MLB Player News

Dezenzo went 3-for-4 with an RBI single and a run scored in Wednesday's 3-1 win over the Blue Jays.

Dezenzo returned Wednesday from a one-game absence due to a thumb injury, and he gave the Astros a two-run lead in the second inning on a single that brought home Yainer Diaz. Dezenzo has gone 5-for-7 with one walk, three runs scored and two RBI over his last two games.

Walker went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 3-1 win over Toronto.

Walker got the Astros on the board in the second inning, when he took Bowden Francis deep to left-center field for a solo homer. Walker seems to have a turned a corner as of late, and over his last five games he's gone 7-for-19 with four runs scored, two home runs and four RBI.

Hader allowed one hit and one walk in a scoreless ninth inning to earn the save in Wednesday's 3-1 win over the Blue Jays. He struck out two batters.

Hader put himself in a bit of hot water when he gave up a walk and a double, but he bounced back to fan Alejandro Kirk before getting Myles Straw to fly out to center field to close out Wednesday's contest. He needed 23 pitches (16 strikes) to get through the ninth inning, but with an off-day Thursday the 31-year-old southpaw should be available for Friday's series opener against the Royals. Hader has not yielded a run since Opening Day against the Mets and boasts a 0.69 ERA, 0.69 WHIP and 17:3 K:BB over 13 innings.

Lorenzen and the Royals won't face the Rockies on Wednesday, as the game was postponed due to inclement weather.

Wednesday's contest will be made up as part of a doubleheader Thursday, and Lorenzen will take the mound for the nightcap, per Anne Rogers of MLB.com. The 33-year-old righty will be looking for a bounce-back performance after surrendering seven earned runs over 10.1 frames in his last two starts.

Taylor (elbow) made his 2025 debut at High-A Asheville last Thursday, striking out two while scattering three hits and two walks over three scoreless innings.

Taylor didn't pitch after May 7 last season due to an elbow injury, but the right-hander avoided surgery and appears to have received a clean bill of health early on in the 2025 campaign.

Double-A Corpus Christi placed Pecko on its 7-day injured list April 10 due to an unspecified injury.

Pecko didn't make any appearances for Corpus Christi before being deactivated. The 22-year-old right-hander saw time at three different levels in 2024 and was especially impressive during his time at Double-A, turning in a 2.36 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 28:9 K:BB over 26.2 innings.

Melton (back) has gone 4-for-21 with two home runs, two doubles, three walks and a stolen base over six games since being reinstated from Triple-A Sugar Land's 7-day injured list April 9.

Melton missed only a handful of games to begin the season while he tended to a back injury that he aggravated in the Astros' final Grapefruit League game. The 24-year-old is capable of playing all three outfield spots and is a plus runner with decent power, but his ability to handle a full-time role at the big-league level may hinge on him cutting down on strikeouts. He struck out in 25.4 percent of his plate appearances at Triple-A Sugar Land in 2024 and has already struck out seven times in 24 plate appearances (29.2 percent) this season.

Cole (oblique) has gone 3-for-13 with a double, three walks and a stolen base in four games since being activated from Double-A Corpus Christi's 7-day injured list April 16.

After sustaining an oblique injury in the spring, Cole had a brief stay on the shelf to begin the season before getting cleared to make his debut last week. Though the 24-year-old is healthy again, cutting down on his strikeouts will likely be essential if he's to receive his first big-league call-up later this season or in 2026. He struck out at a 38.6 percent clip with Corpus Christi in 2024 and has already struck out in seven of his 15 plate appearances so far this season.

Pederson isn't in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Athletics.

The lefty-hitting Pederson will grab a seat on the bench Wednesday against the lefty-throwing JP Sears and the A's. The 33-year-old slugger's absence will put Jonah Heim at the DH spot while Kyle Higashioka starts behind the dish.

Taveras isn't in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Athletics.

Taveras owns a .576 OPS against left-handers since 2023, so the Rangers will keep him on the bench Wednesday against southpaw JP Sears. Kevin Pillar will fill the resulting void in center field and bat leadoff.