fatigue. He gave up two big knocks Tuesday, a two-run home run to Randy Arozarena in the second inning and a grand slam to Dominic Canzone in the fourth. Those were the first two homers Imai has allowed in his major-league career. He threw 46 of 80 pitches for strikes in his return from the injured list, so his workload may need to be monitored going forward. With a 9.24 ERA, 2.05 WHIP and 16:14 K:BB over 12.2 innings across four starts, Imai hasn't done much yet to impress in fantasy. He is tentatively projected to make his next start on the road in Minnesota. |
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Logan VanWey Logan VanWey Returns to Triple-A
Tue, May 12, 2026, 3:28 PM
The Astros optioned VanWey to Triple-A Sugar Land on Tuesday, Julia Morales of Space City Home Network reports.
Analysis: Houston selected VanWey's contract Friday, and he'll return to Triple-A after firing two scoreless frames in two appearances. The right-hander has struggled in 15 relief outings for Sugar Land this year with a 5.74 ERA, 1.58 WHIP and 19:6 K:BB over 15.2 innings. |
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Tatsuya Imai Tatsuya Imai Back from IL
Tue, May 12, 2026, 2:49 PM
The Astros reinstated Imai (arm) from the 15-day injured list to start Tuesday's game against the Mariners, Julia Morales of Space City Home Network reports.
Analysis: Imai is ready to rejoin Houston's starting rotation after spending a month on the IL due to right arm fatigue. The 28-year-old built up to just 63 pitches across three innings during his second of two rehab outings, so the Astros plan to limit his workload to around 80-to-85 pitches Tuesday, per Chandler Rome of The Athletic. |
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Lance McCullers Jr. Lance McCullers Jr. Ready to go for next start
Tue, May 12, 2026, 9:58 AM
McCullers (finger) is slated to start Wednesday's game against the Mariners in Houston, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Analysis: McCullers appeared to be dealing with a blister on his pitching hand toward the tail end of his most recent start Wednesday against the Dodgers, but the righty was able to complete his most recent bullpen session without issue and will be ready to return to action on six days' rest. Though the historically injury-prone McCullers has thus far been able to avoid any major setbacks on the health front this season, he's seen his effectiveness wane since submitting a seven-inning, nine-strikeout effort in his 2026 debut against the Red Sox back on March 30. Over his ensuing six starts, McCullers has posted a 9.00 ERA, 1.70 WHIP and 28:19 K:BB in 27 innings. Barring a turnaround in form, McCullers could be in danger of a demotion to the bullpen or even being designated for assignment once the Houston pitching staff gets some of its injured starters back from the shelf. |
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Peter Lambert Peter Lambert Lasts seven frames in loss
Mon, May 11, 2026, 10:56 PM
Lambert (2-3) took the loss Monday, allowing three runs on six hits and a walk over seven innings against the Mariners. He struck out six.
Analysis: Lambert provided valuable length but didn't receive enough offensive support to avoid taking the loss. The right-hander allowed all three of his runs in the second and third innings before settling in to log his second consecutive seven-inning outing. The early returns on the 29-year-old in Houston's rotation have been quite positive, as he owns a 2.76 ERA and 1.13 WHIP with a 29:12 K:BB across 29.1 innings (five starts). Lambert will look to get back in the win column in his next start, tentatively scheduled for Sunday against Texas. |
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Jeremy Pena Jeremy Pena Slated for rehab games
Mon, May 11, 2026, 4:41 PM
Pena (hamstring) will begin a rehab assignment Tuesday, likely at Double-A Corpus Christi, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Pena will go through a full workout Monday first, and as long as he gets through that without any hiccups, he'll play in his first game in more than a month Tuesday. The shortstop could be back on the Astros' active roster before the end of this week. |
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Braden Shewmake Braden Shewmake Seeing time at shortstop vs. RHPs
Mon, May 11, 2026, 3:02 PM
Shewmake will start at shortstop and bat eighth in Monday's game against the Mariners, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Analysis: For the Astros' third consecutive matchup versus a right-handed starter, the left-handed-hitting Shewmake has received the nod over the right-handed-hitting Nick Allen at shortstop. Assuming the Astros continue to take a platoon approach to shortstop, Shewmake will likely see the bulk of the starts at the position in the short term, but Jeremy Pena (hamstring) is set to begin a rehab assignment Tuesday or Wednesday and could settle back atop the depth chart by the weekend. |
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Nate Pearson Nate Pearson Will return as reliever
Mon, May 11, 2026, 2:54 PM
Pearson (elbow) is being built up as a reliever on his rehab assignment, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Analysis: When Pearson was signed by the Astros over the offseason, the intention was to stretch him out to be an option for the rotation. However, the club has reversed course and will bring Pearson back as a member of its bullpen. Pearson -- who has pitched predominately as a reliever in the majors -- has posted a 9.53 ERA and 8:10 K:BB over 5.2 frames in his four rehab appearances. |
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Jake Meyers Jake Meyers Rehab assignment on tap
Mon, May 11, 2026, 2:49 PM
Meyers (oblique) is slated to begin a rehab assignment this week, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Analysis: It's not clear when or where exactly his rehab assignment will get kicked off, but it will be Meyers' first game action in more than a month, as he's been shelved by a Grade 2 right oblique strain. The Astros have been using Brice Matthews and Zach Cole in center field lately, but Meyers could reclaim his spot at the top of the depth chart once he's deemed ready for activation. |
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Kai-Wei Teng Kai-Wei Teng Takes loss in Sunday's start
Sun, May 10, 2026, 9:37 PM
Teng (1-3) was tagged with the loss in Sunday's game against the Reds, allowing three runs on five hits and one walk while striking out one batter across three innings.
Analysis: Teng has pitched well out of the bullpen this season but was thrust into a starting role for Sunday's game. He kept the Reds off the board through the first three innings but ran into trouble in the fourth, yielding three runs on four hits without recording an out before being pulled. Unfortunately for Teng, he was unable to avoid the loss after his Astros teammates failed to score a run on three hits and a walk. Teng could make another start given the myriad of injuries to the Astros' rotation, and that could come next weekend at home against the Rangers. |
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Carlos Correa Carlos Correa Surgery on tap Monday
Sun, May 10, 2026, 11:59 AM
Correa is scheduled to undergo surgery Monday in Houston to repair the tendon in his left ankle, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: The Astros could provide an official timeline for Correa's return once surgery is completed, but the veteran infielder has already been ruled out for the season and is expected to require around 6-to-8 months to fully recover from the procedure. Correa slashed .279/.369/.418 with three home runs, one stolen base, 16 RBI and 22 runs over 141 plate appearances in 32 games before suffering the ankle injury in batting practice prior to Tuesday's 2-1 win over the Dodgers. |
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Christian Vazquez Christian Vazquez Heading to bench Sunday
Sun, May 10, 2026, 11:54 AM
Vazquez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds.
Analysis: Cesar Salazar will handle catching duties in the series finale while Vazquez rests. Vazquez is expected to see the bulk of the playing time behind the plate while Yainer Diaz (oblique) remains on the shelf, but the former will typically bat near the bottom of the Houston lineup and likely won't carry much fantasy intrigue outside of deeper two-catcher mixed leagues or AL-only leagues. |
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Jeremy Pena Jeremy Pena Rehab assignment on tap
Sun, May 10, 2026, 11:20 AM
Astros manager Joe Espada said Pena (hamstring) is expected to begin a minor-league rehab assignment Tuesday or Wednesday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Analysis: The 28-year-old shortstop ran the bases with no issues this weekend, which was the final hurdle in his rehab program before playing in games. Pena shouldn't require a lengthy rehab assignment and could be back with the Astros next weekend or early the following week. |
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Tatsuya Imai Tatsuya Imai Rejoining rotation Tuesday
Sun, May 10, 2026, 10:15 AM
Imai (arm) will be reinstated from the 15-day injured list to start Tuesday against the Mariners, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: The right-hander has been on the shelf about a month due to arm fatigue, but he's ready to re-enter Houston's rotation after two rehab starts in the minor leagues. Imai threw 63 pitches over three innings during his final rehab outing, so he should have some workload limitations in his first couple starts back with the Astros. Prior to the absence, the 28-year-old surrendered seven earned runs with a 13:11 K:BB over 8.2 frames in his first three big-league starts. |
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Spencer Arrighetti Spencer Arrighetti Takes first loss Saturday
Sat, May 9, 2026, 6:18 PM
Arrighetti (4-1) took the loss against the Reds on Saturday, allowing three runs (one earned) on five hits and three walks with five strikeouts over 5.2 innings.
Analysis: All of the damage against Arrighetti came in a three-run fifth inning, and he departed one out shy of a quality start at 93 pitches. The 26-year-old has yielded just one earned run in four of his five outings this season, though he's also issued at least three walks four times. He owns a 1.88 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 30:17 K:BB across 28.2 innings and lines up for a home matchup against the Mariners next week. |
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