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Jake Meyers Jake Meyers Resumes swinging bat
Mon, May 4, 2026, 3:57 PM
Brian McTaggart of MLB.comMeyers (oblique) has started swinging a bat and reincorporating other baseball activities, mmm reports.
Analysis: Meyers had been shut down after being diagnosed with a Grade 2 right oblique strain over three weeks ago. He will eventually need a rehab assignment once he gets sufficiently ramped up and should be able to return before the end of May if all goes well. |
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Zach Dezenzo Zach Dezenzo Activated and optioned
Mon, May 4, 2026, 3:17 PM
The Astros activated Dezenzo (elbow) from the 10-day injured list Monday and optioned him to Triple-A Sugar Land.
Analysis: Dezenzo got a late start to the season after suffering a right elbow sprain during the World Baseball Classic while playing for Team Italy. He's gone 8-for-27 with one home run and a 7:7: BB:K in eight rehab games, and the Astros have elected to keep him in the minors rather than put him back on the major-league roster. |
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Daniel Johnson Daniel Johnson Booted off 40-man roster
Mon, May 4, 2026, 3:13 PM
The Astros designated Johnson for assignment Monday.
Analysis: Johnson went 2-for-14 at the plate during his brief time in the majors. His roster spot will be absorbed by Zach Cole. |
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Zach Cole Zach Cole Back in big leagues
Mon, May 4, 2026, 3:09 PM
The Astros recalled Cole from Single-A Charleston on Monday.
Analysis: Cole came up short in his bid for a spot on the Opening Day roster and then fractured a toe early on in the season with Sugar Land. He returned to action a little over a week ago and homered in his last rehab game with Charleston on Saturday. The Astros have been mixing and matching in center field and left field since Jake Meyers (oblique) and Joey Loperfido (quadriceps) went down, and Cole should push for reps at one or both of those positions. |
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AJ Blubaugh AJ Blubaugh Solid in bulk role
Mon, May 4, 2026, 12:48 PM
Blubaugh didn't factor into the decision Sunday against the Red Sox, allowing one run on two hits and two walks over 3.2 innings. He struck out five.
Analysis: Jarren Duran's homer in the fifth inning was the lone run given up by Blubaugh, who served as Houston's bulk reliever Sunday after Cody Bolton went just 2.1 innings. While Blubaugh's ERA still sits at an uninspiring 5.32, the right-hander has been sharp of late, allowing just two runs while striking out 12 in his last 11.1 innings. |
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Cody Bolton Cody Bolton Goes 2.1 innings Sunday
Mon, May 4, 2026, 12:42 PM
Bolton did not factor into the decision Sunday against the Red Sox, allowing four hits and a walk over 2.1 scoreless innings. He struck out three.
Analysis: While it was technically Bolton's third start of the year, he essentially served as the opener in what became a bullpen game for the Astros. It was a solid showing overall for the right-hander, as he navigated his way through traffic to hold the Red Sox scoreless. Bolton's ERA now sits at 4.63 through 11.2 innings this season with a 1.80 WHIP and 14:9 K:BB. |
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Bryan Abreu Bryan Abreu Picks up first win
Sun, May 3, 2026, 4:44 PM
Abreu (1-2) earned the win Sunday over the Red Sox, allowing a hit and a walk while striking out one over two innings.
Analysis: After Abreu worked around a one-out single in the ninth inning, the Astros tallied a pair of runs in the top of the 10th. Abreu came back out in the bottom half, and he coaxed a game-ending double play off the bat of Ceddanne Rafaela to close out his first win this year. It's certainly a step in the right direction for Abreu. The right-hander was expected to serve as Houston's closer in the absence of Josh Hader (biceps), though he got off to a brutal start this season, allowing at least one run in eight of his first 11 appearances. Abreu's ERA now sits at 10.32 with a 2.47 WHIP and 17:16 K:BB across 11.1 innings. |
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Steven Okert Steven Okert Set to operate as opener
Sun, May 3, 2026, 4:42 PM
Okert will operate as the Astros' opening pitcher in Monday's series opener against the Dodgers, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Analysis: Okert will make his first start of the 2026 campaign, helping bridge the gap in Houston's rotation ahead of Peter Lambert's expected start Tuesday. The right-hander has appeared in 16 contests so far this season, posting a 4.50 ERA and 1.21 WHIP with nine strikeouts over 14 innings. It's unclear who will follow Okert out of the bullpen as the team's bulk pitcher against Los Angeles, but Colton Gordon is a candidate to be called up from Triple-A Sugar Land and handle that role. |
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Yainer Diaz Yainer Diaz Receiving afternoon off
Sun, May 3, 2026, 10:24 AM
Diaz is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Red Sox.
Analysis: Diaz will receive a routine day off after starting behind the plate or at designated hitter the last five games. Christian Vazquez will handle catching duties in the series finale in Boston. |
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Christian Walker Christian Walker Cleared to start Sunday
Sun, May 3, 2026, 10:19 AM
Walker (head) will start at first base and bat cleanup in Sunday's game against the Red Sox.
Analysis: Walker was lifted from Saturday's 6-3 win in the ninth inning after taking a fastball to the head during his final at-bat of the day, but the veteran first baseman passed all concussion testing following the game and has been given the green light to play in the series finale. The 35-year-old has been in the midst of a heater over the past two weeks, slashing .409/.447/.750 with four home runs, 10 RBI and eight runs over his last 11 games. |
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Jayden Murray Jayden Murray Sent back to Triple-A
Sun, May 3, 2026, 10:05 AM
The Astros optioned Murray to Triple-A Sugar Land on Sunday.
Analysis: Murray will give up his spot on the roster to Ryan Weiss, who was reinstated from the paternity list. After being recalled from Triple-A on April 19, Murray made three appearances out of the bullpen but had gone unused over the Astros' last six games. |
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Ryan Weiss Ryan Weiss Back from paternity list
Sun, May 3, 2026, 10:02 AM
The Astros reinstated Weiss (personal) from the paternity list Sunday.
Analysis: The right-hander was away from the team for the last three days while welcoming a new addition to his family. The Astros haven't clarified what Weiss's role will look like, but he could be available out of the bullpen to cover multiple innings behind Cody Bolton, who will open Sunday's contest. If Weiss isn't used Sunday, he'll be a candidate to start or work in bulk relief during Monday's series opener versus the Dodgers. |
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Dustin Harris Dustin Harris Two hits, steal vs. Boston
Sun, May 3, 2026, 8:22 AM
Harris went 2-for-4 with a stolen base in Saturday's 6-3 win over the Red Sox.
Analysis: Harris, who joined Houston off waivers from the White Sox earlier in the year, is now 4-for-4 in stolen base attempts this season. The 26-year-old outfielder has been playing nearly every day for the Astros due to Joey Loperfido (quadriceps), Taylor Trammell (groin), Zach Dezenzo (elbow) and Jake Meyers (oblique) all being on the IL. Harris has made the most of the opportunity, going 7-for-18 (.389) with four RBI and an .868 OPS in his last five games. |
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Jason Alexander Jason Alexander Heads back to Sugar Land
Sun, May 3, 2026, 8:19 AM
The Astros optioned Alexander to Triple-A Sugar Land on Friday.
Analysis: Alexander's stay with Houston lasted just one day, as the right-hander was summoned from Triple-A to serve as the 27th man for the Astros' twin bill with the Orioles. He came on in relief in the first game of the twin bill, striking out one and allowing five earned runs on two hits and three walks over two innings in the Astros' 10-3 loss. |
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Kai-Wei Teng Kai-Wei Teng Works out of bullpen Saturday
Sun, May 3, 2026, 7:41 AM
Teng collected his third hold of the season Saturday, striking out two and allowing no hits and one walk over 1.1 scoreless innings of relief in a 6-3 win over the Red Sox.
Analysis: Teng made a three-inning start in his previous appearance Tuesday, but despite a doubleheader Thursday that created a need for a temporary six-man rotation, the right-hander ended up moving back to the bullpen. He's been a standout for the Astros this season, logging a 2.00 ERA and holding batters to a .145 batting average over 18 relief innings. |
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Carlos Correa Carlos Correa Logs two hits against Boston
Sat, May 2, 2026, 7:05 PM
Correa went 2-for-4 with an RBI single and a run scored during the Astros' 6-3 win over the Red Sox on Saturday.
Analysis: Correa gave the Astros a 5-0 lead in the fifth inning after his single off Connelly Early brought Cam Smith home. It was the 10th multi-hit game of the season for Correa, five of which have come over his last 10 games. He has reached base safely in six straight games, going 9-for-24 (.375) with two home runs, three RBI and five runs scored over that span. |
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Brice Matthews Brice Matthews Belts three-run homer Saturday
Sat, May 2, 2026, 7:01 PM
Matthews went 2-for-3 with a three-run home run and a walk during the Astros' 6-3 victory over the Red Sox on Saturday.
Analysis: Matthews gave Houston a 4-0 run lead after belting a three-run long ball to center field off Connelly Early. It was the third home run of the season for Matthews, two of which have come over his last five games. In that five-game span, he has gone 9-for-21 (.429) with one steal, six RBI and four runs scored. Matthews has enjoyed more playing time in the outfield as of late due to the absences of Joey Loperfido (quadriceps), Taylor Trammell (groin) and Jake Meyers (oblique), all of whom are on the Astros' 10-day injured list. |
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Bryan King Bryan King Collects save against Boston
Sat, May 2, 2026, 6:55 PM
King earned his second save of the season Saturday against the Red Sox after pitching a scoreless ninth inning.
Analysis: The Astros deployed Enyel De Los Santos across the fifth and sixth frames of Saturday's game, so manager Joe Espada opted to go with King over Brayan Abreu to protect the team's 6-3 lead in the ninth. The decision turned out to be the right one, as King needed just six pitches (four strikes) to retire the side. The Astros should continue to use a committee approach to closing duties between King, Abreu and De Los Santos until Josh Hader (biceps) is cleared to return from the 60-day injured list, the earliest of which would take place in late May. |
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Spencer Arrighetti Spencer Arrighetti Picks up fourth win
Sat, May 2, 2026, 6:47 PM
Arrighetti (4-0) earned the win against the Red Sox on Saturday, allowing one run on five hits and five walks while striking out four across five innings.
Analysis: It was by no means a seamless outing for Arrighetti, who loaded the bases in both the third and fifth frames. However, he yielded just one run on a sacrifice fly from Willson Contreras in the fifth, and Arrighetti got enough run support to come away with his fourth victory of the season, which is tied for second-most in the American League. He'll bring a 1.96 ERA and 1.30 WHIP (across 23 innings) into his next start, tentatively slated for next weekend on the road against the Reds. |
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Christian Walker Christian Walker Passes concussion test
Sat, May 2, 2026, 6:40 PM
Walker (head) told reporters after Saturday's 6-3 win over the Red Sox that he passed concussion tests and plans to play in Sunday's series finale, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Walker was immediately removed from the ninth inning of Sunday's game after taking a 93 mph fastball to the head, which cracked his helmet. The good news for Walker is that he avoided serious injury and is on track to be available for Sunday's contest. He went 3-for-4 with a solo homer, an RBI single an additional run scored before his exit. |
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