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Yainer Diaz Yainer Diaz Stays hot Friday
Fri, Jul 31, 2026, 10:54 PM
Diaz went 4-for-5 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Friday's 11-2 win over the Rangers.
Analysis: Diaz was a thorn in the Rangers' side all game, highlighted by a solo shot in the seventh. The 27-year-old has now posted back-to-back four-hit efforts with a home run, and he'll finish July with an .891 OPS and five homers over 16 games. For the year, he's slashing .261/.287/.427 with eight long balls, 26 RBI and 24 runs scored across 209 plate appearances. |
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Hunter Brown Hunter Brown Solid again in win
Fri, Jul 31, 2026, 10:41 PM
Brown (3-1) earned the win against the Rangers on Friday, allowing two runs on six hits and two walks with five strikeouts over 5.2 innings.
Analysis: Brown opened with five scoreless innings before allowing two runs in the sixth, falling one out shy of a quality start at a season-high 104 pitches. The 27-year-old generated only nine whiffs but yielded just four hard-hit balls en route to his second straight victory. He owns a 3.42 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 55:30 K:BB across 52.2 innings this season and lines up for a home matchup with the Blue Jays next week. |
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Tatsuya Imai Tatsuya Imai Moving to bullpen
Fri, Jul 31, 2026, 4:19 PM
Astros manager Joe Espada said Friday that Imai will be moving to the bullpen for the team's weekend series against the Rangers, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Analysis: Imai struggled in his last start against the Angels on Monday, when tossed only 12 of 33 pitches for strikes and allowed two runs on one hit and four walks while striking out one batter over two-thirds of an inning. He was in line to start in Sunday's series finale, and while a replacement has yet to been announced, Chandler Rome of The Athletic suggested Thursday that Peter Lambert could be on the mound on short rest. |
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Mike Burrows Mike Burrows Completes live BP session
Fri, Jul 31, 2026, 3:17 PM
Burrows (elbow) threw a 35-pitch live batting practice session Friday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Analysis: It's the first time the right-hander has faced hitters since he landed on the 15-day injured list in mid-July with right elbow neuritis. Burrows had initially been optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land before the injury was discovered, so he could head there once healthy rather than rejoining the big club. |
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Carlos Correa Carlos Correa Begins running progression
Fri, Jul 31, 2026, 3:08 PM
Correa (ankle) has begun light on-field baseball activities as well as a running progression, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Correa underwent season-ending left ankle surgery in May. Nothing has changed regarding Correa's timetable, but being able to re-incorporate baseball activities in late July gives him a good chance to enter the offseason without any restrictions. |
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Braden Shewmake Braden Shewmake Re-signs with Houston
Fri, Jul 31, 2026, 3:06 PM
The Astros re-signed Shewmake to a minor league deal and assigned him to Triple-A Sugar Land on Friday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: After spending over three months with Houston to start the season before being traded to Milwaukee, Shewmake is back with the Astros. Between Houston and Milwaukee this season, the 28-year-old has slashed .259/.270/.424 with three home runs in 91 plate appearances. |
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LaMonte Wade Jr. LaMonte Wade Jr. Idle Wednesday
Wed, Jul 29, 2026, 5:52 PM
Wade isn't in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Angels, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Wade will miss out on the starting nine for a second consecutive game after going just 2-for-28 since the All-Star break. Taylor Trammell, Lucas Spence and Cam Smith will form Houston's outfield trio while Wade sits. |
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Hayden Wesneski Hayden Wesneski Activated ahead of start
Wed, Jul 29, 2026, 4:47 PM
The Astros reinstated Wesneski (elbow) from the injured list ahead of his start Wednesday against the Angels.
Analysis: Wesneski's start will mark his first appearance on a big-league mound since May 2025, as he's been on the shelf for more than a year recovering from Tommy John surgery. The right-hander has made five appearances in the minor leagues over the past month, however, turning in a 2.25 ERA and 1.00 WHIP alongside a 21:4 K:BB in 20 innings. Miguel Ullola was optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land in a corresponding move. |
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Miguel Ullola Miguel Ullola Back in minors
Wed, Jul 29, 2026, 4:42 PM
The Astros optioned Ullola to Triple-A Sugar Land on Wednesday.
Analysis: Ullola gave up three earned runs in just one inning after getting called up Sunday, and he'll now lose his spot in the Astros' bullpen in order to make room for Hayden Wesneski's (elbow) return from the IL. Ullola owns a 4.92 ERA and 1.40 WHIP through 53 innings at Sugar Land and could make a few more appearances for Houston down the stretch as a replacement for a tired arm. |
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Hayden Wesneski Hayden Wesneski Starting Wednesday
Tue, Jul 28, 2026, 6:51 PM
Wesneski (elbow) will return from the injured list to start Wednesday's game against the Angels, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Analysis: After spending the first several months of the season on the injured list while finishing up his recovery from May 2025 Tommy John surgery, Wesneski will officially make his season debut Wednesday and claim the spot in Houston's rotation vacated by Spencer Arrighetti (foot). Wesneski made five starts in the minor leagues after getting the green light to begin a rehab assignment June 30, during which he posted a 2.25 ERA and 1.00 WHIP in 20 innings split between rookie ball, Double-A and Triple-A. He built up to 80 pitches during his last outing at Triple-A Sugar Land, so the Astros may not place a limit on his pitch count during his start Wednesday. |
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LaMonte Wade Jr. LaMonte Wade Jr. On bench Tuesday
Tue, Jul 28, 2026, 5:55 PM
Wade is absent from the lineup Tuesday versus the Angels.
Analysis: The left-handed-hitting Wade is sitting as the Angels send southpaw Reid Detmers to the mound. Zach Dezenzo, Taylor Trammell and Cam Smith are the starting outfielders Tuesday for the Astros. |
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Yainer Diaz Yainer Diaz Idle again Tuesday
Tue, Jul 28, 2026, 5:51 PM
Diaz is not in the lineup Tuesday versus the Angels.
Analysis: Diaz is absent from the lineup for the second straight game after sitting in Monday's 6-4 win over the Angels. Christian Vazquez has catching duties again and is batting ninth Tuesday. |
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Spencer Arrighetti Spencer Arrighetti Nearing throwing program
Mon, Jul 27, 2026, 6:46 PM
Arrighetti (foot) received an injection Monday and could be cleared to start a throwing program within the next few days, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Analysis: Arrighetti was placed on the 15-day injured list Saturday after being diagnosed with right foot nerve irritation. A timeline for his return to the bump remains up in the air, and while it's promising news that he could gain clearance to throw later in the week, it will ultimately depend on how his foot responds to the injection. |
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Cam Smith Cam Smith Taking seat Monday
Mon, Jul 27, 2026, 5:53 PM
Smith is not in the Astros' starting lineup against the Angels on Monday.
Analysis: Smith will be on the bench for the beginning of Monday's game after going 1-for-10 with a two-run home run during the Astros' three-game weekend road series against the White Sox. Houston will start Taylor Trammell, Lucas Spence and LaMonte Wade in the outfield from left to right. |
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Yainer Diaz Yainer Diaz Idle Monday
Mon, Jul 27, 2026, 5:51 PM
Diaz is not in the Astros' starting lineup against the Angels on Monday.
Analysis: Diaz will grab a seat for Monday's series opener while Christian Vasquez starts behind home plate and bats ninth while forming a battery with right-hander Tatsuya Imai. Diaz has gone 3-for-24 with two runs and five strikeouts over six games since the All-Star break. |
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Taylor Trammell Taylor Trammell Homers Sunday
Mon, Jul 27, 2026, 6:45 AM
Trammell went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 12-3 loss to the White Sox.
Analysis: Making his first start in four games, Trammell tied things up at 3-3 with a 426-foot blast of Erick Fedde in the fourth inning, his fourth homer of the season. Lucas Spence had seen the majority of time in center field after Brice Matthews (knee) landed on the IL last week, though Trammell could be in line for more playing time as the rookie Spence has gone just 2-for-21 in his last six games. Overall, Trammell is slashing .238/.299/.389 with 13 RBI, 16 runs scored and three stolen bases across 138 plate appearances this season. |
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Jeremy Pena Jeremy Pena Homers twice in loss
Sun, Jul 26, 2026, 8:57 PM
Pena went 2-for-4 with two solo home runs in Sunday's 12-3 loss against the White Sox.
Analysis: Pena wasted no time making an impact, leading off the game with a solo homer against Erick Fedde before taking the right-hander deep again in the third inning. The shortstop has caught fire of late, homering five times over his last six games after hitting just six long balls through his first 53 contests of the season. During that six-game stretch, Pena is batting 13-for-26 (.500) with eight RBI. For the season, he's slashing .319/.373/.504 with nine doubles, 11 home runs, 30 RBI, 47 runs scored and eight stolen bases across 249 plate appearances. |
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Ronel Blanco Ronel Blanco Takes first loss Sunday
Sun, Jul 26, 2026, 8:46 PM
Blanco (0-1) took the loss Sunday against the White Sox, allowing five runs on four hits and three walks while striking out four over 5.1 innings.
Analysis: Blanco was hurt by the long ball Sunday as he threw 55 of his 85 pitches for strikes. After walking the leadoff hitter in the first inning, he surrendered a two-run homer to Munetaka Murakami. Miguel Vargas took him deep for another two-run shot in the sixth. Both of Blanco's starts since returning to Houston have featured multiple home runs allowed and three walks, though he has also piled up 12 strikeouts across 10 innings. The right-hander is scheduled to make his next start Saturday on the road against the Rangers. |
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Overcomes hamstring injury
Sun, Jul 26, 2026, 4:46 PM
Janek (hamstring) has slashed .368/.400/.737 with two home runs, three stolen bases, four RBI and four runs in five games for Double-A Corpus Christi since being reinstated from the 7-day injured list July 16.
Analysis: Janek was on the shelf for about a month and a half due to the hamstring injury before being cleared to rejoin Corpus Christi coming out of the All-Star break. The 23-year-old backstop has produced a .183/.224/.323 slash line over 24 games at Double-A this season. |
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Facing long-term absence
Sun, Jul 26, 2026, 4:38 PM
Double-A Corpus Christi transferred Brutcher from the 7-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Monday while he recovers from an unspecified injury.
Analysis: An undrafted free agent out of South Florida who signed with the Astros in March 2025, Brutcher had been enjoying a breakout season in the lower levels of the minors. The 24-year-old first baseman posted a .304/.421/.478 slash line with seven home runs and 10 stolen bases across 62 games between High-A Asheville and Corpus Christi before hitting the shelf July 13. His injury looks like it could bring an early end to his 2026 season. |
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