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Jeremy Pena Jeremy Pena Remaining out Thursday
Thu, Aug 20, 2026, 4:03 PM
Pena (hand) isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Angels, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Pena made an early exit from Wednesday's contest after taking a pitch off his hand, and he'll need at least one day off to recover before returning to the starting nine. Nick Allen will start at shortstop as a result and bat eighth. |
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Christian Walker Christian Walker Resting up Thursday
Thu, Aug 20, 2026, 3:59 PM
Walker isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Angels, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Walker will get a chance to regroup Thursday after going 0-for-15 with eight strikeouts across his last four games. LaMonte Wade will start at first base and bat leadoff while Walker sits. |
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Yainer Diaz Yainer Diaz Sitting down Thursday
Thu, Aug 20, 2026, 3:57 PM
Diaz isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Angels, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Diaz will sit out a second consecutive game after posting a .443 OPS in 37 plate appearances since the beginning of August. Christian Vazquez will start behind the plate and bat ninth Thursday. |
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Jeremy Pena Jeremy Pena Exits after HBP
Wed, Aug 19, 2026, 8:22 PM
Pena was removed from Wednesday's game against the Angels due to a right hand contusion, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Analysis: Pena initially remained in the game after taking a pitch off his hand in the first inning, but he was eventually lifted for a pinch hitter in the third. The Astros are officially calling his injury a bruise, which suggests he avoided suffering a fracture, but he may still sit out a game or two while he manages lingering soreness. |
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Yainer Diaz Yainer Diaz Absent from lineup
Wed, Aug 19, 2026, 3:07 PM
Diaz is out of the lineup for Wednesday's contest versus the Angels.
Analysis: Diaz started the last two games, which was preceded by a stretch with three straight contests on the bench. He'll retreat to the pine Wednesday while Christian Vazquez handles the catching duties for the Astros. |
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Daulton Varsho Daulton Varsho Getting day off Wednesday
Wed, Aug 19, 2026, 3:04 PM
Varsho is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Angels.
Analysis: Varsho will get his first day off since he landed with Houston at the trade deadline. He has just six hits in 48 at-bats in his first 13 games for the Astros. Taylor Trammell will shift over to center field, and LaMonte Wade will get the start in left field Wednesday. |
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Called up ahead of MLB debut Wednesday
Wed, Aug 19, 2026, 2:53 PM
The Astros selected Pecko's contract from Triple-A Sugar Land on Wednesday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Analysis: The 23-year-old righty will start and make his major-league debut Wednesday against the Angels after recording a 4.94 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 71:28 K:BB across 74.2 innings with Sugar Land this season. Pecko will likely need to perform well Wednesday in order to ensure he receives additional starts with the Astros, as Mike Burrows (elbow) has already completed a rehab start and could be ready to return from the 15-day injured list the next time Pecko's turn in the rotation comes up. |
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Miguel Ullola Miguel Ullola Sent back to Triple-A
Wed, Aug 19, 2026, 2:48 PM
The Astros optioned Ullola to Triple-A Sugar Land on Wednesday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Analysis: The righty reliever will head back to Triple-A as the Astros open up room on the active roster for right-hander Ethan Pecko, who was called up from Sugar Land ahead of his scheduled start Wednesday versus the Angels. Ullola has surrendered three runs on four hits and one walk with nine strikeouts across six innings with Houston this season. |
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Brice Matthews Brice Matthews Shifted to 60-day IL
Wed, Aug 19, 2026, 2:45 PM
The Astros transferred Matthews (knee) from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday.
Analysis: The move clears a spot on the 40-man roster for right-hander Ethan Pecko, who was called up from Triple-A Sugar Land ahead of his scheduled start Wednesday against the Angels. Matthews has been on the shelf since July 17 due to a left knee sprain. He had been targeting a return to action for the Astros before the end of the month and had resumed hitting, fielding ground balls and running as of Aug. 8, per MLB.com. However, as a result of his move to the 60-day IL, Matthews won't be eligible for activation until Sept. 12. |
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Slated for major-league debut Wednesday
Mon, Aug 17, 2026, 6:12 PM
Pecko is expected to be called up by the Astros and start in his major-league debut against the Angels on Wednesday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Pecko was scratched from his scheduled start with Triple-A Sugar Land on Sunday, and it appears the 23-year-old right-hander will get the call to make his first major-league start Wednesday. Pecko briefly saw some time on the 7-day IL earlier in the season due to thoracic outlet syndrome, but he has spent the majority of 2026 in Triple-A, where he has a 4-6 record across 17 games (15 starts) with a 4.94 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 71:28 K:BB over 74.2 innings. He figures to get a few turns in the Astros rotation, at least until Mike Burrows (elbow) is cleared to return from the 15-day IL. |
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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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