MARCH 21 • THEATHLETIC.COM
HOUSTON ASTROS 88-73 · 1ST IN AL WEST
88-73 · 1ST IN AL WEST
Q&A: Astros' Lance McCullers Jr. on MLBPA power struggle, Tony Clark's future "I absolutely have faith in Tony Clark," said McCullers, an executive subcommittee member, noting he didn't see a role for Harry Marino.
Justin Verlander - Won't pitch in spring games Manager Joe Espada said Thursday that Verlander won't pitch in the Astros' remaining four Grapefruit League games nor the team's two exhibitions leading up to Opening Day, Chandler...
Impact Verlander seems to be making progress in his recovery from the right shoulder injury that has kept him from pitching in a game at any point this spring, as Espada noted that the nine-time All-Star responded well after throwing 20 pitches in a live batting practice session Wednesday. He'll most likely throw another live BP or two before the spring comes to a close before he heads out on a minor-league rehab assignment to build up his innings. Verlander will open the season on the Astros' 15-day injured list, but assuming he experiences no snags during his rehab assignment, he could be ready to slot into the Houston rotation before the end of April.
MARCH 21 • ROTOWIRE
Astros notes: Player development goes public, Jeremy Peña's progress, clarity on the bench The Astros' farm system isn't well-regarded by many. That could be why they started using social media to show their prospects' development.
MARCH 21 • THEATHLETIC.COM
Yankees must answer these 5 burning questions during final week of spring training The Yankees open the 2024 regular season in exactly one week, playing the Astros in Houston on next Thursday.
MARCH 21 • NJ.COM
After missing out on Blake Snell, will the Astros pivot? The Athletic’s Jim Bowden reported on Tuesday the Astros won’t look to sign Jordan Montgomery despite rotation concerns.
MARCH 20 • THEATHLETIC.COM
Steal or no steal? How Altuve will decide when to pick spots WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- One of the main initiatives for new Astros manager Joe Espada this year is for the team to be more aggressive on th...
MARCH 19 • MLB.COM
MLB's best lineup? Pitching staff? 5 burning questions before the 2024 season
The FOX Sports MLB staff offers its takes on baseball's best offense, starting rotation and World Series dark horses, and shares its boldest...MARCH 19
2024 MLB predictions: MVP, Cy Young, ROY, World Series
With the 2024 MLB season commencing, who's going to win MVP? Cy Young? Rookie of the Year? The World Series? Our staff experts make their pi...MARCH 19
AL West capsules: Astros, Rangers vie for supremacy 2024 AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST CAPSULESHouston Astros2023 record: 90-72 (1st place, AL West)KEY MOVESHe gone: OF Michael Brantley, C Martin Maldo...
MARCH 19 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM
AL West capsules: Astros, Rangers vie for supremacy 2024 AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST CAPSULESHouston Astros2023 record: 90-72 (1st place, AL West)KEY MOVESHe gone: OF Michael Brantley, C Martin Maldo...
MARCH 19 • KANSASCITY.COM
AL West capsules: Astros, Rangers vie for supremacy 2024 AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST CAPSULESHouston Astros2023 record: 90-72 (1st place, AL West)KEY MOVESHe gone: OF Michael Brantley, C Martin Maldo...
MARCH 19 • KANSASCITY.COM
Who is the highest-paid pitcher in MLB? Two big names are atop list of 2024 pitcher salaries For the second straight season, Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander will each earn $43.3 million in 2024 as the top paid pitchers in baseball.
MARCH 19 • USATODAY.COM
Blake Snell saga ends in San Francisco and is a calculated risk for all involved
Blake Snell didn't get the long-term deal he desired but could be a perfect pairing for the all-in Giants. Will the Yankees and Astros regre...MARCH 19
As Astros' rotation depth dwindles, Hunter Brown has 'to take a step forward' With José Urquidy and Justin Verlander out due to injuries, the Astros need Brown to perform better than he did in the second half of 2023.
MARCH 18 • THEATHLETIC.COM
AL West Preview: Astros still top the division while Rangers are reigning World Series champions
The Texas Rangers are reigning World Series champions for the first time and have an opportunity to become the first team in a quarter-century to win back-to-back titlesMARCH 18 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
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 repo...
Impact 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.
MARCH 18 • ROTOWIRE
Astros RHP Jose Urquidy (forearm) to open season on IL Houston Astros right-hander Jose Urquidy will begin the season on the injured list due to a right forearm strain.Manager Joe Espada confirme...
MARCH 18 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM
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.
Impact 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.
MARCH 18 • ROTOWIRE
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.
Impact 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.
MARCH 18 • ROTOWIRE
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.
Impact 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 featuring exclusively 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.
MARCH 17 • ROTOWIRE
José 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.
Impact 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.
MARCH 16 • ROTOWIRE
Astros tab Valdez for third straight Opening Day start WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The suspense surrounding who was going to take the ball on Opening Day for the Astros was almost too much for left-...
MARCH 15 • MLB.COM
José Urquidy's elbow soreness intensifies Astros' rotation depth concerns If Urquidy must miss any length of time, Houston might find it mandatory to add another starter to handle a tough early-season schedule.
MARCH 15 • THEATHLETIC.COM
José Abreu - Could see game action Sunday Abreu (knee) will go through full workouts Friday and Saturday with the goal of starting at designated hitter in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies, Brian McTagga...
Impact The 37-year-old has been battling knee soreness over the past week, but a return to spring games this weekend would set him up in plenty of time for Opening Day. Abreu could see more days off and action at designated hitter this season after he posted a .679 OPS during his first campaign with Houston in 2023.
MARCH 15 • ROTOWIRE
Are the Astros the right fit for Blake Snell? Facing mounting questions about their depth, sources say the Astros have remained engaged in the starting pitching market.
MARCH 15 • THEATHLETIC.COM
