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Cesar Salazar Cesar Salazar Fails to make Opening Day roster
Tue, Mar 24, 2026, 3:59 PM
Salazar did not make the Astros' Opening Day roster, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Analysis: He's out of minor-league options, so Salazar will have to be exposed to waivers first if the Astros intend to send him to Triple-A Sugar Land. The 30-year-old has seen spot duty with Houston the past three years, slashing .232/.318/.268in 67 plate appearances. |
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Christian Vazquez Christian Vazquez Makes team as backup catcher
Tue, Mar 24, 2026, 3:56 PM
Vazquez has made the Astros' Opening Day roster as a backup catcher, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Analysis: Vazquez inked a minor-league contract earlier this month and has won the No. 2 job behind starter Yainer Diaz. The 35-year-old slashed only .215/.267/.311 the past three seasons with the Twins and is unlikely to play much in Houston. |
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Jeremy Pena Jeremy Pena To play shortstop Tuesday
Mon, Mar 23, 2026, 10:11 PM
Pena (finger) is slated to play shortstop during Tuesday's exhibition, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Analysis: Pena was cleared for batting practice Monday, and the fact that he's been given the green light to see game action Tuesday is a clear sign he's progressing. If he's able to make it through Tuesday's exhibition without issue, there is certainly a chance he could see his name in the starting lineup for Thursday's opener against the Angels. |
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Lance McCullers Jr. Lance McCullers Jr. Gets spot in Houston rotation
Mon, Mar 23, 2026, 5:29 PM
McCullers has won a spot in the Astros' rotation and will make his season debut March 30 against the Red Sox, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Analysis: McCullers logged eight innings during Grapefruit League playing, allowing three runs with a 5:4 K:BB. He's a poor bet to stay healthy and effective, but McCullers is owed $17.7 million in his final year under contract, so it's not a surprise the Astros will open with him in the rotation. |
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Spencer Arrighetti Spencer Arrighetti Opening season in minors
Mon, Mar 23, 2026, 5:21 PM
The Astros optioned Arrighetti to Triple-A Sugar Land on Monday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Analysis: Houston will eventually go to a six-man rotation, and Arrighetti could fill that slot when that happens, per manager Joe Espada. For now, though, the righty will hone his craft in the minors. Arrighetti was limited to only seven starts last season due to injuries and posted a 6.75 ERA and 12:5 K:BB over eight innings this spring. |
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Jeremy Pena Jeremy Pena Takes batting practice Monday
Mon, Mar 23, 2026, 3:14 PM
Pena (finger) took batting practice on the field at Daikin Park in Houston on Monday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Analysis: Pena traveling with the Astros to Houston rather than stay back in extended spring training is certainly a good sign as he attempts to avoid the injured list and be in the Opening Day lineup. The 28-year-old has not played in a game setting since fracturing his right ring finger in an exhibition contest nearly three weeks ago. If the Astros decide to give Pena more time to heal, they will use Carlos Correa at shortstop and Isaac Paredes at third base. |
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Zach Dezenzo Zach Dezenzo Won't be part of Opening Day club
Sun, Mar 22, 2026, 3:34 PM
Astros manager Joe Espada said Sunday that Dezenzo won't be part of the Opening Day roster and will remain at extended spring training to rehab his right elbow injury, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Dezenzo recently injured his elbow while playing for Team Italy in the World Baseball Classic. Though the elbow hasn't presented any issues for him as a hitter, he'll need to prove that he can throw without limitations before he's cleared for game action. The Astros are likely to place Dezenzo on the 10-day injured list when they set their Opening Day roster Thursday. |
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Peter Lambert Peter Lambert Loses out in bid for roster
Sun, Mar 22, 2026, 3:31 PM
The Astros informed Lambert on Sunday that he won't be included on the Opening Day roster, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Lambert had attended spring training as a non-roster invitee but made a spirited bid for a spot in Houston's bullpen by turning in a 2.92 ERA and 8:5 K:BB in 12.1 innings during the Grapefruit League. The right-hander's minor-league contract contains an opt-out clause that will allow him to pursue opportunities elsewhere, but Lambert is still deciding whether to become a free agent or stay in the organization and report to Triple-A Sugar Land, per Rome. |
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Taylor Trammell Taylor Trammell Denied Opening Day roster spot
Sun, Mar 22, 2026, 3:27 PM
The Astros reassigned Trammell to minor-league camp Sunday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Despite posting a .904 OPS over 45 appearances in the Grapefruit League, Trammell came up short in his bid for a spot on the Opening Day roster. The 28-year-old outfielder is expected to handle an everyday role at Triple-A Sugar Land to begin the season. |
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Cavan Biggio Cavan Biggio Roster bid falls short
Sun, Mar 22, 2026, 3:22 PM
The Astros reassigned Biggio to minor-league camp Sunday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Biggio missed a good chunk of camp while recovering from a right elbow scope and was unable to capitalize on his limited Cactus League opportunities, going just 2-for-14 with a 2:6 BB:K over six games. He'll open the season at Triple-A Sugar Land and will look to perform well enough to garner consideration for a call-up to the big club. |
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Mike Burrows Mike Burrows Confirmed for second game of season
Sun, Mar 22, 2026, 10:42 AM
Manager Joe Espada said this weekend that Burrows (lower leg) will start the Astros' second game of the season Friday against the Angels, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Analysis: Burrows was lifted from his final Grapefruit League start Saturday against the Mets after 5.1 innings and 77 pitches and being drilled in the lower left leg by a comebacker, but his removal was seemingly precautionary. The right-hander is stretched out enough to handle a typical starter's workload and should face no restrictions next weekend in what will be his Astros debut. Burrows pitched to a 3.94 ERA and 1.24 WHIP over 96 innings with Pittsburgh last season, but after securing just two victories in his 19 starts, he should have a better chance at capturing wins in 2026 while he's backed by a stronger Houston offense. |
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Enyel De Los Santos Enyel De Los Santos Makes spring debut Friday
Sun, Mar 22, 2026, 10:37 AM
De Los Santos (knee) struck out a batter and allowed one walk and no hits over a scoreless inning of relief Friday in the Astros' 7-4 loss to the Marlins in Grapefruit League play.
Analysis: The reliever made his spring debut after completing his recovery from the right knee strain he suffered early in camp. Manager Joe Espada told Brian McTaggart of MLB.com that De Los Santos is scheduled to pitch again Monday in an exhibition against Triple-A Sugar Land. If all goes well in that outing, De Los Santos should be able to secure a spot in the Opening Day bullpen. |
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Jeremy Pena Jeremy Pena Still in play for Opening Day
Sun, Mar 22, 2026, 9:46 AM
Manager Joe Espada said that Pena (finger) is scheduled to hit again Sunday, and the Astros are still discussing whether he will travel with the team back to Houston in advance of Opening Day, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Analysis: The 28-year-old shortstop was cleared to resume swinging a bat Friday as he continues working his way back from a fracture in the tip of his right ring finger. Pena still has a chance of being cleared for Thursday's season opener versus the Angels, but he'll likely need to face live pitching at some point early this week to avoid a stint on the injured list to begin the season. |
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Mike Burrows Mike Burrows Hit by comebacker
Sat, Mar 21, 2026, 2:02 PM
Burrows was removed from his Grapefruit League start against the Mets on Saturday after getting hit by a comebacker, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Burrows was immediately taken out of the game after taking a 92-mph groundball off his lower left leg in the sixth inning. His removal may have been precautionary -- especially since he had already thrown 77 pitches -- though the Astros should provide more details on his status in the near future. |
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Jeremy Pena Jeremy Pena Swinging bat
Sat, Mar 21, 2026, 11:28 AM
Pena (finger) began swinging a bat Friday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: The Astros still haven't ruled Pena out for Opening Day, and his ability to hold/swing a bat without aggravating his fractured finger will likely be a key factor in determining his availability. If the team decides it's best to hold him out, Carlos Correa would presumably slide over to shortstop while Isaac Paredes mans the hot corner. |
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J.P. France J.P. France Won't make Opening Day roster
Sat, Mar 21, 2026, 8:38 AM
France was informed that he will not make the Astros' Opening Day roster, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: France will remain in major-league camp for now, though he'll ultimately open the season with Triple-A Sugar Land. The 30-year-old France was a long shot to make the team out of spring training. The right-hander was limited to just 11.2 innings with Houston in 2025, posting a 3.86 ERA with 13 strikeouts before undergoing shoulder surgery. France could be an option should the Astros need reinforcements in their rotation in 2026. |
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Shay Whitcomb Shay Whitcomb Sent to minors
Fri, Mar 20, 2026, 8:51 PM
The Astros optioned Whitcomb to minor-league camp Friday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Whitcomb has slashed .280/.369/.520 over the past two seasons at Triple-A Sugar Land but owns just a .491 OPS in 78 career plate appearances in the majors. He'll officially return to the minors to begin 2026 after posting a .649 OPS in the Grapefruit League, but his extreme defensive versatility will keep the door open for a return to the bigs sometime this year. |
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Bennett Sousa Bennett Sousa Will open season on IL
Thu, Mar 19, 2026, 2:08 PM
Manager Joe Espada announced Thursday that Sousa will begin the regular season on the 15-day injured list due to a left oblique injury, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Analysis: Sousa injured his oblique during his last Grapefruit League appearance on a fielding play. It's another blow to the Houston bullpen, as Sousa will join closer Josh Hader (biceps) on the injured list to open the season. The 30-year-old Sousa pitched in 44 games out of the Astros bullpen last regular season, logging a 2.84 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 59:15 K:BB across 50.2 innings. |
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Zach Dezenzo Zach Dezenzo Injures elbow during WBC
Wed, Mar 18, 2026, 9:13 AM
Astros manager Joe Espada said Wednesday that Dezenzo won't do any throwing over the next few days after his right elbow flared up while playing for Team Italy in the World Baseball Classic, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Espada noted that the injury isn't affecting Dezenzo at the plate, so the 25-year-old should still be available as a designated hitter over the Astros' final handful of Grapefruit League games. That said, Yordan Alvarez will be in line to serve as the Astros' primary designated hitter once the regular season gets underway, so Dezenzo will likely need to prove that he's able to throw at full distance and velocity before the end of camp to have a realistic shot at making the Opening Day roster as a backup corner infielder and corner outfielder. |
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Jeremy Pena Jeremy Pena Resumes throwing, will swing soon
Wed, Mar 18, 2026, 9:05 AM
Astros manager Joe Espada said Wednesday that Pena (finger) has resumed throwing and will start swinging a bat with both hands this weekend, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Pena has been out of action since fracturing the tip of his right ring finger while corralling a groundball for Team Dominican Republic in an exhibition game two weeks ago. The injury kept Pena from playing in the World Baseball Classic, but he was able to resume taking part in limited baseball activities last week and will take another step forward by throwing and swinging the bat. Espada said Wednesday that Pena "has not been ruled out" for Opening Day, but the shortstop's availability for the start of the season will depend on how his injured digit responds to the increased activity over the next few days. Carlos Correa would likely slide over from third base to cover shortstop if Pena needs to miss time to begin the season. |
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