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Altuve (foot) is back in the lineup for Friday's game against the Mariners, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Altuve exited Tuesday's game against the Giants after he was hit by a pitch on the left foot and was out of the lineup Wednesday ahead of Thursday's off day. Against Mariners righty George Kirby, Altuve is playing second base and batting fifth.
Imai did not factor into the decision Wednesday against the Giants, allowing three hits and two walks over three scoreless innings. He struck out three.
Making his second appearance in relief for the Astros, Imai managed to work his way through danger -- including a bases-loaded jam in the second inning -- ultimately holding San Francisco scoreless. Imai has now delivered back-to-back scoreless outings out of the bullpen, allowing just three hits while striking out eight over six innings in that span. Overall, his ERA sits at 5.29 this season with a 1.47 WHIP and 80:42 K:BB across 64.2 innings.
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Astros' Josh Hader: Notches 17th save
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Hader turned in a perfect ninth inning to earn the save in Wednesday's 2-1 win over the Giants.
Hader has been nearly untouchable of late, turning in nine straight hitless appearances (9.2 innings), issuing just two walks while striking out nine in that span. Hader improved to a perfect 17-for-17 in save chances this season while lowering his ERA to 0.96 with a 0.71 WHIP and 38:10 K:BB across 28 innings.
Astros' Ronel Blanco: Available in relief Wednesday
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Astros manager Joe Espada said that Blanco will be available out of the bullpen for Wednesday's game against the Giants, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Blanco has struggled to the tune of a 6.98 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 17:11 K:BB over 19.1 innings while starting in his first four appearances since coming off the 60-day injured list July 20. The Astros will have reliever Bryan King open Wednesday's game and presumably cover an inning or two, but it's unclear if Espada intends to use Blanco or Tatsuya Imai in bulk relief, or if both pitchers will be called upon to eat innings. If Blanco ends up going unused Wednesday, he could step back into the rotation at some point during this weekend's series versus the Mariners.
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Astros' Christian Walker: Retreating to bench Wednesday
Rotowire
Walker is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Giants.
Walker appears to be getting a planned day off after he had started in each of the Astros' last 14 games. LaMonte Wade will fill in at first base for Walker, who went hitless in 10 at-bats over his most recent three starts to bring his average down to .236 for the season.
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Astros' Yainer Diaz: Resting up Wednesday
Rotowire
Diaz is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Giants.
The Astros will give Diaz a breather for Wednesday's matinee after he caught eight innings of a 4-1 loss Tuesday night. Christian Vazquez will step in behind the plate in place of Diaz.
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Astros' Jose Altuve: Absent from Houston lineup
Rotowire
Altuve (foot) is out of the lineup for Wednesday's tilt in San Francisco.
Altuve departed Tuesday's 4-1 loss after being hit on the left foot by a pitch. Astros manager Joe Espada said Wednesday that Altuve remains sore and will be evaluated by team doctors when the team returns home this weekend, according to Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle. Nick Allen will fill in for Altuve at second base Wednesday.
Imai is expected to work in bulk relief behind opening pitcher Bryan King during Wednesday's game in San Francisco, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
The Astros haven't provided official word that Imai will pitch Wednesday, but he hasn't been used since Aug. 3 and didn't join the team's other relievers in the bullpen for Tuesday's 4-1 loss, which seemingly signaled that he was being saved for the series finale. Since being dropped from the rotation in late July, Imai has made two relief appearances and was sharp in his most recent outing, striking out five over three perfect innings. King will likely cover the first inning or two before giving way to Imai, who should be capable of providing a decent amount of length since he had only recently been removed from a starting role.
Brown (3-2) allowed three runs on five hits and three walks while striking out four over five innings to take the loss versus the Giants on Tuesday.
Brown threw 56 of 89 pitches for strikes in a decent outing, but the Astros didn't give him much help. The right-hander has surrendered 12 runs over 28.1 innings while adding a 28:13 K:BB over five starts since the All-Star break, providing solid but unremarkable pitching in most of his outings in that stretch. For the year, he's at a 3.68 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 67:35 K:BB through 63.2 innings over 12 starts. Brown's next start is projected to be in a favorable home matchup versus the Angels.
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Astros' Bryan King: Opening Wednesday's contest
Rotowire
King will serve as the Astros' opening pitcher for Wednesday's game against the Giants, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
King owns a 3.83 ERA through 49.1 innings this season but has given up 12 earned runs in just his last 9.1 frames. Despite his recent poor form, the Astros will give him his first MLB start. Tatsuya Imai or Ronel Blanco is expected to pitch in bulk relief once King exits, likely after covering the first inning or two.
Altuve was removed from Tuesday's game against the Giants after getting hit on the foot by a pitch, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Altuve took an 82-mph slider off his left foot in the first inning. He initially remained in the game but was eventually replaced on defense in the bottom of the second. He was diagnosed with a contusion after his removal, which suggests that he avoided a fracture, though the Astros may still keep him out another game or two as a precaution.
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Astros' Taylor Trammell: Riding pine Tuesday
Rotowire
Trammell is absent from Tuesday's lineup against the Giants.
Trammell will sit out the second game of a three-game set with the Giants after going 0-for-3 with two walks in Monday's series opener. Nelson Velazquez, who was recently claimed off waivers by the Astros, will take over in left field and bat sixth for Houston.
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Astros' Jake Meyers: Sent to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Astros optioned Meyers to Triple-A Sugar Land on Tuesday, Julia Morales of Space City Home Network reports.
With Nelson Velazquez joining Houston, Meyers is the odd man out in the outfield mix. After hitting .292 with a .727 OPS in 2025, Meyers has appeared in 54 games with the Astros this season but has slashed an ugly .213/.268/.326 with three homers, 11 RBI, 15 runs scored, one stolen base and a 10:31 BB:K across 153 plate appearances.
