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Cristian Javier Cristian Javier Slotting back into rotation Tuesday
Mon, Aug 17, 2026, 12:41 PM
Javier will start Tuesday's game against the Angels in Houston, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Javier will be making his third consecutive start but will take the hill for the first time since Aug. 9, as the Astros were able to get by with a four-man rotation during a six-game slate last week. Over his prior two starts, Javier surrendered seven earned runs on 15 hits and one walk across 11 innings, so his spot in the rotation could be on shaky ground if he's unable to come through with an improved performance Tuesday. |
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Jeremy Pena Jeremy Pena Up to 14 homers
Mon, Aug 17, 2026, 7:01 AM
Pena went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 3-2 loss to the Mariners.
Analysis: Pena got the Astros on the board in the fourth inning with a solo shot off Bryan Woo, his 14th homer of the year, to cut the deficit to 2-1. While Pena now has three extra-base hits in his last four games, he's cooled off significantly at the plate, going just 4-for-43 (.093) across 10 contests prior to Sunday after going 27-for-64 (.422) with seven homers in his previous 15 games. Overall, Pena is now slashing .288/.343/.477 with 59 runs scored, 40 RBI and eight stolen bases across 335 plate appearances this season. |
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Hunter Brown Hunter Brown Struggles with control in third loss
Mon, Aug 17, 2026, 2:05 AM
Brown (3-3) took the loss Sunday, allowing two runs on three hits and five walks over five innings in a 3-2 loss to the Mariners. He struck out five.
Analysis: After giving up a solo homer to Randy Arozarena in the first inning, Brown generally limited the damage but struggled with his control, issuing five walks. The right-hander hadn't experienced notable control issues in previous seasons, but he's now allowed four-plus walks in four of his past eight outings and is sporting an overall 5.2 BB/9. In total, Brown owns a 3.67 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 72:40 K:BB across 68.2 innings (13 starts) and is tentatively scheduled to pitch Saturday against the Athletics. |
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Returns from shoulder injury
Sun, Aug 16, 2026, 9:58 PM
Tredwell (shoulder) struck out three and allowed one run on one hit and four walks over 3.2 innings Friday in a start for Double-A Corpus Christi after being reinstated from the 60-day injured list Wednesday.
Analysis: Tredwell made his 2026 debut after a strained shoulder had kept him on the shelf since the spring. Listed at 6-foot-8 and 245 pounds, Tredwell strikes an imposing presence on the mound but lacks the premium velocity that his frame would suggest, as his fastball typically sits in the low-90s. |
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Christian Vazquez Christian Vazquez Poaching playing time from Diaz
Sun, Aug 16, 2026, 4:02 PM
Vazquez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mariners.
Analysis: Though he'll hit the bench for the series finale, Vazquez may have temporarily pushed his way into a timeshare at catcher with the slumping Yainer Diaz. Since closing July with a pair of four-hit games, Diaz has produced a lowly .179/.233/.179 slash line through 12 contests in August. Vazquez drew starts over Diaz in each of the previous three games, going 2-for-6 with a solo home run, a walk and an additional run scored. |
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Taylor Trammell Taylor Trammell Taking seat Sunday
Sun, Aug 16, 2026, 3:59 PM
Trammell is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mariners.
Analysis: Trammell will retreat to the bench Sunday after he started in each of the last three games while going 1-for-11 with a 1:7 BB:K and a run scored during that span. Yordan Alvarez will take Trammell's spot in left field. |
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Cam Smith Cam Smith Receiving breather Sunday
Sun, Aug 16, 2026, 3:28 PM
Smith is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mariners.
Analysis: LaMonte Wade will step in as the Astros' right fielder after Smith occupied the position in each of the previous five games. Smith turned in multi-hit efforts in four of his first seven starts of August, but he's cooled down over his last four contests, going 2-for-15 with no walks and three strikeouts. |
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Miguel Ullola Miguel Ullola Back with Houston
Sun, Aug 16, 2026, 2:04 PM
The Astros recalled Ullola from Triple-A Sugar Land on Sunday.
Analysis: Ullola will be up with the Astros for the third time this season after giving up three earned runs on four hits and one walk while striking out seven batters across five innings over three relief appearances between his first two stints in the big leagues. He'll join the Houston bullpen as a replacement for Ronel Blanco, who was optioned to Triple-A. |
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Ronel Blanco Ronel Blanco Dropped from rotation, sent to Triple-A
Sun, Aug 16, 2026, 1:59 PM
The Astros optioned Blanco to Triple-A Sugar Land on Sunday.
Analysis: The 32-year-old right-hander has struggled to return to form since making his 2026 debut for the Astros in late July after completing his recovery from his June 2025 Tommy John surgery with an internal brace. After posting a 6.98 ERA and 1.34 WHIP through his first four starts with Houston, Blanco was shifted to a relief role and was promptly roughed up for five earned runs on seven hits and one walk in four innings in his first appearance out of the bullpen in Saturday's 10-5 loss to the Mariners. The Astros recalled right-hander Miguel Ullola from Triple-A to take Blanco's spot in the bullpen. |
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Potentially in line for call-up
Sun, Aug 16, 2026, 10:31 AM
Pecko was scratched ahead of his scheduled start with Triple-A Sugar Land on Sunday, potentially signaling that the Astros are planning to call him up, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: No injury was behind the decision to scratch Pecko, who has yet to make an appearance in the big leagues. The Astros seemingly have a spot available in the rotation, as Ronel Blanco was used in long relief during Saturday's 10-5 loss to the Mariners and has submitted a 7.71 ERA and 1.46 WHIP in five appearances (four starts) since returning from the injured list in late July. Regarded as one of the organization's top pitching prospects, the 23-year-old Pecko has submitted a 4.94 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 71:28 K:BB over 74.2 innings this season in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. |
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Hayden Wesneski Hayden Wesneski Season-high six Ks in short outing
Sat, Aug 15, 2026, 9:55 PM
Wesneski (2-1) took the loss against the Mariners on Saturday, allowing five runs on seven hits and one walk in four innings. He struck out six.
Analysis: Wesneski was never quite able to find his footing Saturday after coughing up four runs in the second inning, turning in his shortest outing of the campaign so far. The right-hander recorded a season high in punchouts for a positive note, but he's yet to reach the 90-pitch marker in any of his four starts since returning from Tommy John surgery. Wesneski will be trying to further build up his pitch count against the lowly Athletics his next time out, carrying a 5.16 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 18:7 K:BB over 22.2 innings. |
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Yainer Diaz Yainer Diaz Idle Saturday
Sat, Aug 15, 2026, 2:36 PM
Diaz isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Mariners, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Diaz will move to the bench Saturday after going just 5-for-27 (.185) at the plate to begin the month of August. Christian Vazquez will replace him as Houston's catcher and bat ninth. |
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Yordan Alvarez Yordan Alvarez Snaps power drought in win
Sat, Aug 15, 2026, 7:30 AM
Alvarez went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk in Friday's 10-7 extra-inning win over the Mariners.
Analysis: Alvarez got the Astros on the board with a solo shot off George Kirby, ending his longest stretch without a homer this season at 13 games. The slugger has still been productive despite lacking his usual pop, as he's now posted a .946 OPS with six RBI and seven runs scored in 12 August contests. He's slashing .323/.437/.626 with 36 homers, 88 RBI, 81 runs scored and one steal across 535 plate appearances, with a realistic shot at becoming baseball's first Triple Crown winner since Miguel Cabrera in 2012. |
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Jose Altuve Jose Altuve Swipes two bags in return
Sat, Aug 15, 2026, 7:18 AM
Altuve went 2-for-5 with a run scored and two stolen bases in Friday's 10-7 extra-inning win over the Mariners.
Analysis: Altuve returned after being hit by a pitch on the foot Wednesday, and he looked just fine, tallying two hits while swiping two bags. It was the veteran's fifth multi-hit effort in 11 August games, and he owns an .836 OPS with five RBI and six runs scored during the month. For the year, he's slashing .242/.305/.391 with 13 homers, 35 RBI, 55 runs scored and four steals across 414 plate appearances. |
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Christian Walker Christian Walker Delivers walk-off blast Friday
Sat, Aug 15, 2026, 7:13 AM
Walker went 2-for-5 with a home run, three RBI and two runs scored in Friday's 10-7 extra-inning win over the Mariners.
Analysis: Walker came up clutch, launching a three-run blast off Andres Munoz to end the game in the bottom of the 10th inning. It was a good time for the 35-year-old's first homer in 12 August contests, as he entered play on an 0-for-10 skid after opening the month with a hit in seven straight games. On the year, he's slashing .238/.317/.455 with 23 homers, 70 RBI and 61 runs scored across 489 plate appearances. |
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Peter Lambert Peter Lambert Strikes out six in no-decision
Sat, Aug 15, 2026, 7:08 AM
Lambert did not factor into the decision in Friday's 10-7 extra-inning win over the Mariners, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks with six strikeouts over five innings.
Analysis: Lambert allowed two runs in the first inning but settled in from there, generating 12 swinging strikes on 96 pitches while limiting the Mariners to just two hard-hit balls. The 29-year-old is now winless in six starts since the All-Star break despite yielding two earned runs or fewer and completing at least five innings in each of those outings. He'll carry a 3.11 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 117:46 K:BB across 118.2 innings this season into a home matchup with the Angels next week. |
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Jose Altuve Jose Altuve Back in lineup Friday
Fri, Aug 14, 2026, 3:09 PM
Altuve (foot) is back in the lineup for Friday's game against the Mariners, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Altuve exited Tuesday's game against the Giants after he was hit by a pitch on the left foot and was out of the lineup Wednesday ahead of Thursday's off day. Against Mariners righty George Kirby, Altuve is playing second base and batting fifth. |
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Tatsuya Imai Tatsuya Imai Avoids trouble in relief
Thu, Aug 13, 2026, 7:36 AM
Imai did not factor into the decision Wednesday against the Giants, allowing three hits and two walks over three scoreless innings. He struck out three.
Analysis: Making his second appearance in relief for the Astros, Imai managed to work his way through danger -- including a bases-loaded jam in the second inning -- ultimately holding San Francisco scoreless. Imai has now delivered back-to-back scoreless outings out of the bullpen, allowing just three hits while striking out eight over six innings in that span. Overall, his ERA sits at 5.29 this season with a 1.47 WHIP and 80:42 K:BB across 64.2 innings. |
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Josh Hader Josh Hader Notches 17th save
Wed, Aug 12, 2026, 6:37 PM
Hader turned in a perfect ninth inning to earn the save in Wednesday's 2-1 win over the Giants.
Analysis: Hader has been nearly untouchable of late, turning in nine straight hitless appearances (9.2 innings), issuing just two walks while striking out nine in that span. Hader improved to a perfect 17-for-17 in save chances this season while lowering his ERA to 0.96 with a 0.71 WHIP and 38:10 K:BB across 28 innings. |
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Ronel Blanco Ronel Blanco Available in relief Wednesday
Wed, Aug 12, 2026, 2:19 PM
Astros manager Joe Espada said that Blanco will be available out of the bullpen for Wednesday's game against the Giants, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Analysis: Blanco has struggled to the tune of a 6.98 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 17:11 K:BB over 19.1 innings while starting in his first four appearances since coming off the 60-day injured list July 20. The Astros will have reliever Bryan King open Wednesday's game and presumably cover an inning or two, but it's unclear if Espada intends to use Blanco or Tatsuya Imai in bulk relief, or if both pitchers will be called upon to eat innings. If Blanco ends up going unused Wednesday, he could step back into the rotation at some point during this weekend's series versus the Mariners. |
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