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Jeremy Pena Jeremy Pena Does some light running on field
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 with a left calf strain that had been lingering. The Astros are optimistic that Pena can return when his 10 days are up, and his ability to do some light running already bodes well for the shortstop 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. It seems unlikely Sousa will rejoin the 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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Yainer Diaz Yainer Diaz Resting up Monday
Mon, Jun 29, 2026, 7:15 PM
Diaz is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Twins.
Analysis: Diaz will get a breather for the series opener after he started in each of the Astros' last three games. Christian Vazquez will handle catching duties Monday. |
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Cam Smith Cam Smith In Monday's lineup
Mon, Jun 29, 2026, 6:03 PM
Smith (foot) is batting sixth and starting in right field Monday against the Twins.
Analysis: After missing Sunday's game with a bruised foot, Smith is back in action for the first game of the week. |
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Jeremy Pena Jeremy Pena Out of lineup with leg soreness
Mon, Jun 29, 2026, 4:36 PM
Astros manager Joe Espada said that Pena is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Twins due to left leg discomfort, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Pena has missed time this season with right hamstring issues, but it's his other leg that's bothering him this time. He's being evaluated by team doctors, and more could be known about his condition later Monday. Nick Allen (hamstring) was activated from the 10-day injured list Monday and will start at shortstop and bat eighth as a replacement in the lineup for Pena. |
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Raynel Delgado Raynel Delgado Heading back to minors
Mon, Jun 29, 2026, 3:28 PM
The Astros optioned Delgado to Triple-A Sugar Land on Monday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Delgado popped his first major-league home run in Sunday's win over the Guardians, but he finds himself back in the minors a day later. He's clearing off the roster to make room for the return of Nick Allen (hamstring) from the injured list. |
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Nick Allen Nick Allen Returns from IL
Mon, Jun 29, 2026, 3:25 PM
The Astros activated Allen (hamstring) from the 10-day injured list Monday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Allen has missed the past three weeks with a left hamstring strain, but he's been cleared to rejoin the active roster after playing two rehab games with Triple-A Sugar Land. The 27-year-old is expected to operate as a reserve infielder, though he'll start at shortstop and bat eighth in Monday's series opener versus the Twins while Jeremy Pena takes a seat due to leg discomfort, per Chandler Rome of The Athletic. |
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Raynel Delgado Raynel Delgado Logs first MLB homer
Mon, Jun 29, 2026, 7:11 AM
Delgado went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer in Sunday's 7-5 win over the Tigers.
Analysis: Making his first start in four games with Jose Altuve getting the day off, Delgado put the Astros on the board in the seventh inning with his two-run blast off lefty Tyler Holton, cutting the deficit to 3-2. It's the first home run for Delgado in his first 27 major-league plate appearances. The 26-year-old infielder has gone 7-for-25 (.280) with a .708 OPS, four RBI and two runs scored in 13 games with Houston. |
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Christian Walker Christian Walker Homers in win
Mon, Jun 29, 2026, 7:05 AM
Walker went 1-for-4 with a three-run homer in Sunday's 7-5 win over the Tigers in 10 innings.
Analysis: Walker gave Houston some breathing room in the top of the 10th inning with his three-run blast off Kenley Jansen, his 19th homer of the year. In his last two games, Walker's gone 5-for-9 with three extra-base hits after going just 2-for-27 over his prior seven contests. The veteran first baseman is now slashing .240/.311/.476 with 56 RBI and 45 runs scored across 351 plate appearances this season. |
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