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Jeremy Pena Jeremy Pena Still out of lineup Friday
Fri, Aug 21, 2026, 3:50 PM
Pena (hand) remains out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Athletics, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Pena will miss a second straight start after he was hit in the hand by a pitch Wednesday and removed from the game. Nick Allen is making the start at shortstop and batting ninth Friday. Pena was fielding grounders in pregame warmups, however, so his absence could be brief. |
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Bryan King Bryan King Sent to minors
Fri, Aug 21, 2026, 3:08 PM
The Astros optioned King to Triple-A Sugar Land on Friday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: King has appeared in 51 games out of Houston's bullpen this season, posting a 4.75 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 44:19 K:BB across 53 innings. He was shelled for five runs on five hits with one strikeout across 1.1 innings during Thursday's 18-3 loss to the Angels. After throwing 37 pitches in that outing, he's heading down so the Astros can recall a fresher arm. |
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Kai-Wei Teng Kai-Wei Teng Back in big leagues
Fri, Aug 21, 2026, 3:05 PM
The Astros recalled Teng from Triple-A Sugar Land on Friday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Teng was optioned to Sugar Land in late July and worked exclusively out of the bullpen while with the minor-league club, turning in a 3.48 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 15:3 K:BB across 10.1 innings. He'll work in relief for the Astros after making 10 starts for the team earlier this season. |
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Mike Burrows Mike Burrows Another strong outing in minors
Fri, Aug 21, 2026, 9:22 AM
Burrows struck out five and permitted one hit and two walks over 4.2 scoreless innings in a rehab start with Triple-A Sugar Land on Thursday.
Analysis: After submitting a 5.99 ERA and 1.55 WHIP in 18 appearances (17 starts) for Houston to begin the season, Burrows was on his way to a demotion before landing on the injured list July 13 due to right elbow neuritis. However, after posting an 8:3 K:BB while allowing just four hits over nine innings between a pair of rehab starts with Sugar Land, Burrows is looking more likely to get another chance once he comes off the IL, especially given the current state of the back end of the Astros' rotation. Burrows was able to build up to 78 pitches Thursday, so he should be able to handle a standard workload if he ends up rejoining the rotation next week. |
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Peter Lambert Peter Lambert Crushed by Angels on Thursday
Fri, Aug 21, 2026, 2:20 AM
Lambert (8-7) allowed nine runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out three batters over 3.2 innings in a loss to the Angels on Thursday.
Analysis: Lambert fell behind 1-0 in the first inning, but that looked like a pitching masterclass compared to how the rest of his outing went. The right-hander gave up three runs in the second frame and five in the fourth, though three of those runs were charged to him after he had given way to a reliever. Overall, the nine runs were by far a season-worst mark for Lambert, who entered Thursday having given up no more than two earned runs in any of his previous eight starts. The disastrous performance pushed the veteran hurler's season ERA from a solid 3.11 all the way up to 3.68. Lambert will try to bounce back in his next start, which is lined up to be a matchup against the Yankees in New York. |
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Raynel Delgado Raynel Delgado Returning to majors
Thu, Aug 20, 2026, 5:33 PM
The Astros recalled Delgado from Triple-A Sugar Land on Thursday.
Analysis: Delgado's last MLB stint was July 19 when he started at second base prior to getting optioned the next day. Since then, the 26-year-old has slashed .304/.383/.451 with a home run and four stolen bases across 116 plate appearances in 26 games. In a corresponding move Thursday, the Astros designated Nelson Velazquez for assignment. |
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Nelson Velazquez Nelson Velazquez Designated for assignment
Thu, Aug 20, 2026, 5:31 PM
The Astros designated Velazquez for assignment Thursday.
Analysis: Velazquez will end up as the necessary roster casualty needed to make room for Raynel Delgado, who was recalled from Triple-A Sugar Land on Thursday. Velazquez went 0-for-4 with a sacrifice fly during his 10-day stint with the Astros but owns a .764 OPS across 163 plate appearances in the minors this season. |
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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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