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Peter Lambert Peter Lambert Reunites with Astros
Fri, Mar 27, 2026, 7:12 PM
Lambert signed a minor-league contract with the Astros on Friday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: The Astros released Lambert on Tuesday after informing him he hadn't made the Opening Day roster, but the 28-year-old right-hander will return to the organization after testing the free-agent market. He will begin the year as bullpen depth at Triple-A Sugar Land. |
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Enyel De Los Santos Enyel De Los Santos Set for Triple-A appearance
Fri, Mar 27, 2026, 5:15 PM
De los Santos (knee) will make a rehab appearance at Triple-A Sugar Land on Friday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: De Los Santos opened up the season on the 15-day injured list because of a right knee strain he sustained at the start of spring camp. The reliever made one appearance late in spring training, and he'll continue his rehab at Triple-A. |
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Bennett Sousa Bennett Sousa Has Grade 1 oblique strain
Fri, Mar 27, 2026, 5:13 PM
Sousa's oblique injury has been identified as a Grade 1 strain, and he isn't expected to miss more than the minimum 15 days, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Sousa was officially placed on the 15-day injured list Wednesday, and further testing showed he's not dealing with a severe injury. While he may not be ready for activation immediately after the minimum 15 days, he should be back shortly after. Once healthy, Sousa should serve as one of the Astros' top relievers. |
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Josh Hader Josh Hader Completes bullpen Friday
Fri, Mar 27, 2026, 5:09 PM
Hader (biceps) threw a bullpen Friday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Hader's scheduled bullpen seemingly went as planned, which means the veteran lefty is still on schedule. Astros general Manager Dana Brown said Thursday that Hader will begin facing hitters by mid-April, so he's still a ways away from returning. |
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Isaac Paredes Isaac Paredes In lineup again Friday
Fri, Mar 27, 2026, 3:22 PM
Paredes will bat third and DH in Friday's game against the Angels.
Analysis: Paredes started at third base on Opening Day due to the absence of Jeremy Pena (finger), but even with Pena back in action, Paredes remains in the lineup. Houston moved Yordan Alvarez to left field to avoid a same-handed matchup between Joey Loperfido and Halos' starter Yusei Kikuchi. While Paredes may not have an everyday role, he could force his way into the lineup if his bat gets hot. |
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Joey Loperfido Joey Loperfido On bench against LHP
Fri, Mar 27, 2026, 3:18 PM
Loperfido isn't part of the lineup for Friday's game against the Angels.
Analysis: Loperfido will avoid a matchup with left-hander Yusei Kikuchi, which means Yordan Alvarez will draw a start in left field and Isaac Paredes will DH. Loperfido went 2-for-4 with a double on Opening Day. |
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Jake Meyers Jake Meyers Idle Friday
Fri, Mar 27, 2026, 2:59 PM
Meyers is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Angels.
Analysis: Meyers will cede center field duties to Brice Matthews on Friday. Meyers went 0-for-3 with a strikeout and a walk on Opening Day while batting ninth. |
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Jeremy Pena Jeremy Pena In lineup Friday
Fri, Mar 27, 2026, 2:56 PM
Pena (finger) is leading off and playing shortstop Friday against the Angels.
Analysis: Pena was held out on Opening Day, but he's back in action for game No. 2. His return to the lineup pushes Carlos Correa to third base, while Isaac Paredes moves to DH and Yordan Alvarez fills left field. Pena sustained a fractured finger March 4. |
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Cesar Salazar Cesar Salazar Receives outright assignment
Fri, Mar 27, 2026, 1:37 PM
Salazar cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Sugar Land on Friday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Salazar was designated for assignment Wednesday, but the 30-year-old catcher will remain within the Astros' organization. He could be called upon if Yainer Diaz or Christian Vazquez sustain an injury. |
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Hunter Brown Hunter Brown Strikes out nine in no-decision
Thu, Mar 26, 2026, 6:59 PM
Brown did not factor into the decision Thursday against the Angels, allowing four hits and four walks across 4.2 scoreless innings. He struck out nine.
Analysis: Brown was impressive Thursday though he'd ultimately come away with a no-decision after needing 102 pitches to get through 4.2 frames. The 27-year-old Brown is looking to build on a breakout 2025 campaign, where he posted a 2.43 ERA with a 1.03 WHIP and 206 strikeouts across 31 starts (185.1 innings). Brown's currently slated to face the Red Sox at home in his next outing. |
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Josh Hader Josh Hader Facing hitters by mid-April
Thu, Mar 26, 2026, 12:02 PM
Astros general manager Dana Brown said Thursday that Hader (biceps) will begin facing hitters by "mid-April," Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Working his way back from left biceps tendinitis, Hader has been throwing off the mound since early March and is slated for another bullpen session Friday. He's still a couple weeks away from facing hitters, though, and will surely need a rehab assignment before being activated, making it unlikely he'll be back before late April. Houston will use Bryan Abreu at closer while Hader is sidelined. |
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Brice Matthews Brice Matthews Claims Opening Day roster spot
Thu, Mar 26, 2026, 11:27 AM
The Astros announced Wednesday that Matthews won a spot on the Opening Day roster.
Analysis: Matthews is set to begin the season as a utility player for the Astros after producing an .817 OPS while seeing time at second base, left field and center field during spring training. The 24-year-old is also capable of playing shortstop, though the Astros will go with Carlos Correa at that position in Thursday's season opener versus the Angels as a replacement for the banged-up Jeremy Pena (finger). Matthews, who slashed just .167/.222/.452 in 47 plate appearances during his first taste of the majors last season, is likely to see most of his starts against left-handed pitching in the early going. |
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Joey Loperfido Joey Loperfido Starts in left field, bats fifth
Thu, Mar 26, 2026, 11:19 AM
Loperfido will start in left field and bat fifth in Thursday's opener against the Angels.
Analysis: Loperfido beat out Zach Cole for the Astros' left-field job, and he's occupying a favorable spot in the batting order versus right-hander Jose Soriano. The 26-year-old Loperfido has an intriguing power/speed skill set but will have to make enough contact to keep a regular job. He has a 33.3 percent strikeout rate in his first 122 major-league games. |
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Isaac Paredes Isaac Paredes Handling third base Opening Day
Thu, Mar 26, 2026, 11:14 AM
Paredes will start at third base and bat third in Thursday's opener versus the Angels.
Analysis: Jeremy Pena (finger) is on the active roster but not quite ready to play yet, so Paredes will occupy the hot corner while Carlos Correa slides over to shortstop. When the Astros' roster is fully healthy, it's going to be more difficult for Paredes to find a regular spot in the lineup. |
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Jeremy Pena Jeremy Pena Not in lineup for opener
Thu, Mar 26, 2026, 11:06 AM
Pena (finger) is not in the lineup for Thursday's opener against the Angels.
Analysis: Per Chandler Rome of The Athletic, Pena has progressed enough in his recovery from a fractured right ring finger to avoid the 10-day injured list, but he's not quite ready to play in major-league games. Pena is at the Astros' nearby Triple-A Sugar Land affiliate Thursday morning getting in some live at-bats, and it's unclear whether he will be available off the bench Thursday or if Houston will play a man short. Consider him day-to-day for the time being. With Pena out, Carlos Correa will slide over to shortstop and Isaac Paredes will start at third base. |
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Zach Cole Zach Cole Misses out on Opening Day roster
Wed, Mar 25, 2026, 2:39 PM
The Astros optioned Cole to Triple-A Sugar Land on Wednesday.
Analysis: Over the final two and a half weeks of the 2025 season, Cole turned some heads by producing a .255/.327/.553 slash line in his first taste of the big leagues, though it came with a bloated 38.5 percent strikeout rate. After Cole continued to strike out at a 40 percent clip during the Grapefruit League and was unable to provide enough power (.200 ISO) to compensate for it, the Astros will elect to send the 25-year-old back to Triple-A for further refinement. Houston will carry Brice Matthews on its Opening Day roster as a fourth outfielder and backup infielder. |
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Christian Roa Christian Roa Wins bullpen job in Houston
Wed, Mar 25, 2026, 2:00 PM
The Astros selected Roa's contract from Triple-A Sugar Land on Wednesday.
Analysis: Roa came to Astros camp as a non-roster invitee and won a spot by allowing just one run with a 13:0 K:BB over 9.2 Grapefruit League innings. The righty has just two games of big-league experience under his belt and should be used in low-leverage situations. |
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Christian Vazquez Christian Vazquez Contract selected
Wed, Mar 25, 2026, 1:57 PM
The Astros selected Vazquez's contract from Triple-A Sugar Land on Wednesday.
Analysis: Vazquez will open the season as the Astros' backup catcher behind starter Yainer Diaz. He's hit only .215/.267/.311 the past three seasons in the majors but remains a capable defensive backstop. |
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Josh Hader Josh Hader Officially placed on injured list
Wed, Mar 25, 2026, 12:35 PM
The Astros placed Hader (biceps) on the 15-day injured list Wednesday.
Analysis: Hader resumed mound work in early March but has not made an appearance in a game since he was diagnosed with left biceps tendinitis in early February. The southpaw is sure to require a rehab assignment before rejoining Houston's active roster. Bryan Abreu will be the Astros' closer while Hader is sidelined. |
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Nate Pearson Nate Pearson Goes on 15-day IL
Wed, Mar 25, 2026, 12:29 PM
The Astros placed Pearson (elbow) on the 15-day injured list Wednesday.
Analysis: Pearson had to be shut down in early March after feeling soreness in his surgically repaired right elbow. It's not clear whether he's resumed throwing, and even if he has he's surely looking at longer than a minimum stay on the IL. |
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