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Jeremy Pena Jeremy Pena Taking live batting practice
Tue, Apr 28, 2026, 4:14 PM
Pena (hamstring) began taking at-bats in live batting practice Tuesday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Analysis: Pena was cleared to begin running last week, and he appears to be making strides in his recovery from a right hamstring strain now that he's received the green light to face live pitching. Manager Joe Espada added that the 28-year-old infielder is close to beginning a rehab assignment in the minor leagues, though he remains without a firm return timeline. |
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Kai-Wei Teng Kai-Wei Teng Will be used as opener
Tue, Apr 28, 2026, 3:40 PM
Teng is slated to serve as an opening pitcher in Tuesday's game in Baltimore, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Teng has recorded more than three outs in seven of 11 relief outings this season, so he could cover more than one inning Tuesday. However, he's not stretched out enough to make a typical start, so Houston will be treating Tuesday's contest as a bullpen day. Ryan Weiss is a candidate to cover multiple innings in relief once Teng exits the game. |
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Activated from 7-day IL
Mon, Apr 27, 2026, 11:14 PM
Pecko (thoracic outlet syndrome) was activated from the 7-day injured list Friday.
Analysis: Pecko made three rehab appearances in April while working his way back from thoracic outlet syndrome. He posted a sparkling 1.13 ERA with 15 strikeouts over eight innings during this stretch. Pecko made his first appearance at Triple-A Sugar Land over the weekend, working three scoreless frames while striking out six and walking one. |
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Ryan Weiss Ryan Weiss Looks set to return to bullpen
Mon, Apr 27, 2026, 10:56 AM
Weiss appears in line to move to the Houston bullpen after Kai-Wei Teng was named the team's starter for Tuesday's game in Baltimore, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Analysis: Weiss was ineffective in two starts after entering the Astros rotation, allowing a total of four runs on eight hits and eight walks over seven innings. Teng isn't fully stretched out to handle a typical starter's workload, so Weiss could be needed in long relief Tuesday. Weiss has collected a 6.50 ERA, 2.17 WHIP and 22:14 K:BB over 18 innings covering two starts and five relief outings this season. |
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Kai-Wei Teng Kai-Wei Teng Tapped for start Tuesday
Mon, Apr 27, 2026, 10:45 AM
Teng has been named the Astros' starting pitcher for Tuesday's game in Baltimore, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Analysis: Tuesday had been Ryan Weiss' turn in the rotation, but Weiss appears headed back to the bullpen. Teng has pitched well as a multi-inning reliever this season, collecting a 2.16 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 16:6 K:BB across 16.2 frames. The right-hander made seven starts last season for the Giants and was deployed mostly as a starting pitcher in the minors, so he shouldn't require a lengthy period of time to get fully stretched out. However, with Tatsuya Imai (arm) poised to return from the injured list, Teng's stint in the rotation could be brief. |
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Isaac Paredes Isaac Paredes Continues to heat up with homer
Sun, Apr 26, 2026, 10:14 PM
Paredes went 2-for-4 with a home run, three RBI and three runs scored in Sunday's 7-4 win over the Yankees.
Analysis: Paredes crossed the plate a season-high three times, also tallying a season-most three RBI. As long as the infielder continues to occupy a premium spot in Houston's lineup -- he's hit third in three straight games -- Paredes should continue to carry plenty of RBI upside. He's gone 9-for-27 (.333) with three homers and eight RBI over his past seven outings to raise his OPS to .711 for the year. |
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Christian Walker Christian Walker Stays hot with homer, double
Sun, Apr 26, 2026, 5:57 PM
Walker went 3-for-4 with a home run, a double and four RBI in Sunday's 7-4 win over the Yankees.
Analysis: Walker extended his hitting streak to four games Sunday and also went deep in his second consecutive contest. The veteran first baseman is off to a strong start at the plate in 2026, batting .291 with seven homers, eight doubles, 23 RBI and 13 walks across 103 at-bats. Walker is already up to four three-hit efforts on the campaign as well. |
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Spencer Arrighetti Spencer Arrighetti Strikes out eight in gem
Sun, Apr 26, 2026, 5:45 PM
Arrighetti (3-0) notched the win Sunday against the Yankees, allowing one run on three hits and one walk in seven innings. He struck out eight.
Analysis: The right-hander did serve up a pair of extra-base hits, including a sixth-inning home run to Aaron Judge, but he was excellent otherwise Sunday in what was his longest appearance of the campaign thus far. Arrighetti has now begun his season with three straight starts of at least five innings, giving up two runs or fewer in each outing. He's set to bring a strong 2.00 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 21:9 K:BB over 18 frames into his next start versus the Red Sox. |
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Tatsuya Imai Tatsuya Imai Will begin rehab stint Tuesday
Sun, Apr 26, 2026, 11:35 AM
Imai (arm) is slated to begin a minor-league rehab assignment with Double-A Corpus Christi on Tuesday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Imai landed on the IL due to right arm fatigue April 13. Imaging came back clean, and the Japanese hurler has been building up his workload since, which included him tossing 45 pitches in a bullpen session Friday. Imai will now progress to game action with Corpus Christi and appears to be on track to rejoin the Astros in the first half of May. |
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Yainer Diaz Yainer Diaz Not starting Sunday
Sun, Apr 26, 2026, 10:36 AM
Diaz isn't in the Astros' lineup Sunday against the Yankees, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: He'll begin on the bench with Christian Vazquez doing the catching. Diaz is in the midst of a five-game hitting streak, during which he's gone 6-for-20 with a home run, two doubles and three RBI. |
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Jose Altuve Jose Altuve Getting breather Sunday
Sun, Apr 26, 2026, 10:33 AM
Altuve is out of the starting lineup Sunday versus the Yankees, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Altuve started the previous nine contests, but the veteran second baseman had just two hits over his past 20 at-bats, so he'll get a chance to recharge. Braden Shewmake is starting at second base for Houston in Altuve's stead Sunday. |
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Colton Gordon Colton Gordon Sent down to Sugar Land
Sat, Apr 25, 2026, 1:52 PM
The Astros optioned Gordon to Triple-A Sugar Land on Saturday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Gordon has struggled since arriving in the majors April 14, giving up 12 earned runs in just 9.1 innings across four appearances. He'll now head back to the minors to right the ship, and Bennett Sousa (oblique) will come off the injured list to fill the open bullpen spot. |
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Bennett Sousa Bennett Sousa Officially activated
Sat, Apr 25, 2026, 1:48 PM
The Astros reinstated Sousa (oblique) from the injured list Saturday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: After spending the first month of the season on the injured list working his way back from an oblique strain, Sousa will now rejoin the Astros' bullpen. He'll likely settle into a high-leverage role and could even be in the mix for saves while Josh Hader (biceps) is sidelined. Colton Gordon was optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move. |
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Yainer Diaz Yainer Diaz Homers in loss
Sat, Apr 25, 2026, 10:41 AM
Diaz went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an RBI single in Friday's 12-4 loss to the Yankees.
Analysis: Diaz was a bright spot on an otherwise rough evening for Houston. The catcher got the Astros on the board with a two-out, RBI single in the second inning before launching his second home run of the season in the seventh. Diaz is slowly starting to heat up after a slow start to the year -- he has at least one hit in each of his last four contests, going 5-for-16 (.313) with three extra-base hits in that span. Overall, Diaz is batting .213 with a .571 OPS, 12 RBI and three runs scored through his first 80 plate appearances in 2026. |
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Braden Shewmake Braden Shewmake Homers in Astros debut
Sat, Apr 25, 2026, 10:29 AM
Shewmake went 1-for-2 with a solo home run in Friday's 12-4 loss to the Yankees.
Analysis: Shewmake's first at-bat with Houston came as a pinch hitter for Carlos Correa in the seventh inning, with the Astros in a 12-3 hole. The 28-year-old infielder responded with his second career MLB homer, a 403-foot blast off Fernando Cruz. Shewmake spent the entire 2024 and 2025 seasons in the Yankees' system -- he slashed .243/.317/.361 with four homers and 15 steals in 85 games last year with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Shewmake figures to remain with the Astros as a bench option until Jeremy Pena (hamstring) and/or Nick Allen (back) return from the IL. |
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Dustin Harris Dustin Harris Ready to go Friday
Fri, Apr 24, 2026, 5:20 PM
Harris (hand) is starting in left field and batting seventh Friday against the Yankees, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Analysis: Harris was held out of the lineup Wednesday against the Guardians after suffering hand contusion Tuesday, but he's good to go after Thursday's team off day. Since being claimed off waivers April 18, Harris has gone 0-for-6 with a walk and two runs in three games with the Astros. |
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Bennett Sousa Bennett Sousa Expected back Saturday
Fri, Apr 24, 2026, 4:46 PM
Sousa (oblique) is likely to be activated from the injured list Saturday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Sousa was cleared to begin a rehab assignment April 11 and has since made three appearances in the minors, posting a 9:1 K:BB across 3.2 shutout innings. The 31-year-old lefty will presumably take on a high-leverage role after posting a 2.84 ERA in 50.2 innings last season, and he could be in the mix for saves while Josh Hader (biceps) is on the IL. |
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Tatsuya Imai Tatsuya Imai Nearing rehab assignment
Fri, Apr 24, 2026, 4:09 PM
Astros manager Joe Espada told reporters that Imai's (arm) bullpen session Friday "looked good," and that the right-hander's next step is to embark on a rehab assignment, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Per McTaggart, Imai tossed 45 pitches during Friday's bullpen session. Imai has been steadily building up his workload since landing on the 15-day injured list April 13 due to right arm fatigue. It appears the 27-year-old is ready to take the next step in his recovery program by going on a rehab assignment, and he'll likely need at least a couple of outings without a setback before returning to the majors. |
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Hunter Brown Hunter Brown Began throwing program Tuesday
Fri, Apr 24, 2026, 1:51 PM
Brown (shoulder) began a throwing program Tuesday, playing catching from 75 feet, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: It's a significant step in Brown's rehab from a shoulder strain. Sidelined since throwing six innings of one-run ball with eight strikeouts against the Red Sox on March 31, Brown is expected to be sidelined through late May, according to GM Dana Brown. Once he builds his arm back up, Brown will likely require a multi-start rehab assignment. |
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Nate Pearson Nate Pearson Kicks off rehab assignment
Fri, Apr 24, 2026, 8:21 AM
Pearson (elbow) permitted one run on one hit and four walks over two innings in his first rehab start with Triple-A Sugar Land on Thursday.
Analysis: Pearson hit some bumps in the road in his recovery from an offseason cleanup surgery on his pitching elbow, but he's finally ready for game action. Given that he threw 53 pitches in his first rehab outing, it seems Pearson will be stretched out as a rotation option for the Astros. That means his rehab assignment will take longer, though the club could alter plans and activate him as a reliever if a need arises in the bullpen. |
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