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Nick Allen Nick Allen Handling regular role at shortstop
Sun, Jul 5, 2026, 2:11 PM
Allen will start at shortstop and bat eighth in Sunday's game against the Rays.
Analysis: Since coming off the 10-day injured list Monday, Allen has drawn starts in five of Houston's ensuing six games while going 3-for-14 with a double, two walks, two runs and one RBI. Per Brian McTaggart of MLB.com, Astros manager Joe Espada said prior to Sunday's game that he anticipates top shortstop Jeremy Pena (calf) returning from the IL as soon as next Friday, so Allen's run as a regular in the lineup will soon come to an end. |
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Yainer Diaz Yainer Diaz Receiving breather Sunday
Sun, Jul 5, 2026, 2:08 PM
Diaz is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rays.
Analysis: He'll rest up for the series finale after logging starts behind the plate in each of the Astros' previous four games. Christian Vazquez will serve as Houston's catcher Sunday. |
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Jeremy Pena Jeremy Pena Could return next weekend
Sun, Jul 5, 2026, 12:40 PM
Pena (calf) is expected to play in a couple of rehab games at Triple-A Sugar Land this week could return from the 10-day injured list during the Astros' final series before the All-Star break next weekend against the Rangers, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: The veteran shortstop landed on the shelf last Tuesday due to a calf strain, but his absence looks like it will end up being a brief one. Pena was swinging a hot bat prior to getting hurt, having gone 8-for-21 with two walks, three RBI and five runs in his last five games. |
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Yordan Alvarez Yordan Alvarez Six RBI in two-homer game
Sat, Jul 4, 2026, 10:03 PM
Alvarez went 3-for-4 with two home runs and six RBI in Saturday's 10-8 win over the Rays.
Analysis: Alvarez bookended Saturday in dramatic fashion, first launching a first-inning solo shot and later blasting a walk-off two run jack in the ninth frame. The All-Star slugger now has a trio of three-hit games in his past four outings and four multi-homer efforts on the year. Through 388 plate appearances, Alvarez is slashing a robust .324/.433/.645 with 29 long balls, 16 doubles and 67 RBI. |
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Hunter Brown Hunter Brown Peppered for seven runs
Sat, Jul 4, 2026, 9:48 PM
Brown took a no-decision Saturday against the Rays, allowing seven runs on six hits and four walks in four innings. He struck out three.
Analysis: The Tampa Bay bats took it to Brown on Saturday early and often, tagging the hurler for at least one run in each of the first four innings. It was perhaps the worst outing of 2026 for the 27-year-old right-hander, who posted season highs in both runs and hits allowed while fanning a season-low three. Brown will try to get back on track his next time out in Texas, where he'll take a 3.68 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 35:17 K:BB over 29.1 innings. |
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Christian Roa Christian Roa Gets minor-league deal with Houston
Sat, Jul 4, 2026, 7:18 PM
The Astros signed Roa to a minor-league contract Friday and assigned him to Triple-A Sugar Land on Saturday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Analysis: Roa elected to enter free agency after being designated for assignment by the Cubs on June 24. He'll catch on with the Astros' organization for the second time this season after inking a minor-league deal with the team in early January before being DFA'd in late April. All seven of Roa's major-league outings came out of Houston's bullpen, but he has spent the majority of the 2026 season in Triple-A, where he has a 9.39 ERA, 2.02 WHIP and 23:10 K:BB across 15.1 innings. |
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Joey Loperfido Joey Loperfido Optioned to Triple-A
Sat, Jul 4, 2026, 2:22 PM
Houston optioned Loperfido to Triple-A Sugar Land on Saturday.
Analysis: Both Loperfido and Jake Meyers have been sent down to Triple-A, moves that correspond with the Astros recalling Zach Dezenzo from Sugar Land and reinstating LaMonte Wade (hamstring) from the 10-day injured list. With Loperfido no longer on the 26-man roster, that opens up more reps in the outfield for Wade, Dezenzo and Brice Matthews. Loperfido has a .647 OPS with one steal, 12 RBI and nine extra-base hits across 119 plate appearances in the majors this season. |
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Jake Meyers Jake Meyers Sent down to Triple-A
Sat, Jul 4, 2026, 2:20 PM
The Astros optioned Meyers to Triple-A Sugar Land on Saturday.
Analysis: Meyers was losing out on playing time to both Taylor Trammell and Brice Matthews, so Matthews will head to Triple-A, where he will serve in an everyday role in the outfield. He has a .580 OPS with one steal, three home runs and 11 RBI across 148 major-league plate appearances this season. |
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Zach Dezenzo Zach Dezenzo Back with Houston
Sat, Jul 4, 2026, 2:18 PM
The Astros recalled Dezenzo from Triple-A Sugar Land on Saturday.
Analysis: The move corresponds with LaMonte Wade (hamstring) being reinstated from the 10-day injured list and both Jake Meyers and Joey Loperfido being optioned to Sugar Land. Dezenzo has spent time both with the Astros and in the minors this season but has seen more runway in Triple-A, where he is slashing .264/.417/.363 with nine steals, two home runs and seven RBI over 115 plate appearances. Dezenzo could see a fair amount of reps in the outfield now that both Loperfido and Meyers are in the minors. |
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LaMonte Wade Jr. LaMonte Wade Jr. Back from 10-day IL
Sat, Jul 4, 2026, 2:15 PM
The Astros reinstated Wade (hamstring) from the 10-day injured list Saturday.
Analysis: Wade has fully recovered from a right hamstring strain that landed him on the 10-day IL in early June. He joined the Astros on June 4 after being released by the White Sox three days prior, and he could see some reps in the outfield after Houston optioned both Jake Meyers and Joey Loperfido to Triple-A Sugar Land in corresponding moves. |
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Spencer Arrighetti Spencer Arrighetti Rebounds with quality start Friday
Fri, Jul 3, 2026, 10:46 PM
Arrighetti did not factor into the decision in Friday's 3-1 loss to the Rays, allowing one run on two hits and one walk with four strikeouts over six innings.
Analysis: Arrighetti opened with five scoreless frames before allowing a solo homer in the sixth, generating 10 whiffs on just 73 pitches before departing in a 1-1 tie. It was a much-needed effort for the 26-year-old, who posted a 9.00 ERA in June and entered Friday having surrendered 14 earned runs over his previous two starts. He'll carry a 3.81 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 79:38 K:BB across 78 innings overall into a challenging road matchup with the Nationals next week. |
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Christian Walker Christian Walker Back in lineup Friday
Fri, Jul 3, 2026, 3:05 PM
Walker (back) is batting fourth and playing first base Friday against the Rays.
Analysis: Walker was removed from Wednesday's game against the Twins with lower-back stiffness, but Thursday's off day provided enough rest for the slugger. Walker is slashing .239/.310/.469 with 19 homers, 56 RBI, 45 runs scored and a 30:81 BB:K across 361 plate appearances this season. However, after a hot start to the campaign, Walker is batting .210 with a .702 OPS and 93 wRC+ since the beginning of May. |
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Bennett Sousa Bennett Sousa Moved to 60-day IL
Fri, Jul 3, 2026, 2:37 PM
The Astros transferred Sousa (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Friday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: The move was made in order to activate Cristian Javier (shoulder) from the 60-day injured list. Sousa hasn't pitched since May 4 and this doesn't alter his timeline, as he's still expected to rejoin the Houston bullpen following the All-Star break in a couple weeks. He's working his way back from elbow inflammation. |
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Cristian Javier Cristian Javier Activated from IL
Fri, Jul 3, 2026, 2:34 PM
The Astros activated Javier (shoulder) from the 60-day injured list Friday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Javier will work out of Houston's bullpen after missing the past three months with a shoulder strain. The right-hander operated as a starter during his rehab assignment, but the Astros are going to use the veteran out of the bullpen, at least initially. Manager Joe Espada said it's not necessarily a permanent move. |
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Miguel Ullola Miguel Ullola Sent back to minors
Fri, Jul 3, 2026, 8:47 AM
The Astros optioned Ullola to Triple-A Sugar Land on Thursday.
Analysis: Ullola couldn't have fared much better in his first two big-league appearances this week, logging four scoreless frames with a 7:0 K:BB and only two hits allowed. He should get another opportunity sooner rather than later, but for now Ullola's roster spot will be taken by Cristian Javier (shoulder), who is due back from the injured list Friday. |
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Braden Shewmake Braden Shewmake In midst of rehab assignment
Thu, Jul 2, 2026, 12:40 PM
Shewmake (adductor) has gone 3-for-9 with two doubles, three walks, one stolen base, three runs and one RBI over three rehab games between the rookie-level Florida Complex League and Triple-A Sugar Land.
Analysis: Shewmake began the minor-league assignment Saturday, appearing in two games in the FCL before moving to Triple-A on Wednesday. The 28-year-old is working his way back from a right adductor strain, which sent him to the injured list June 2. Once he's ready to rejoin Houston, Shewmake is likely to serve as a utility infielder. |
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Lance McCullers Jr. Lance McCullers Jr. Another strong rehab start
Thu, Jul 2, 2026, 11:25 AM
McCullers (shoulder) struck out three and allowed one earned run on four hits and one walk across four innings Wednesday in a rehab start with Triple-A Sugar Land.
Analysis: McCullers has been stellar through his first two rehab outings at Sugar Land, allowing just one earned run while posting a 7:1 K:BB over seven innings. The right-hander tossed 60 pitches in Wednesday's appearance, so he'll likely need to make at least one more start in the minors before Houston brings him back from the 15-day injured list. McCullers had posted a lowly 6.86 ERA and 1.53 WHIP in eight starts for Houston before being shelved May 19 due to a rotator cuff impingement, and despite the strong form he's showed in the minors, he could face an uphill battle to reclaim a spot in a crowded big-league rotation once activated. Though the Astros have already decided that Cristian Javier (shoulder) will go to the bullpen when he returns from the 60-day IL on Friday, Ronel Blanco (elbow) has also built up to the 60-pitch mark during his rehab assignment and could be prioritized ahead of McCullers for a starting role upon his activation from the IL. |
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Ronel Blanco Ronel Blanco Hits 60 pitches in rehab start
Thu, Jul 2, 2026, 11:19 AM
Blanco (elbow) struck out four and allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits and one walk across 4.1 innings Wednesday in a rehab start with Double-A Corpus Christi.
Analysis: Blanco pushed his pitch count up to 60 (45 strikes) in his third rehab start as he works his way back from the Tommy John surgery with an internal brace that he underwent last June. The right-hander will likely need to get stretched out to around 70-to-80 pitches before becoming a viable option for the Houston rotation, likely at some point shortly after the All-Star break. Before going under the knife last summer, Blanco turned in a 4.10 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 48:20 K:BB in 48.1 innings over nine starts with Houston. |
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Christian Walker Christian Walker Dealing with stiff back
Wed, Jul 1, 2026, 10:57 PM
Walker was removed from Wednesday's game against the Twins with lower-back stiffness, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Walker went 0-for-2 with a pair of strikeouts before being replaced by a pinch hitter in the sixth inning. He'll get an extra day to rest up before the Astros begin their next series Friday against the Rays, but if he's unable to play in the opener, Isaac Paredes would likely be next in line to start at first base, creating an opportunity at third for Brice Matthews. |
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Raynel Delgado Raynel Delgado Exits with injury
Wed, Jul 1, 2026, 9:10 PM
Delgado was removed from Wednesday's game against Minnesota with an apparent hand injury due to a dislocated pinky on his right hand.
Analysis: A groundball off the bat of Trevor Larnach bounced off of second base and connected with Delgado's right hand, forcing the latter to come out of the game in the fifth inning. The Astros may provide an update on his status after the game. |
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