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Top Astros News

  • Astros' Brandon Bielak: Likely to make big-league club

    Bielak is likely to make the big-league roster out of spring training due to a combination of injuries to the Astros pitching staff, and because he is out of minor-league options, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

    Bielak hasn't pitched well this spring, allowing six earned runs across 7.1 innings while maintaining just a 5:4 K:BB. However, with both Justin Verlander (shoulder) and Jose Urquidy (forearm) destined for the injured list to begin the campaign, the Astros are in need of pitching depth. As things currently stand, Bielak is expected to serve in a relief role, with Ronel Blanco serving as the fifth starter.

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  • Astros' Grae Kessinger: Diagnosed with hamstring strain

    Kessinger suffered a right hamstring strain during Monday's exhibition against Miami, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

    Kessinger suffered the injury while running the bases, and his availability for the start of the regular season is in jeopardy following this diagnosis. The 26-year-old is expected to be re-evaluated within the next few days to determine his next steps and a potential timetable for a return.

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  • Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Early exit Monday was planned

    Alvarez's early removal from Monday's Grapefruit League game versus the Marlins was planned and he is not injured, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

    It seemed a bit odd that Alvarez was lifted after just two plate appearances, but evidently that was always the plan and he is fine, so fantasy managers can breathe a sigh of relief. Alvarez is 10-for-29 with one home run so far this spring.

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  • Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Exits early Monday

    Alvarez left Monday's game against the Marlins earlier than anticipated, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

    He fouled a ball off his foot Friday, although it was reported that he exited that game due to an allergic reaction. Alvarez returned to action Sunday and was in Monday's lineup for two at-bats before exiting. There should be an update on his status after the game.

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  • Astros' Grae Kessinger: Nursing hamstring injury

    Kessinger was pulled from Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Marlins due to right hamstring discomfort, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

    He tweaked his hamstring while running the bases. It's unclear at this point whether additional testing is planned, but consider him day-to-day for now. Kissinger is competing for a reserve infielder role with Houston.

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  • Astros' Ronel Blanco: In position for rotation spot

    Blanco appears likely to be included in the Astros' Opening Day rotation after Jose Urquidy was diagnosed Monday with a right forearm muscle strain, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

    Along with Justin Verlander (shoulder), Urquidy is set to begin the season on the injured list, and the Astros had already entered the spring without two other starters in Lance McCullers (forearm) and Luis Garcia (elbow), both of whom are facing longer-term recoveries from their surgeries. Urquidy's absence in particular should open up a back-end rotation spot for Blanco, whose primary competition for the role now looks to be Brandon Bielak. Given his past experience working out of the bullpen and underwhelming numbers as a starter at the big-league level, Bielak might be a better fit as a multi-inning reliever, while Blanco is less of a known commodity after seeing his first extended action in the big leagues in 2023. He submitted a 4.50 ERA and 52:28 K:BB over 52 innings across 17 outings (seven starts) with Houston last season, but Blanco has pitched more effectively this spring. Blanco has thus far tossed 11.2 scoreless frames in Grapefruit League play, striking out 13 while allowing four hits and four walks.

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  • Astros' Grae Kessinger: Tweaks leg Monday

    Kessinger was removed in the second inning of Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Marlins after he appeared to injure his right leg while running the bases, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

    After doubling in his lone at-bat of the day, Kessinger pulled up limping when he rounded third base before coming around to score on Yordan Alvarez's base hit. He checked out of the game in the bottom of the second, with Tommy Sacco coming on to replace Kessinger in the middle infield. Consider Kessinger day-to-day until the Astros provide an update on the nature and extent of his injury.

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  • Astros' Justin Verlander: Facing hitters imminently

    Astros manager Joe Espada said Monday that Verlander (shoulder) will face hitters "in the next day or two," Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

    The veteran right-hander threw another bullpen session Sunday and is poised for his first live batting practice session since he developed a shoulder issue. Verlander is expected to need multiple live BP sessions before being cleared to pitch in games, and it's not clear whether that will happen before the Grapefruit League schedule runs out. The Astros haven't divulged a timetable for Verlander's season debut, but he would seem to be tracking toward a return in late April or early May.

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  • Astros' Jose Urquidy: Out with forearm strain

    Astros manager Joe Espada said Monday that Urquidy has been diagnosed with a forearm muscle strain and won't be available for the start of the regular season, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

    Urquidy has been shut down from throwing for at least the next few days after he suffered the forearm strain during his most recent spring training outing Saturday. Despite turning in an ugly 5.29 ERA and 1.43 WHIP over 63 innings in the majors in 2023, Urquidy was in position to break camp as a member of the Astros' Opening Day rotation before sustaining the arm injury. With Urquidy, Justin Verlander (shoulder), Lance McCullers (forearm) and Luis Garcia (elbow) all set to open the season on the shelf, Houston should have back-end rotation spots available for both J.P. France and Ronel Blanco for much of April, if not longer. Unless Urquidy is able to resume his throwing progression before the end of spring training, he'll most likely spend more than the minimum 15 days on the injured list.

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  • Astros' Cristian Javier: Lined up for regular season

    Javier will start the second game of the regular season against the Yankees, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

    Justin Verlander (shoulder) will begin the season on the injured list, forcing each of Houston's pitchers to move one slot up in the rotation. That leaves Framber Valdez in line to start Opening Day with Javier to follow one game later. Javier will be looking to bounce back from a subpar 2023 campaign during which he posted a 4.56 ERA and 1.27 WHIP across 162 innings.

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  • Astros' Spencer Arrighetti: Nearing big-league debut

    Arrigehetti has a realistic chance to make his big-league debut in 2024, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

    McTaggart hasn't pitched many official innings this spring, and he was tagged for five earned runs across three innings by the Phillies on March 8. However, he started Houston's Spring Breakout game Sunday and impressed by showcasing his five-pitch mix. Arrighetti threw 64 innings at Triple-A Sugar Land in 2023, though he wasn't all that sharp with only a 62:36 K:BB. Nevertheless, he may be called upon in 2024, particularly with the Astros dealing with several injuries to their pitching staff.

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  • Astros' J.P. France: Makes spring debut

    France (shoulder) struck out four and allowed one run on four hits and one walk over 2.1 innings Saturday in the Astros' 6-1 loss to the Mets in Grapefruit League play.

    France fell short of the three innings he had expected to cover in his spring debut, but he reached the 50-pitch mark and was able to generate 11 swings and misses on the day. Per Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle, France's delayed buildup during spring training while he battled shoulder inflammation isn't expected to derail his bid for the Opening Day rotation, especially after a spot opened up for him due to Justin Verlander (shoulder) being set to begin the campaign on the injured list. Kawahara notes that France has been working on adding a sinker to his arsenal in 2024 to provide another weapon to combat right-handed hitters. Though he held lefties to a .678 OPS over his 136.1 innings as a rookie in 2023, righties posted a .789 OPS while the right-handed France leaned mostly on a four-seam fastball, cutter and sweeping slider in those matchups versus same-handed hitters.

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  • Astros' Zach Dezenzo: Starting in Spring Breakout game

    Dezenzo (wrist) will start at third base and bat eighth Sunday in the Astros' Spring Breakout game against the Cardinals.

    Dezenzo hadn't appeared in any Grapefruit League games for the Astros since March 1 while he managed a sore wrist, but his ongoing absence may have been more a byproduct of him not being a realistic candidate to crack Houston's Opening Day roster rather than due to concern about his health. The 23-year-old will be back in action Sunday in a game exclusively featuring prospects and should continue to play in minor-league games on the backfields of camp over the next couple of weeks as he prepares himself for the start of the minor-league season. He'll likely open the 2024 campaign with either Double-A Corpus Christi or Triple-A Sugar Land.

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  • Astros' Justin Verlander: Should face hitters next

    Astros manager Joe Espada said Verlander (shoulder) will throw a light bullpen session Sunday, and if that goes well, the right-hander will advance to throwing live batting practice, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

    Verlander said Friday he is "definitely getting close to facing hitters," and it appears Sunday's bullpen will be the final hurdle. Espada also said the 41-year-old will require multiple live sessions before pitching in games, so Verlander is likely still a week or two away from that step. The veteran will begin the season on the injured list but could be ready to join the Astros in mid-to-late April.

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  • Astros' Jose Abreu: Back in action Sunday

    Abreu (knee) is batting fifth as the designated hitter in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

    Abreu has been sidelined a bit more than a week due to right knee soreness, but he went through full workouts the past two days and is back in the lineup Sunday. The 37-year-old has plenty of time to ramp back up before Opening Day following the absence.

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  • Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Rejoins lineup Sunday

    Alvarez (eye) is starting in left field and batting second in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

    Alvarez was removed from Friday's contest due to an allergic reaction in his left eye, but he's ready to return to game action a couple days later. Barring any additional issues, the 26-year-old slugger will be ready for Opening Day against the Yankees on March 28.

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  • Astros' Jose Urquidy: Seeing doctors in Houston

    Urquidy (elbow) will fly to Houston on Saturday to see the Astros' team doctors, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

    Urquidy removed himself from his appearance in a minor-league game Saturday due to discomfort in his right elbow. The pain hadn't disappeared when he arrived at the Astros' complex Saturday, so he will head back to Houston in order to get checked out. Should Urquidy end up having to miss time to begin the season, the Astros may further intensify their push to sign Blake Snell.

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Injuries

Player Injury
J. Verlander SP Justin Verlander SP Shoulder
J. Urquidy SP Jose Urquidy SP Forearm
L. Garcia SP Luis Garcia SP Elbow
L. McCullers SP Lance McCullers SP Forearm
G. Kessinger SS Grae Kessinger SS Hamstring

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CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches
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