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Braden Shewmake Braden Shewmake Resumes running
Mon, Jun 15, 2026, 5:52 PM
The Astros announced Monday that Shewmake (adductor) has taken part in baseball activity and is working his way through a running progression at the team's facility in Florida, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Analysis: Shewmake is making progress in his recovery from the right adductor strain that sent him to the injured list June 2, but the fact that he's conducting his rehab in Florida rather than with Houston suggests that his return isn't imminent. Once Shewmake eventually recovers from the adductor injury, he'll likely have to settle for a utility infield role now that Jose Altuve has beaten him back from the IL. |
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Yainer Diaz Yainer Diaz On track for activation Tuesday
Mon, Jun 15, 2026, 5:41 PM
Diaz (oblique) is expected to be reinstated from the 10-day injured list prior to Tuesday's game against the Tigers, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Diaz wasn't able to play a full nine-inning rehab game behind the plate Sunday as planned after Triple-A Sugar Land had its series finale rained out, but after returning to Houston, he was able to get in some live at-bats Monday at Daikin Park. Assuming his oblique isn't presenting any issues for him coming out of that workout, Diaz should step back in behind the plate Tuesday to catch for starting pitcher Hunter Brown (shoulder), who is also on track to be reinstated from the IL. Before the left oblique strain sent him to the shelf May 5, Diaz had gotten off to a slow start to the season, slashing just .235/.255/.347 with two home runs, 14 RBI and seven runs across 106 plate appearances. |
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Jayden Murray Jayden Murray Joins major-league bullpen
Mon, Jun 15, 2026, 3:21 PM
The Astros recalled Murray from Triple-A Sugar Land on Monday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Analysis: It will be the fourth stint in the big leagues this season for Murray, who has not fared well in his first three outings with the Astros, holding a 7.15 ERA and 5:7 K:BB across 11.1 frames. Murray will give manager Joe Espada a fresh option in the bullpen. |
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Alimber Santa Alimber Santa Returning to Triple-A
Mon, Jun 15, 2026, 3:17 PM
The Astros optioned Santa to Triple-A Sugar Land on Monday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Analysis: Santa has made eight relief appearances for Houston this season, giving up five runs (one earned) with an 8:5 KK:B over 12.2 frames. He had pitched both of the previous two days, so the Astros are sending Santa down in favor of a fresh bullpen arm in Jayden Murray, who was recalled from Sugar Land. |
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Jake Meyers Jake Meyers Getting break Monday
Mon, Jun 15, 2026, 3:12 PM
Meyers is not in the lineup for Monday's contest against the Tigers.
Analysis: Meyers is slashing only .171/.237/.286 so far in June, so he'll get a day to regroup. Taylor Trammell is handling center-field duties for the Astros. |
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Joey Loperfido Joey Loperfido Not starting against righty
Mon, Jun 15, 2026, 3:08 PM
Loperfido is absent from the lineup for Monday's game against the Tigers.
Analysis: The left-handed-hitting Loperfido had started all three games against righty hurlers since being recalled from Triple-A Sugar Land last week, but he will take a seat in this one as the Tigers send right-hander Troy Melton to the hill. Loperfido is hitless in 15 plate appearance since being recalled from Sugar Land. Taylor Trammell will patrol left field for Houston in Monday's series opener. |
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Lance McCullers Jr. Lance McCullers Jr. Begins mound work
Mon, Jun 15, 2026, 10:45 AM
Astros manager Joe Espada said Saturday that McCullers (shoulder) has resumed throwing off a mound, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: McCullers is being eased along slowly in his throwing program after landing on the shelf May 19 due to right shoulder inflammation. He still looks to be multiple weeks away from a return, as he'll need to complete multiple bullpen sessions and face live hitters before being cleared to head out on what will most likely be a multi-start minor-league rehab assignment. With both Hunter Brown (shoulder) and Cristian Javier (shoulder) poised to beat him back from the injured list, McCullers may not have a rotation spot waiting for him upon his activation. The 32-year-old righty struggled to a 6.86 ERA and 1.53 WHIP over 39.1 innings in his eight starts before hitting the IL. |
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Cristian Javier Cristian Javier Third rehab start gets postponed
Mon, Jun 15, 2026, 10:37 AM
Javier (shoulder) didn't make a rehab start Sunday as planned after Triple-A Sugar Land had its game against Sacramento get postponed due to rain, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: The Astros haven't revealed whether Javier will merely have his next rehab start pushed back a couple of days, or if he'll instead throw a simulated game to stay on schedule with his throwing. After retiring just two of the six batters he faced in his first rehab appearance with Double-A Corpus Christi on June 3, Javier was much more effective while shifting his assignment to Sugar Land for his second start last Tuesday. In that start, Javier struck out three over three perfect innings while tossing 44 pitches (29 strikes). He'll likely need to build up his pitch count to the 70-to-80 range before the Astros bring him back from the 60-day injured list. |
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Peter Lambert Peter Lambert Set to start Wednesday
Sun, Jun 14, 2026, 3:54 PM
Lambert (hand) is listed as Houston's probable starting pitcher for Wednesday's game against Detroit, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: The right-hander departed his previous start after getting hit in the hand by a comebacker, but it appears the injury won't cost him a turn through the rotation. Lambert has a 3-0 record with a 3.32 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 18:11 K:BB in 21.2 innings across his past four starts. |
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Christian Vazquez Christian Vazquez Handed day off
Sun, Jun 14, 2026, 1:24 PM
Vazquez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Royals.
Analysis: Vazquez will get a breather for the series finale after he had started behind the plate in each of Houston's previous four games. Rookie Collin Price will handle catching duties Sunday. |
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Taylor Trammell Taylor Trammell Sitting against right-hander
Sun, Jun 14, 2026, 1:22 PM
Trammell is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Royals.
Analysis: Trammell will take a seat for the fourth time in five games, with two of his absences coming against right-handed pitchers and two coming against lefties. The 28-year-old looks like he'll be part of a timeshare in left field with Joey Loperfido for the time being. |
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Jose Altuve Jose Altuve Resting up Sunday
Sun, Jun 14, 2026, 1:20 PM
Altuve is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Royals.
Analysis: Altuve will be rested for a second straight Sunday in what's presumably part of a management plan following his recent return from a stint on the injured list due to an oblique strain. Brice Matthews will cover second base and bat seventh in the series finale. |
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Isaac Paredes Isaac Paredes Receiving afternoon off
Sun, Jun 14, 2026, 1:18 PM
Paredes is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Royals.
Analysis: Raynel Delgado will make his first career MLB start while filling in at third base in place of Paredes, who appears to be receiving a routine day off. Paredes had started in each of the Astros' last 15 games, slashing .192/.333/.500 with four home runs, 13 RBI and nine runs during that stretch. |
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Hunter Brown Hunter Brown Rejoining rotation Tuesday
Sun, Jun 14, 2026, 10:14 AM
Brown (shoulder) will be reinstated from the 60-day injured list to start Tuesday's game against the Tigers, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: The right-hander has fully recovered from a Grade 2 shoulder strain and is ready to rejoin the Astros after a four-start rehab assignment. Brown built up to five innings during his final rehab outing with Triple-A Sugar Land, and he'll likely have minor workload restrictions in his first couple starts back with Houston after the lengthy absence. The 27-year-old was dominant in his first two starts of the year prior to the injury, giving up just one run on five hits with a 17:6 K:BB across 10.2 innings. |
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Christian Walker Christian Walker Plates three runs Saturday
Sun, Jun 14, 2026, 7:56 AM
Walker went 1-for-5 with a home run and three RBI in Saturday's win over the Royals.
Analysis: Walker launched a two-run shot in the top of the fourth inning, giving him 18 homers on the year. The first baseman then plated the game-winning run in the top of the ninth with an RBI groundout. Walker has hit safely in nine of his 11 games since the beginning of June, but he's hitting just .239 over that span with a .749 OPS, two homers, nine RBI and five runs scored in 48 plate appearances. |
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Bryan King Bryan King Earns win with perfect inning
Sun, Jun 14, 2026, 7:12 AM
King (1-1) earned the win Saturday against the Royals after pitching a perfect eighth inning, striking out one.
Analysis: King entered the game in the bottom of the eighth inning in a 7-7 tie, but he needed just 17 pitches (10 strikes) to retire Nick Loftin, Lane Thomas and Kameron Misner. King, who's back in a setup role now that Josh Hader has come off the IL, hasn't given up a run in each of his last seven appearances. He owns a 1.05 WHIP and 5:2 K:BB across 6.2 innings over that stretch. |
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Mike Burrows Mike Burrows Inefficient in no-decision
Sun, Jun 14, 2026, 7:08 AM
Burrows didn't factor into the decision Saturday against the Royals after allowing five runs (four earned) on seven hits and two walks across five innings. He struck out five.
Analysis: The five strikeouts were Burrows' best output since he fanned six in a win over the Rangers on May 27, but that was the lone bright spot for the right-hander. He's given up at least four earned runs in five of his last six starts and owns a 6.95 ERA with a 1.72 WHIP over that stretch. Even more worrying is that his peripherals over that span look troublesome, as he's produced a 6.1 K/9, 4.3 BB/9, and 2.7 HR/9. Burrows is scheduled to make his next start at home against the Guardians next weekend. |
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Bryan Abreu Bryan Abreu Fifth save of season
Sun, Jun 14, 2026, 6:45 AM
Abreu recorded the save Saturday against the Royals after tossing a scoreless ninth inning, allowing one hit.
Analysis: Josh Hader earned the save Friday, but since he recently returned from the injured list, it seems the Astros are not comfortable using him on back-to-back days. Abreu had no problem stepping in for the ninth to secure his fifth save of the season. The right-hander might have a 6.56 ERA across 27 appearances and 23.1 innings this season, but he's gone 5-for-5 in save chances and also has five holds. He should remain a reliable late-inning option for the Astros. |
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Ronel Blanco Ronel Blanco Nearing rehab assignment
Sat, Jun 13, 2026, 4:37 PM
Blanco (elbow) tossed 40 pitches in a simulated game Saturday and will soon start a rehab stint in the Florida Complex League, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Blanco has been sidelined all season while continuing his recovery from last June's Tommy John surgery with an internal brace. The right-hander has been throwing bullpens for a few months and progressed to facing live hitters in late May. Blanco now appears ready to return to game action in the FCL, though he isn't expected to be ready to pitch for the Astros until after the All-Star break. |
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Yainer Diaz Yainer Diaz Could return early next week
Sat, Jun 13, 2026, 4:33 PM
Diaz (oblique) could rejoin the Astros during the team's series versus Detroit that begins Monday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Diaz has been sidelined since early May due to a left oblique strain. He began a minor-league rehab assignment June 9 and has gone 2-for-11 with a walk through three games with Triple-A Sugar Land. Diaz figures to reclaim his role as Houston's No. 1 catcher upon his return. |
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