Houston Astros

Bryan Abreu's 2-game suspension will be upheld. He will serve the suspension for the first two games of the 2024 regular season. (Source: Ken Rosenthal on X)

Fantasy Impact: Abreu was suspended after hitting Adolis Garcia in Game 5 of the ALCS after the MLB declared that it was intentional. While the ruling was confirmed, he luckily won't have to serve the suspension during the 2023 playoffs. He should continue to play a large role in the Astros bullpen going forward.

Yordan Alvarez is reportedly dealing with a virus, but he is in Monday's lineup against the Rangers in Game 2 of the ALCS. (Source: Ken Rosenthal on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Alvarez is reportedly dealing with an upset stomach and headaches. He was not part of the introductions in Game 1 Sunday night. The Astros are looking to avoid falling into an 0-2 hole against Nathan Eovaldi and Texas.

Michael Brantley had an impressive performance on Wednesday, going 4-for-5 with a double, one RBI, and one run.

Fantasy Impact: This was an impressive performance for Brantley, particularly since he had not been in the lineup for 10 days. Despite being limited to a mere 13 games so far this season due to injury, Brantley has proven that he still possesses a smooth swing and approach at the plate. The five-time All-Star has now gone 15-for-47 (.319) with two homers, two doubles, seven RBI, and seven runs.

Despite tallying six strikeouts in just 4.2 innings, he allowed three hits and three walks, resulting in three earned runs.

Fantasy Impact: With a season ERA of 4.67 and a WHIP of 1.28, Javier's inconsistency and lack of control have been a recurring issue, making him a risky fantasy option moving forward.

Kyle Tucker had a solid performance in Monday's game against the Mariners, contributing to the Astros' 5-1 victory with a solo home run.

Fantasy Impact: Tucker continues to be an elite fantasy asset across the board. He now has 29 home runs and 29 more stolen bases to go along with 110 RBI and a .281 average on the campaign.

Verlander's impressive performance on Monday showcased his ability to dominate opposing hitters, allowing just three hits and one earned run while striking out eight over eight innings.

Fantasy Impact: With a solid season behind him, boasting a 3.32 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP, Verlander has solidified his status as a reliable fantasy option moving forward. Owners have been hit with some lower strikeout numbers from the 40-year-old but he has now racked up 30 wins over his last 54 starts

Astros catcher Martin Maldonado is back in the starting lineup Monday versus the Mariners. (Source: MLB.com)

Fantasy Impact: The veteran backstop sat out of Sunday's 6-5 loss to the Royals but will return and hit ninth while catching Justin Verlander on Monday. The glove-first Maldonado has hit just .189 with 14 homers across 388 plate appearances on the season.

Astros catcher/designated hitter Yainer Diaz is not in the starting lineup Monday versus the Mariners. (Source: MLB.com)

Fantasy Impact: Diaz notched an RBI single in four at-bats Sunday versus the Royals but will begin a key series against the rival Mariners on the bench on Monday. The rookie has had a big season, hitting .285 with 23 home runs and an .853 OPS across 102 games.

Framber Valdez had a rough outing on Friday against the Royals, allowing six earned runs over 5.1 innings pitched.

Fantasy Impact: Despite recording 10 strikeouts, Valdez struggled with his control, issuing three walks and giving up four hits. This disappointing performance further dampens Valdez's fantasy outlook, as his season-long numbers now include a 3.39 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP. While his strikeout rate remains solid at 9.0 K/9, Valdez's recent struggles and lack of run support from the Astros have resulted in a less-than-ideal 12-11 record. Fantasy managers may want to exercise caution moving forward until Valdez can regain his form.

Alex Bregman had a solid performance in Tuesday's game against the Orioles, hitting a home run and driving in a run.

Fantasy Impact: Bregman went 1-for-3 at the plate, showcasing his power with a long ball. Although the Astros ultimately fell to the Orioles, Bregman's offensive contributions should provide encouragement for fantasy owners. With 24 home runs and 96 RBI on the season, Bregman has been a consistent run-producer for fantasy teams. Despite a slightly lower batting average of .267, his ability to hit for power and drive in runs makes him a valuable asset in fantasy baseball leagues.

With 7 earned runs allowed in just 5.1 innings pitched, Brown's ERA climbed to 4.61 for the season.

Fantasy Impact: Despite a solid strikeout rate of 10.4 K/9, his struggles with command were evident with 2 walks allowed. Brown's WHIP also suffered, reaching 1.34. With a losing record of 11-12, fantasy managers may want to consider benching Brown until he shows signs of improvement.

Jose Abreu had a solid performance in Friday's game against the Kansas City Royals, despite the Houston Astros falling short with a final score of 4-2.

Fantasy Impact: The veteran first baseman went 2-for-4 at the plate, driving in one run with a home run and scoring another. This performance adds to Abreu's power numbers for the season, as he now has 15 home runs and 78 RBI in 127 games played. However, his overall batting average remains low at .237, and his strikeout rate of 0.213 continues to be a concern. Fantasy managers will hope that Abreu can maintain his power production while improving his contact skills moving forward.

J.P. France tossed six innings, allowing four hits and one earned run while striking out five and issuing five walks.

Fantasy Impact: With a 3.61 ERA and 1.32 WHIP on the season, France has been a serviceable fantasy option, but his high walk rate remains a concern for owners moving forward.

Jose Altuve had a solid performance in Sunday's game against the Padres, driving in three runs and scoring two of his own.

Fantasy Impact: He went 1-for-4 at the plate, including a home run, and drew a walk. Altuve's strong showing contributed to the Astros' dominant 12-2 win. With 72 games played this season, Altuve has been a consistent contributor, maintaining a .312 batting average with 16 home runs, 42 RBI, and 13 stolen bases. His ability to produce runs and contribute in multiple categories makes him a valuable asset in fantasy baseball lineups.

Mauricio Dubon had a standout game on Monday as he played a crucial role in the Houston Astros' 13-6 victory over the Texas Rangers thanks to a pair of home runs.

Fantasy Impact: Dubon went 2-for-5 at the plate, driving in two runs with his two home runs. This impressive display of power adds to Dubon's season totals, which now stand at 9 home runs and 67 runs scored. His playing time caps his fantasy value but he is a solid streaming option in favorable matchups when in the lineup.

In one inning of work, Pressly allowed just one hit while striking out one batter en route to a save.

Fantasy Impact: With this performance, Pressly now has 30 saves on the season, along with a 3.32 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, and a solid 9.9 K/9 rate. He has been a reliable closer for fantasy managers, despite recording five blown saves. Pressly's consistent performance and ability to limit baserunners make him a valuable asset moving forward.

Chas McCormick had a strong performance at the plate, going 3-for-6 with a double, an RBI, and two runs scored.

Fantasy Impact: This solid outing adds to his already impressive season stats, where he boasts a .283 batting average, 58 RBI, 19 home runs, and 14 stolen bases in 89 games played. McCormick continues to be a valuable contributor for fantasy teams, providing a solid blend of power and speed.

With a .260 batting average on the season, Pena's 5 hits in 6 at-bats provide a significant boost to his overall numbers, including 24 doubles, 2 triples, and 10 home runs in 120 games played.

Fantasy Impact: While his strikeout rate of 0.209 remains a concern, Pena's recent performance shows promise for fantasy owners moving forward.

Jon Singleton went 3-for-4 with two home runs, five RBI, and three runs scored Friday.

Fantasy Impact: Singleton's power surge was the highlight of the game, as he launched a pair of long balls to drive in runs and contributed to the team's offensive onslaught. With this performance, Singleton now has 14 games played on the season, and although he has struggled at the plate with a .162 batting average, his ability to drive in runs and provide power is evident.

The Astros optioned Corey Julks To Triple-A Sugar Land. (Source: Chandler Rome on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: The 27-year-old outfielder has struggled as of late, tallying just one hit in his last 40 at-bats. Julks will likely use this time as a reset to find his swing and hope to return to the Astros’ roster soon.