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Imai (arm) played catch at Daikin Park on Thursday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
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.
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Astros' Peter Lambert: In line to start Friday
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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.
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.
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.
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 strong 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.
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.
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.
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Astros' Enyel De Los Santos: Another save for Houston
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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.
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.
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Astros' Ryan Weiss: Starting Thursday
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Weiss is slated to start Thursday's game against the Rockies in Houston, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Weiss has been hit around quite a bit during his last two relief appearances, 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.
Astros' Taylor Trammell: Heading to bench Wednesday
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Trammell is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rockies.
After getting called up from Triple-A Sugar Land on Friday, Trammell has started in three of the Astros' ensuing six games while going a collective 4-for-13 with a double, two walks, three RBI and two runs. He'll likely be part of a timeshare in center field with Joey Loperfido until Jake Meyers (oblique) is ready to return from the injured list.
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Astros' Jose Altuve: Receiving night off
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Altuve is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rockies.
Per Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle, manager Joe Espada said that Altuve's absence from the lineup is a routine rest day after the 35-year-old infielder started each of Houston's first 18 games. Isaac Paredes will spell Altuve at second base and will bat third.
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Astros' Cody Bolton: Placed on IL with back injury
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The Astros placed Bolton on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with mid-back inflammation, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Bolton was lifted from his previous start Sunday against the Mariners with a back issue that had lingered since his previous outing. The injury doesn't seem to be a long-term issue, but the loss of Bolton for any period of time represents yet another blow to the Astros' rotation depth.
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Astros' Spencer Arrighetti: Recalled for season debut
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The Astros recalled Arrighetti from Triple-A Sugar Land on Wednesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Arrighetti is set to start Wednesday's game at home against the Rockies in what will be his first start with the big club this season. The right-hander had been in a groove with Sugar Land, authoring a 1.26 ERA, 0.77 WHIP and 20:6 K:BB over 14.1 innings in his first three starts. The Houston rotation has been decimated by injuries, providing Arrighetti with an opportunity to stick around indefinitely.
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Astros' Brandon Bielak: Grabs minors deal from Astros
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The Astros signed Bielak to a minor-league contract Wednesday, Tread Athletics reports.
Bielak missed most of the 2025 season following shoulder surgery, but he's healthy now and was sitting in the 90-to-93 mph range recently while pitching for Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos of the Mexican League. Most of the 30-year-old's major-league experience has come with the Astros, though Bielak's last stint in the big leagues came in 2024 with the Athletics. He should be assigned to Triple-A Sugar Land, but it's unclear whether Houston intends to use him as a starter or reliever.
De Los Santos earned the save Tuesday against the Rockies, striking out the only batter he faced.
De Los Santos was called on in the ninth with two outs and runners at the corners after Bryan King allowed back-to-back singles, and he quickly shut the door. The right-hander needed just five pitches to sit down Jordan Beck and secure the win. The save was his first since 2024 and only his fourth in an eight-year career. Since returning from the injured list April 6, De Los Santos has been a reliable bullpen arm, allowing one run while striking out four over 5.2 innings.
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Astros' Colton Gordon: Hit hard in season debut
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Gordon did not factor into the decision Tuesday against the Rockies, allowing four runs on eight hits while striking out five over 3.2 innings.
Making his first start of the season, Gordon was tested early and often. The right-hander gave up a homer to the third batter he faced -- Hunter Goodman -- in the first, then allowed three straight hits in the second inning that led to two more runs. Trouble returned in the fourth when he surrendered another long ball and loaded the bases before being lifted. While the five strikeouts were encouraging, Gordon will need consistently keep traffic off the bases in order to find success in his next scheduled start against St. Louis.
Diaz is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Rockies, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Diaz started the previous three games and will receive a day off after going 2-for-11 with a solo homer and an additional RBI during that stretch. Christian Vazquez will work behind the plate and bat ninth versus Colorado righty Michael Lorenzen.
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Astros' Spencer Arrighetti: Set to start against Colorado
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Arrighetti will be recalled from Triple-A Sugar Land to start against the Rockies on Wednesday or Thursday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Houston's rotation has been hit hard by injuries, losing Cristian Javier (shoulder) and Tatsuya Imai (arm) within the past week alone. Arrighetti will come up to fill one of the vacancies, and his first matchup will come at home against a Rockies offense that's struggled to a .674 OPS through its first 16 games.
