The Houston Astros head into Opening Day 2026 with cautious optimism, as the latest update on Jeremy Pena shifts attention away from his finger injury.
As the 2026 season approaches, a handful of Astros prospects find themselves at a crossroads. Some are at a point where they need to produce to take the next step.
The lab is first and foremost a place where we get to learn more about baseball. As much as I would love to pass myself off as an expert in all things, that would be the height of hubris and would deprive all of us the opportunity to avail ourselves of genuine expertise.
Astros fans, the wait is finally over. The long offseason has come to an end, and with it arrives something that never goes out of style, hope. As Opening Day approaches, there’s a noticeable shift in the air.
Sweet 16 is in the air in Houston. It’s with the Houston Cougars at Toyota Center. It’s with Jose Altuve stepping into the batter’s box on Opening Day as he embarks upon his 16th year.
As Spring Training opens for 2026, all 30 teams have high hopes and big questions. These are the storylines to follow for each team heading into Opening Day.
The Houston Astros got a boost ahead of Opening Day, with shortstop Jeremy Pena returning to game action after missing time with a right ring finger injury that had put his availability for the start of the season in doubt.
As the Houston Astros prepare for another season with championship expectations, two of the most important figures in the organization find themselves in uncertain territory.
The Houston Astros have plenty riding on the injury status of shortstop Jeremy Pena before Opening Day. Pena fractured his right ring finger early in a WBC exhibition game, which opened the door for an open spot on the Opening Day roster.
Astros righty Peter Lambert was granted his release after triggering an out clause in his minor league deal, manager Joe Espada tells reporters (link via Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle).
The Astros are going to open the season with Christian Vázquez as their backup to catcher Yainer Diaz, manager Joe Espada tells Matt Kawahara of The Houston Chronicle.
Jeremy Peña has been sidelined for most of spring training after fracturing his right ring finger preparing to play for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic.
The 2026 MLB season is right around the corner, and it is never too early to start thinking about how it might unfold. Seemingly, every year, we have a decent handle on who should contend and who is likely to struggle, which makes looking ahead to the trade deadline inevitable.
A week after the All-Star Break in 2005, the Houston Astros were swept in St. Louis. The loss dropped them two under .500 and for all intents and purposes, left them dead in the water.
The Astros announced their season-opening rotation on Monday afternoon. Hunter Brown, Mike Burrows, Cristian Javier and Tatsuya Imai will take the ball in that order for their four-game opener against the Angels.
MLB players who want to make use of the new challenge system for balls and strikes are going to have to make up their minds quickly if they want those challenges to be recognized.
Javier’s results in spring have been solid, but his peripherals don’t back it up. Astros SP Cristian Javier just finished his final outing of the spring.
After a terrifying moment from last summer, Houston Astros 3B Carlos Correa recently revealed he nearly lost his life. During a family outing on Lake Minnetonka, Correa found himself stranded in deep water, battling severe cramps while trying to keep both himself and his young son afloat.
Carlos Correa has not enjoyed much success on the field since he became a free agent at the end of the 2021 season. The three-time All-Star is back with the Houston Astros after a few years with the Minnesota Twins.
It’s already past the middle of March, which means the Houston Astros are wrapping up spring training and getting ready for the season ahead in one week.
The opportunities to give young prospects that won’t make the opening-day roster chances at swings in spring games is dwindling. The Houston Astros gave one of their top prospects the chance on Sunday.
Cristian Javier missed part of this week in Houston Astros spring training to tend to a personal matter. Before that, his first spring training outing was uneven.
Spring training often creates opportunities for pitchers to force their way into, at the very least, roster conversations. Ryan Weiss has made the most of his chance to be a part of the Houston Astros roster.
For years now, Bryan Abreu has admirably filled the role of Houston Astros setup man. The team has All-Star closer Josh Hader on hand as their primary ninth-inning option, so there’s been very few chances for Abreu to get a crack at saves himself.
The Houston Astros finished the 2025 season looking up at another team in the AL West for just the second time in nine years. Now, their pitching staff might be the key to getting back atop the division.