LEADING OFF: Verlander back, Thor debuts, dominant Pads
Justin Verlander will pitch for Houston for the first time since having Tommy John surgery late in 2020APRIL 9, 2022•ASSOCIATED PRESS
Chas McCormick - Takes seat FridayMcCormick isn't starting Friday's game against the Angels, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
ImpactMcCormick will get a breather after he went 2-for-4 with two doubles and a strikeout Thursday. Jose Siri will start in center field and bat eighth.
APRIL 8, 2022•ROTOWIRE
Aledmys Díaz - Starting FridayDiaz is starting Friday's game against the Angels, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
ImpactDiaz didn't appear in Thursday's Opening Day win over the Angels, but he should serve as the primary first baseman in the coming days after Yuli Gurriel was placed on the paternity list Friday. Diaz will bat fifth against left-hander Reid Detmers.
APRIL 8, 2022•ROTOWIRE
Joe Perez - Recalled by HoustonPerez was recalled by the Astros on Friday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
ImpactPerez began the regular season on Houston's taxi squad, but he'll be added to the major-league roster after Yuli Gurriel was placed on the paternity list. The 22-year-old Perez appeared in 69 games at Double-A Corpus Christi last year and hit .267 with eight homers, 34 runs, 27 RBI and two stolen bases. He'll be in uniform for Friday's game against the Angels.
APRIL 8, 2022•ROTOWIRE
Yuli Gurriel - Placed on paternity listGurriel was placed on the paternity list Friday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
ImpactGurriel went 1-for-4 with a double and a strikeout in Thursday's Opening Day win over the Angels, but he'll be away from the team for 1-3 days following the birth of his child. Joe Perez was called up by the Astros ahead of Friday's game against the Angels, while Aledmys Diaz should see increased playing time at first base while Gurriel is unavailable.
APRIL 8, 2022•ROTOWIRE
Max Stassi - Day off FridayStassi will sit Friday against the Astros, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.
ImpactStassi started behind the play on Opening Day but will hit the bench for the second game of the season. That could signal that Stassi will be used less frequently than other starting catchers this year, or it could simply be a way to ease him into a heavier regular-season workload. Kurt Suzuki will catch Reid Detmers in his absence.
APRIL 8, 2022•ROTOWIRE
Jo Adell - Not starting FridayAdell isn't starting Friday's game against the Astros, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
ImpactAdell drew the start in Thursday's Opening Day loss and went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts. Jose Rojas will start in right field and bat fifth Friday.
APRIL 8, 2022•ROTOWIRE
