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Brice Matthews Brice Matthews Taking seat Tuesday
Tue, May 19, 2026, 5:48 PM
Matthews is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Twins, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: The 29-year-old has been getting regular playing time in the outfield and occasional action at second base, but he may have a reduced role going forward due to Jake Meyers (oblique) coming off the injured list Tuesday. Matthews had a .751 OPS as of May 8, but he's batting .162 (6-for-37) with no extra-base hits across his past 10 contests. |
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Cam Smith Cam Smith Not in Tuesday's lineup
Tue, May 19, 2026, 5:43 PM
Smith is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Twins, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Smith is in the midst of a 3-for-34 slump and will hit the bench Tuesday for the second time in Houston's past four contests. Zach Dezenzo is manning right field and batting fifth against Minnesota righty Zebby Matthews. |
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Nate Pearson Nate Pearson Returning to bullpen
Tue, May 19, 2026, 5:40 PM
The Astros reinstated Pearson (elbow) from the 15-day injured list Tuesday.
Analysis: Pearson is returning from a rehab assignment after he dealt with soreness in his right elbow that stemmed from an offseason cleanup. He will likely be used primarily as a reliever for the Astros after doing so during his rehab assignment. In a corresponding move, the Astros placed Lance McCullers on the 15-day injured list due to right shoulder inflammation. |
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Shay Whitcomb Shay Whitcomb Sent back to Triple-A
Tue, May 19, 2026, 5:34 PM
The Astros optioned Whitcomb to Triple-A Sugar Land on Tuesday.
Analysis: Whitcomb got just four plate appearances after getting recalled from Triple-A Sugar Land on May 6. He was able to get a RBI single as his lone hit May 8. In a corresponding move Tuesday, Jake Meyers (oblique) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list |
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Jake Meyers Jake Meyers Reinstated, starting Tuesday
Tue, May 19, 2026, 5:29 PM
Meyers (oblique) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list and is starting in center field and batting seventh Tuesday against the Twins, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Meyers has been sidelined for over a month due to an oblique strain but is back with the Astros after going 1-for-16 during a four-game rehab assignment. The 29-year-old posted a .243/.326/.378 slash line with one homer and one steal in 12 games prior to the injury and should operate as Houston's primary center fielder now that he's healthy. |
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Lance McCullers Jr. Lance McCullers Jr. Battling shoulder inflammation
Tue, May 19, 2026, 5:07 PM
The Astros placed McCullers on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with right shoulder inflammation, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Analysis: Manager Joe Espada said McCullers' shoulder issue is something he's been dealing with for a while. The right-hander didn't bounce back from his most recent start the way the Astros had hoped, so they'll now opt to place him on the shelf and send him back to Houston for further evaluation. A timeline for his return will likely be established once his test results come back. |
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Jason Alexander Jason Alexander Pressed into starting duty
Tue, May 19, 2026, 3:41 PM
Alexander will start Tuesday's game against the Twins, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Analysis: The right-hander was called up from Triple-A Sugar Land on Monday and was expected to provide some length out of the bullpen, but he'll instead make a start Tuesday after Lance McCullers (undisclosed) was scratched. Alexander was a decent swingman for Houston last year (3.66 ERA in 14 appearances) but has surrendered 10 earned runs across his two big-league outings this season. |
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Lance McCullers Jr. Lance McCullers Jr. Scratched from start Tuesday
Tue, May 19, 2026, 3:32 PM
McCullers has been scratched from his scheduled start Tuesday in Minnesota.
Analysis: The Astros have yet to provide reasoning for the move, but an update on McCullers should be forthcoming. Jason Alexander will make a spot start Tuesday in McCullers' place. |
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Christian Walker Christian Walker Drives in 31st run Monday
Tue, May 19, 2026, 9:09 AM
Walker went 2-for-5 with an RBI in Monday's 6-3 loss to the Twins.
Analysis: Walker singled home his 31st run of the season in the seventh inning to tie Yordan Alvarez for the team lead. It was Walker's first multi-hit game since May 3 after he'd gone just 5-for-45 (.111) at the plate over his previous 13 games. On the season, Walker is slashing .267/.343/.511 with 11 homers, 31 RBI, 27 runs scored and an 18:38 BB:K across 198 plate appearances. |
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Tatsuya Imai Tatsuya Imai Hurt by long ball in loss
Tue, May 19, 2026, 9:02 AM
Imai (1-2) took the loss Monday against the Twins, allowing three runs on five hits and no walks with five strikeouts across 4.2 innings.
Analysis: All three of the runs against Imai came on a pair of homers by Josh Bell. Otherwise, Imai's stuff looked good, as he generated a season-high 19 whiffs on 74 pitches. In two starts since returning from arm fatigue, Imai has surrendered nine runs on 10 hits and three walks with eight strikeouts across 8.2 innings. He's been hurt by the long ball in both outings, surrendering four round-trippers. On the season, Imai owns an ugly 8.31 ERA, 1.79 WHIP and 21:14 K:BB across 17.1 innings. Walks have been a problem, as he'd walked at least three in each of his first four starts before issuing zero Monday. |
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Returns from IL
Mon, May 18, 2026, 10:07 PM
Spence (undisclosed) was activated from the 7-day injured list Tuesday.
Analysis: Spence landed on the minor-league injured list at the end of April with an unspecified injury, but he's back on the field after completing a brief rehab stint. He's collected a pair of RBI and one stolen base in four appearances since being activated. |
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Nate Pearson Nate Pearson Nearing return from IL
Mon, May 18, 2026, 8:58 PM
Pearson (elbow) could be activated from the 15-day injured list during Houston's series against Minnesota, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Analysis: Pearson has been working as a reliever during his rehab assignment, and the expectation is that he'll be back with the major-league club soon to provide the bullpen a boost. The right-hander wasn't activated in time for Monday's series opener, but he could be back in action at some point over the next two days, per skipper Joe Espada. |
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Jake Meyers Jake Meyers Activation imminent
Mon, May 18, 2026, 6:20 PM
Meyers (oblique) will join the Astros in Minneapolis and is slated to be activated from the 10-day injured list during the series against the Twins, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: He will not be active for Monday's series opener, but Meyers could return to action Tuesday. The 29-year-old has been sidelined for more than a month with a right oblique strain but has been cleared to return after playing four rehab contests. Once activated, Meyers should receive the lion's share of starts in center field for Houston. |
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Zach Dezenzo Zach Dezenzo Drawing another start
Mon, May 18, 2026, 6:11 PM
Dezenzo will start in left field and bat fifth in Monday's game against the Twins.
Analysis: Dezenzo will start for the sixth time in seven games for Houston after going 5-for-17 with two doubles, two walks and a run scored during that stretch. The Astros will get Jeremy Pena (hamstring/neck) back from the injured list in Monday's series opener, but with Jose Altuve (oblique) heading to the IL in a corresponding move, Houston still has a spot up for grabs in the everyday lineup. Dezenzo and Braden Shewmake look to be the main candidates vying for that spot, with Shewmake's status as a left-handed batter perhaps giving him the edge in securing more playing time. |
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Zach Cole Zach Cole Idle against southpaw
Mon, May 18, 2026, 6:06 PM
Cole is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Twins.
Analysis: The Twins are sending lefty Kendry Rojas to the mound for the series opener, so the left-handed-hitting Cole will begin Monday's contest on the bench. Zach Dezenzo will replace Cole in the Houston outfield, covering left while batting fifth. |
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Cody Bolton Cody Bolton DFA'd by Astros
Mon, May 18, 2026, 5:29 PM
The Astros designated Bolton for assignment Monday.
Analysis: Bolton has collected a 5.40 ERA and 22:14 K:BB over three starts and five relief appearances for Houston this season. The 27-year-old has a chance to pass through waivers unclaimed, and if that happens, he'd likely stick around as depth at Triple-A Sugar Land. |
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Jason Alexander Jason Alexander Summoned to big leagues
Mon, May 18, 2026, 5:25 PM
The Astros recalled Alexander from Triple-A Sugar Land on Monday.
Analysis: Alexander has been battered for 10 runs over 6.1 innings across his two relief outings in the majors this season. The righty will provide some length in the bullpen. |
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Jose Altuve Jose Altuve Move to IL made official
Mon, May 18, 2026, 5:23 PM
The Astros placed Altuve on the 10-day injured list Monday with a left oblique strain.
Analysis: Altuve has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 strain after injuring his oblique on a swing in Saturday's game versus the Rangers. The club has not offered a timeline for Altuve's return, but moderate oblique strains typically result in absences of at least 4-to-6 weeks. Brice Matthews should receive the bulk of the playing time at second base for Houston while Altuve is out. |
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Jeremy Pena Jeremy Pena Reinstated, batting leadoff Monday
Mon, May 18, 2026, 3:56 PM
The Astros reinstated Pena (hamstring/neck) from the 10-day injured list Monday, and he'll start at shortstop and bat leadoff in Houston's series opener in Minnesota.
Analysis: Pena will be back in action for the Astros for the first time since April 11, after a Grade 1 right hamstring strain and more recently, a stiff neck, had kept him on the shelf for just over five weeks. Prior to hitting the shelf, Pena hit .256 with four extra-base hits (all doubles), one stolen base, five runs and no RBI through his first 10 games with Houston to begin the season. |
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Hunter Brown Hunter Brown Nearing rehab assignment
Sun, May 17, 2026, 4:19 PM
GM Dana Brown said Brown (shoulder) will throw live batting practice Tuesday before potentially beginning a rehab assignment, with the Astros targeting mid-June to activate him from the injured list, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: The right-hander continues to work his way back from a shoulder strain, and facing live batters appears to be the final hurdle before being cleared for game action. Brown's rehab assignment is expected to be a lengthy one with at least four starts in the minor leagues. |
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