| News |
|---|
|
Isaac Paredes Isaac Paredes Lifts homer in win
Wed, Jul 22, 2026, 9:58 PM
Paredes went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 5-2 win over the Marlins.
Analysis: Paredes has homered in consecutive contests. He's also on an eight-game hitting streak, having gone 12-for-31 (.387) with seven RBI in that span. The third baseman is now batting .263 with a .792 OPS, 14 long balls, 54 RBI, 42 runs scored, 18 doubles, one triple and no stolen bases over 97 contests in a near-everyday role. |
|
Jeremy Pena Jeremy Pena Homers for third straight game
Wed, Jul 22, 2026, 9:55 PM
Pena went 3-for-4 with a solo home run and a second run scored in Wednesday's 5-2 win over the Marlins.
Analysis: Pena has turned up the power, going deep in three straight games against Miami. He's added six RBI and five runs scored in that span. Prior to this surge, the shortstop had gone 14 contests without a long ball. He's batting .302 with an .834 OPS, nine homers, 28 RBI, 42 runs scored, nine doubles and eight stolen bases over 56 contests while primarily serving as Houston's leadoff hitter when healthy. |
|
Yordan Alvarez Yordan Alvarez Crushes homer in win
Wed, Jul 22, 2026, 9:53 PM
Alvarez went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's 5-2 win over the Marlins.
Analysis: Alvarez has hit safely in nine straight games, seven of which have been multi-hit efforts. He has gone 17-for-33 (.515) with five homers and 10 RBI in that span. The star slugger has been excellent throughout the campaign, batting .328 with a 1.089 OPS, 34 homers, 77 RBI, 69 runs scored, 20 doubles and one stolen base through 102 contests. If he stays healthy, he is tracking toward career-best marks in homers and RBI and should receive plenty of MVP buzz. |
|
Bryan Abreu Bryan Abreu Snags sixth save
Wed, Jul 22, 2026, 9:50 PM
Abreu struck out one in a perfect inning to earn the save in Wednesday's 5-2 win over the Marlins.
Analysis: Josh Hader had pitched in the first two games of the series versus Miami and was presumably rested Wednesday. Abreu got the job done well, throwing nine of 14 pitches for strikes to claim his sixth save this season. The veteran reliever has allowed two runs over seven innings with a 9:2 K:BB in July. Abreu hasn't logged a hold since the end of May, but he has collected three saves across 16 outings in that span. For the season, Abreu is at a 5.29 ERA, 1.59 WHIP and 43:27 K:BB through 34 innings. At this time, it appears there's little chance of Abreu claiming a large share of high-leverage spots, though he's in the mix -- along with Bryan King and Enyel De Los Santos -- for save chances when Hader's not available. |
|
Peter Lambert Peter Lambert Stays hot with quality start
Wed, Jul 22, 2026, 9:46 PM
Lambert allowed two runs on six hits and two walks while striking out three over six innings in a no-decision versus the Marlins on Wednesday.
Analysis: Lambert has posted three straight quality starts, allowing four runs over 18 innings with a 20:6 K:BB in that span. He's been a little unlucky to take a no-decision in his last two outings, but he's still pitching well and has emerged as a reliable part of the Astros' rotation. The right-hander is now at a 3.03 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 94:38 K:BB through 98 innings over 17 starts this season. Lambert's next start is projected to be in a favorable road matchup versus the Angels. |
|
Cam Smith Cam Smith On bench for third straight game
Wed, Jul 22, 2026, 5:05 PM
Smith is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Marlins.
Analysis: Smith will wind up taking a seat for all three games of the series with Miami, though he made an impact off the bench in the opener Monday by walking in his lone plate appearance and claiming his 10th stolen base of the season. Taylor Trammell covered right field for the first two games against the Marlins, but LaMonte Wade will occupy the position in the finale. Smith could be part of a committee in right field while he's been in a prolonged slump at the plate. Dating back to July 4, Smith is slashing just .105/.186/.184 over a stretch of 13 contests. |
|
Jose Altuve Jose Altuve Heading to bench Wednesday
Wed, Jul 22, 2026, 5:01 PM
Altuve is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Marlins.
Analysis: Altuve will head to the bench for the first time since June 28, ending a streak of 17 consecutive starts. Nick Allen will fill in for Altuve at the keystone in the series finale. |
|
Shipped to Houston
Wed, Jul 22, 2026, 10:51 AM
The Astros acquired Martin from the Royals on Wednesday in exchange for Nate Pearson.
Analysis: Martin has logged a 2.01 ERA and 36:13 K:BB over 40.1 innings between Single-A Columbia and High-A Quad Cities this season. The 22-year-old reliever was a 10th-round pick of the Royals in the 2025 First-Year Player Draft. |
|
Jeremy Pena Jeremy Pena Homers again Tuesday
Wed, Jul 22, 2026, 7:49 AM
Pena went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Tuesday's 5-3 win over the Marlins.
Analysis: Pena led off the bottom of the first with a 405-foot blast off Tyler Phillips to give Houston an early 1-0 lead. It's the eighth homer of the season for Pena, who's now gone deep in back-to-back games. The shortstop has come out of the All-Star break hot, going 5-for-13 in four contests. Overall, Pena is slashing .293/.355/.452 with 40 runs scored, 27 RBI and eight steals across 231 plate appearances this season. |
|
Isaac Paredes Isaac Paredes Powers offense to victory
Tue, Jul 21, 2026, 11:12 PM
Paredes went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run in a 5-3 win against the Marlins on Tuesday.
Analysis: Paredes provided the bulk of Houston's scoring with a three-run shot to left field in the fifth inning. The blast snapped a 10-game homerless stretch for the third baseman, though he's otherwise been hitting quite well. Through 15 contests in July, Paredes is batting .310 (18-for-58), albeit with a modest five extra-base hits, six runs and eight RBI. |
|
Josh Hader Josh Hader Posts 11th save
Tue, Jul 21, 2026, 10:45 PM
Hader notched a save against the Marlins on Tuesday, allowing one hit and striking out one batter in one scoreless inning.
Analysis: Hader unsurprisingly got the call in the ninth inning with Houston up two runs. He surrendered a ground-rule double to the first batter he faced but responded by retiring the next three hitters in order. Hader had uncharacteristically given up a run in two of his prior three outings entering Tuesday, so this was a strong bounce-back effort. He's a perfect 11-for-11 on save opportunities this season while registering a 1.47 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 29:8 K:BB through 18.1 innings spanning 20 appearances. |
|
Tatsuya Imai Tatsuya Imai Solid in first start of second half
Tue, Jul 21, 2026, 10:40 PM
Imai (6-4) earned the win over Miami on Tuesday, allowing one run on four hits and three walks while striking out eight batters over six innings.
Analysis: Imai held the Marlins scoreless through four frames and ended up with just one run on his ledger. The Japanese righty recorded 15 whiffs en route to eight punchouts and posted his fifth quality start of the campaign. Perhaps the only concerning part of Imai's outing is that his control was shaky -- he threw just 56 of 96 pitches for strikes and tossed a first-pitch strike to only 11 of 25 hitters. Still, it was a promising opening to the second half for Imai, who struggled to a 6.06 ERA and 1.50 WHIP across 13 starts prior to the All-Star break. He'll look to build on Tuesday's outing his next time out, which lines up to be a road tilt against the Angels. |
|
Yainer Diaz Yainer Diaz Taking seat Tuesday
Tue, Jul 21, 2026, 3:10 PM
Diaz is not in the lineup for Tuesday's contest against the Marlins.
Analysis: Diaz started at catcher the last three games but will begin Tuesday's festivities on the bench. Christian Vazquez will take over behind the plate for Houston. |
|
Cam Smith Cam Smith Out of lineup again Tuesday
Tue, Jul 21, 2026, 3:09 PM
Smith is not in the lineup for Tuesday's contest versus the Marlins.
Analysis: This marks Smith's second consecutive absence from the Astros' starting nine. Smith -- who is currently in a 1-for-28 slide at the plate -- will again yield right field to Taylor Trammell. |
|
Christian Walker Christian Walker Returning to Houston lineup
Tue, Jul 21, 2026, 3:06 PM
Walker (hip) will start at first base and bat sixth in Tuesday's game versus the Marlins.
Analysis: Walker missed the last two starts with a right hip injury, but he was used in a pinch-hitting capacity Monday and is back in the lineup Tuesday. The 35-year-old is slashing just .171/.292/.317 so far in July. |
|
Back in action for Tourists
Tue, Jul 21, 2026, 10:34 AM
High-A Asheville activated Frey (hamstring strain) from the 7-day injured list July 16, Geoff Pontes of Baseball America reports.
Analysis: He suffered the injury June 3 and began his rehab assignment in the Florida Complex League on July 3. Frey has been one of the bigger FYPD disappointments in dynasty leagues this year, as he has a 30.4 percent strikeout rate and 88 wRC+ in 50 games as a 22-year-old at High-A. Despite an underwhelming .153 ISO and six homers in 230 plate appearances, Frey has at least used his athleticism to add value on the bases, notching 15 steals on 19 attempts. |
|
Jeremy Pena Jeremy Pena Launches grand slam Monday
Mon, Jul 20, 2026, 11:13 PM
Pena went 1-for-4 with a grand slam in Monday's 8-5 win over the Marlins.
Analysis: Pena's lone hit was a big one, as he uncorked a grand slam off Janson Junk as part of a six-run second inning. It was encouraging to see the shortstop back in the lineup Monday after he exited Saturday's game early and sat out Sunday's contest due to a right hamstring cramp. Multiple injuries have forced Pena to miss time this season, but he has been productive when available, slashing .294/.357/.441 with seven homers, 26 RBI, 38 runs and eight stolen bases across 54 contests. |
|
Yordan Alvarez Yordan Alvarez Blasts two homers in win
Mon, Jul 20, 2026, 11:06 PM
Alvarez went 3-for-4 with two solo home runs in Monday's 8-5 win over the Marlins.
Analysis: Alvarez demolished a solo homer to cap off a six-run second inning, then blasted another solo shot in the fifth frame. The slugger is currently riding a seven-game hitting streak, during which he has gone 13-for-25 (.520) with four homers, four doubles, eight RBI and five runs scored. With his two long balls Monday, the 29-year-old pulled even with Kyle Schwarber for the major-league lead with 33 home runs. It has been nothing short of a monster campaign for Alvarez in 2026, as he's slashing .324/.432/.651 with 53 extra-base hits, 75 RBI and 67 runs scored across 100 contests. |
|
Ronel Blanco Ronel Blanco Strikes out eight in season debut
Mon, Jul 20, 2026, 10:42 PM
Blanco did not factor into the decision Monday, allowing four runs on two hits and three walks across 4.2 innings in an 8-5 win over the Marlins. He struck out eight.
Analysis: Blanco's season debut was a mixed bag, as he generated 18 whiffs and recorded eight strikeouts while allowing just two hits, but both were two-run home runs. The 32-year-old departed after throwing 86 pitches (58 strikes). Blanco posted a 4.10 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 48:20 K:BB across 48.1 innings (nine starts) in 2025 before undergoing Tommy John surgery last June. His next start is tentatively scheduled for Sunday against the White Sox. |
|
Cam Smith Cam Smith Receiving breather Monday
Mon, Jul 20, 2026, 6:09 PM
Smith is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Marlins.
Analysis: Smith will get the evening off after he went 0-for-13 with five strikeouts while starting in all three of the Astros' games against the Orioles over the weekend. Taylor Trammell will fill in for Smith in right field and will bat seventh. |
Connect With Us:
