| News |
|---|
|
Christian Vazquez Christian Vazquez Homers in loss to St. Louis
Fri, Apr 17, 2026, 11:01 PM
Vazquez went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in Friday's 9-4 loss to the Cardinals.
Analysis: Vazquez got the scoring started for the Astros, taking Kyle Leahy deep for a solo shot in the bottom of the third inning. Three solo homers were all the Astros were able to muster against Leahy. Vazquez has made seven starts this season and has at least one hit in all seven, as he's now slashing .400/.438/.733 with two home runs, 10 RBI, five runs scored and a 2:7 BB:K across 33 trips to the plate. |
|
Yordan Alvarez Yordan Alvarez Hits eighth homer in loss
Fri, Apr 17, 2026, 10:57 PM
Alvarez went 2-for-5 with a solo home run in Friday's 9-4 loss to the Cardinals.
Analysis: Alvarez's solo shot off right-hander Kyle Leahy in the bottom of the third inning was Alvarez's eighth long ball of the season, matching Jordan Walker and Aaron Judge for the league lead. The lefty slugger's longest home run drought is three games this season. He also has six doubles on the year. Alvarez has started all 21 games to this point and is slashing .333/.479/.750 with the eight homers, 19 RBI, 17 runs scored, one stolen base and an 18:10 BB:K across 94 plate appearances. In addition to home runs, Alvarez also leads the majors in RBI and walks. |
|
Jose Altuve Jose Altuve Homers in loss Friday
Fri, Apr 17, 2026, 10:51 PM
Altuve went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Friday's 9-4 loss to the Cardinals.
Analysis: Altuve took Kyle Leahy deep in the bottom of the fifth inning to pull Houston within one run. After batting .378 through the first 11 games of the season, Altuve is 8-for-38 (.211) over his last nine games. Altuve's homer Friday was his first RBI in that span. The second baseman is slashing .293/.404/.493 with three home runs, seven RBI, 15 runs scored, one stolen base and a 14:17 BB:K across 89 trips to the plate. |
|
Peter Lambert Peter Lambert Strikes out eight in return to MLB
Fri, Apr 17, 2026, 10:45 PM
Lambert (0-1) took the loss Friday against the Cardinals, allowing four runs on seven hits and one walk with eight strikeouts across five innings.
Analysis: Lambert had his contract selected from Triple-A Sugar Land earlier in the day Friday and made his first major-league start in nearly two full calendar years. He spent the 2025 season playing in Japan before signing with Houston this past winter. Lambert had the Cardinals off balance with his changeup in particular and averaged 95.2 mph with his four-seamer. The right-hander showed enough to earn another start with pitching-depleted Houston. Lambert is lined up to face the Guardians in Cleveland next week. |
|
Joey Loperfido Joey Loperfido Managing quad tightness
Fri, Apr 17, 2026, 10:35 PM
Loperfido was pulled from Friday's game against the Cardinals due to right quad tightness, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Loperfido went 0-for-3 with a strikeout before being taken out of the game at the start of the seventh inning. Brice Matthews entered as the 26-year-old's replacement and could get more reps in left field if Loperfido has to miss any amount of time. |
|
Isaac Paredes Isaac Paredes Battling leg tightness
Fri, Apr 17, 2026, 10:29 PM
Paredes was removed from Friday's game against the Cardinals due to leg tightness, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Paredes entered the game as a pinch hitter in the fourth inning but was later taken out of the game himself when his leg began to bother him in the eighth. If he ends up needing to sit out Saturday's contest as well, Nick Allen would presumably get the nod at shortstop. |
|
Miguel Yajure Miguel Yajure Inks minors deal with Houston
Fri, Apr 17, 2026, 5:44 PM
The Astros signed Yajure to a minor-league contract Friday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Yajure spent the previous two seasons pitching overseas in Japan. The 27-year-old has 19 regular-season games of major-league experience with the Yankees and Pirates across the 2020-22 seasons and will provide organizational pitching depth with Houston. Yajure has reported to Triple-A Sugar Land. |
|
Zach Dezenzo Zach Dezenzo Beginning rehab assignment
Fri, Apr 17, 2026, 2:55 PM
Dezenzo (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Corpus Christi on Friday.
Analysis: Dezenzo sustained a sprained elbow while playing for Team Italy in the World Baseball Classic last month. The 25-year-old appeared in 34 games for the Astros last season, slashing .245/.321/.367 with two homers, 10 RBI, 17 runs scored, one stolen base and an 11:37 BB:K across 109 plate appearances. |
|
Josh Hader Josh Hader Transferred to 60-day IL
Fri, Apr 17, 2026, 2:47 PM
The Astros transferred Hader (biceps) to the 60-day injured list Friday.
Analysis: The Astros needed the spot on the 40-man roster to select Peter Lambert's contract from Triple-A ahead of Friday's start against St. Louis. With Hader being transferred to the 60-day IL, he won't be eligible to pitch until late-May. Hader threw his first live batting practice Tuesday, essentially marking the start of his spring training. |
|
Christian Roa Christian Roa Optioned to Triple-A
Fri, Apr 17, 2026, 2:43 PM
The Astros optioned Roa to Triple-A Sugar Land on Friday, Julia Morales of Space City Home Network reports.
Analysis: Houston needed room for Peter Lambert, who is getting the promotion ahead of Friday's start against the Cardinals. Roa has pitched in seven games out of the bullpen for the Astros this season, posting a 5.19 ERA, 1.96 WHIP and 6:7 K:BB across 8.2 innings. |
|
Peter Lambert Peter Lambert Contract officially selected
Fri, Apr 17, 2026, 2:40 PM
The Astros selected Lambert's contract from Triple-A Sugar Land on Friday, Julia Morales of Space City Home Network reports.
Analysis: Lambert made a bid for the Opening Day roster with an encouraging spring training and remained effective at Triple-A to begin the season, as he logged a 1.84 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 12:3 K:BB across 14.2 innings with Sugar Land. He'll now be the 10th pitcher to start a game for the Astros this season, as he's set to take the mound Friday against the Cardinals. |
|
Ryan Weiss Ryan Weiss Inefficient in first MLB start
Fri, Apr 17, 2026, 6:04 AM
Weiss didn't factor into the decision Thursday against the Rockies, allowing two runs on three hits and four walks while fanning three across 3.2 innings.
Analysis: The right-hander made his first start of his MLB career Thursday, but as had been the case in his previous two relief appearances, he didn't have much success. Weiss has tossed between 2.1 and 3.2 innings in four outings since the beginning of April, stumbling to a 7.71 ERA, 2.23 WHIP and 13:8 K:BB in 11.2 innings. Despite all the injuries to the Houston rotation, Weiss could be headed back to a long-relief role after this performance. |
|
Christian Roa Christian Roa Takes loss in relief
Fri, Apr 17, 2026, 5:58 AM
Roa (0-1) was tagged with the loss in relief Thursday against the Rockies, allowing a run on three hits across 1.1 innings.
Analysis: Roa has made three straight multi-inning appearances out of the Astros bullpen, but the results have been far from encouraging. Over 5.2 innings, the right-hander has given up four earned runs on seven hits with a 4:3 BB:K while also hitting three batters. Roa owns a 4.91 ERA and 1.91 WHIP in five appearances and 7.1 innings since being recalled from Triple-A Sugar Land, and he could be returned to the minors soon as the Astros continue to try and patch together their staff in the wake of an injury epidemic. |
|
Peter Lambert Peter Lambert Officially starting Friday
Thu, Apr 16, 2026, 10:41 PM
Lambert will start Friday's series opener versus the Cardinals, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Lambert is expected to have his contract selected from Triple-A Sugar Land on Friday ahead of his Astros debut. The right-hander has appeared in three contests, including two starts, with Sugar Land this season, allowing three runs on 11 hits and three walks while striking out 12 batters over 14.2 innings. |
|
Tatsuya Imai Tatsuya Imai Plays catch Thursday
Thu, Apr 16, 2026, 3:19 PM
Imai (arm) played catch at Daikin Park on Thursday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Analysis: Imai landed on the injured list Monday due to right arm fatigue, but imaging came back clean and he has begun a throwing progression. The right-hander is eligible to return later this month, but a timetable for Imai rejoining the Astros' rotation won't be available until he further ramps things up. |
|
Peter Lambert Peter Lambert In line to start Friday
Thu, Apr 16, 2026, 2:50 PM
The Astros have added Lambert to their taxi squad and appear poised to give him a start Friday against the Cardinals, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Analysis: The Astros have Lance McCullers starting Saturday and Mike Burrows on Sunday but currently have Friday's starter listed as TBA. Barring something unforeseen, that assignment will go to Lambert, who will need to be added to the 40-man roster. Lambert boasts a 1.84 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 12:3 K:BB over 14.2 innings at Triple-A Sugar Land and will be on six days' rest Friday. He last pitched in the majors in 2024 with the Rockies. |
|
Spencer Arrighetti Spencer Arrighetti Fans 10, earns win Wednesday
Thu, Apr 16, 2026, 9:45 AM
Arrighetti (1-0) earned the win Wednesday against the Rockies after tossing six innings of one-run ball, striking out 10 while allowing two hits and four walks.
Analysis: The four free passes were a bit concerning for Arrighetti, who tossed 61 of his 100 pitches for strikes, but he delivered an excellent performance in what was a favorable matchup on paper. Given all the injuries in the Astros' rotation, Arrighetti isn't going back to Triple-A Sugar Land any time soon, and he lines up to make his next start next week on the road against the Guardians. |
|
Josh Hader Josh Hader Approximately one month out
Thu, Apr 16, 2026, 4:47 AM
Hader (biceps) threw 20 pitches in a live batting practice session Tuesday and said afterward that it was akin to his first live BP of spring training, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: McTaggart notes Hader was sitting 91-to-93 mph with his fastball during the live session, and he says given Hader's quotes about where he is in his recovery the southpaw is "perhaps about a month away from returning, without any setbacks." Hader, who is working his way back slowly from a bout of left biceps tendinitis, added, "I'm feeling good, feeling strong. I got through it throwing relatively hard and commanded the baseball in the zone, commanded the slider, getting good whiffs on it. Ideally, that's what you want." Meanwhile, Bryan Abreu has struggled in the ninth inning for the Astros this season, opening the door for Enyel De Los Santos to earn a couple saves in recent days. |
|
Enyel De Los Santos Enyel De Los Santos Another save for Houston
Thu, Apr 16, 2026, 4:25 AM
De Los Santos earned the save with a perfect ninth inning in a 3-1 victory over the Rockies on Wednesday. He struck out two.
Analysis: The 30-year-old right-hander has now earned saves on consecutive days for Houston, career saves No. 4 and 5, as De Los Santos appears to be entering the closer mix in the absence of Josh Hader (biceps) and in light of Bryan Abreu's struggles this season. Abreu pitched 1.1 scoreless innings in Wednesday's victory, setting up the save chance for De Los Santos after Bryan King did as much Tuesday. De Los Santos' fastball velocity is down a couple ticks to around 94 mph this season, but it seems to be by design since he's cut his walk rate by more than half in the early going, an improvement that has helped fuel a 1.35 ERA and 0.75 WHIP through six appearances and 6.2 innings so far in 2026. |
|
Ryan Weiss Ryan Weiss Starting Thursday
Wed, Apr 15, 2026, 10:27 PM
Weiss will start Thursday's game against the Rockies, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Weiss has been hit around quite a bit during his last two outings, conceding nine runs (eight earned) on 12 hits and four walks while striking out eight batters over five innings. However, the Astros are running low on options with seven starting pitchers currently on the injured list, so the 29-year-old righty will be called upon to make his first MLB start. He'll at least benefit from a favorable matchup, as the Rockies rank in the bottom third of MLB with a .681 OPS. |
Connect With Us:
