Houston Astros
AL West
The Astros placed Bryan Abreu on the restricted list.
Fantasy Impact: Abreu will serve a two-game suspension that carried over from the postseason last year.
Category: Transactions
The Astros optioned Corey Julks to Triple-A Sugar Land.
Fantasy Impact: Julks was unable to earn a spot on the Opening Day roster for Houston. He will likely be called up at some point this season.
Category: Transactions
Parker Mushinski has made the Astros Opening Day roster. (Source: Chandler Rome on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Mushinski tossed nine scoreless innings throughout Spring Training. He figures to hold a role in the middle innings out of the bullpen for Houston.
Category: Transactions
Justin Verlander is scheduled to throw two innings of live batting practice on Tuesday at Minute Maid Park. (Source: Matt Kawahara on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Astros manager Joe Espada added that if all goes well, Verlander could be ready to start a rehab assignment. Barring any setbacks, the veteran shouldn't miss too much time early in the season.
Category: Injury Updates
Sat, Mar 23rd 5:56pm EDT
By Ari Koslow
Grae Kessinger is scheduled to resume baseball activities on Sunday. (Source: MLB.com)
Fantasy Impact: Kessinger is working his way back from a right hamstring strain. He is looking to earn a depth role on the roster to open the season.
Category: Injury Updates
Houston Astros outfielder Jake Meyers is going for X-rays on his right hand after being hit by a pitch. (Source: Chandler Rome on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: The 27-year-old was penciled in as the club's primary center fielder but that may be on hold for now. Meyers hit .227 with 10 home runs, five stolen bases, and a .678 OPS a season ago.
Category: Injury Updates
Jose Urquidy said his UCL is fine and he is aiming to throw in 10-15 days. (Source: Chandler Rome on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Urquidy said there is no damage in his UCL and there is inflammation in his forearm muscle. He'll aim to return to the Astros rotation by the end of April.
Category: Injury Updates
Astros OF Yordan Alvarez left Monday’s game early. (Source: Chandler Rome on Twitter )
Fantasy Impact: There is no word yet on if Alvarez has suffered an injury, but the team should provide an update after the game. Fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day for now.
Category: Injury Updates
Cristian Javier will start the second game of the season for the Astros. (Source: Chandler Rome on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Javier will fall Framber Valdez in the starting rotation for Houston. He posted a 1.80 ERA across 10 innings in Spring Training.
Jose Abreu is back in the Astros lineup on Sunday.
Fantasy Impact: Abreu had missed the past week due to right knee soreness.
Category: Injury Updates
Astros SP Framber Valdez has been named the team’s Opening Day starter. (Source: Chandler Rome on Twitter )
Fantasy Impact: Valdez is coming off a solid season in which he posted a 3.45 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and 200 strikeouts over 198 innings pitched. The 30-year-old veteran will remain a solid option for fantasy managers in 2024.
Wed, Mar 13th 11:20pm EDT
By Ari Koslow
J.P. France is scheduled to make his first Grapefruit League start Saturday against the Mets. (Source: Matt Kawahara on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: France is tentatively scheduled for three innings and 50 pitches. He has a chance to be healthy for the start of the season barring any setbacks.
Category: Injury Updates
Forrest Whitley is scheduled to resume playing catch on Tuesday. (Source: Brian McTaggart on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Whitley had been scheduled to throw live batting practice last week when he began to have inflammation in his middle finger. He'll look to work his way back onto the mound soon.
Category: Injury Updates
Dixon Machado has Grade 2 quad strain and will miss several weeks. (Source: Brian McTaggart on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Machado may be forced to miss the remainder of camp. He will open the season in Triple-A.
Category: Injury Updates
Zach Dezenzo is playing in Grapefruit League games, but not hitting. (Source: Brian McTaggart on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Dezenzo has still gotten into game action as a defender. He impressed last season between High-A and Double-A in the Astros organization.
Category: Injury Updates
Astros manager Joe Espada said Ronel Blanco will start in the team's Cactus League opener on Saturday. (Source: Chandler Rome on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Espada added that the Astros starters will play early and often in the Spring Training games. He also said Dylan Coleman is among the relievers scheduled to follow Blanco on Saturday.
Jeremy Pena made adjustments to his swing mechanics this offseason. (Source: Brian McTaggart on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: "I’m starting the bat from a still position on my shoulder, but I’m still doing some kind of movement with the hands as I’m going," Pena said. "I’m not completely getting rid of the wag; It’s just kind of controlling it a little bit more." He'll hope to benefit at the plate this season with these adjustments.
The Padres have traded Oliver Carrillo to the Astros in exchange for international bonus pool money. (Source: Francys Romero on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Carrillo previously spent time with the summer league club in Dominican Club affiliated with the Padres. He is a future add for the Astros organization.
Category: Transactions
Astros manager Joe Espada confirmed Josh Hader will pitch the ninth inning when he and Ryan Pressly are both available. (Source: Matt Kawahara on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Hader signed a five-year deal with Houston this offseason. Pressly will certainly still see some save opportunities, but overall it'll be Hader's job to open the season.
Houston Astros pitcher Luis Garcia (elbow) is on track to return in the second half of the 2024 season. (Source: Jon Morosi on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Garcia's 2023 season was limited to just six starts as he underwent Tommy John surgery on his elbow on May 19. The right-hander has been very good in his young career, working to a 3.61 ERA across 69 outings (63 starts) and made 28 starts in back-to-back seasons from 2021-2022 before his ill-fated 2023 campaign.
Category: Injury Updates