McCullers (forearm) will be cleared for live batting practice if he gets through a bullpen session Monday with no issues, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
McCullers has thrown several recent bullpen sessions without any hiccups and is almost ready to face hitters. The right-hander will not be ready in time for Opening Day, but he hopes to make some Grapefruit League appearances before the schedule runs out. McCullers hasn't appeared in a big-league game since the 2022 World Series due to multiple arm injuries.
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Astros' Kaleb Ort: Throwing in batting cage
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Ort (oblique) is doing some throwing in the batting cage off a screen, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Ort is being eased back into a throwing program as he comes back from left oblique soreness. The Astros expect the reliever to have plenty of time to get ramped up for Opening Day as long as he continues to progress. Ort posted a 2.55 ERA, 0.81 WHIP and 26:4 K:BB across 24.2 regular-season frames for Houston in 2024.
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Astros' Pedro Leon: Will undergo MRI on knee
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Leon will undergo an MRI on his injured left knee, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Leon had to be scratched from Sunday's Grapefruit League lineup and will now undergo testing. Astros manager Joe Espada is not concerned about the injury, so it would appear the MRI is more precautionary in nature. Leon is likely to begin the season at Triple-A Sugar Land.
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Astros' Shawn Dubin: Sent for MRI on shoulder
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Dubin is headed back to Houston to undergo an MRI on his right shoulder, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Dubin tried playing catch Sunday after being shut down for a while and the shoulder did not respond well. It sounds like he could be headed for a long-term absence, but more will be known once the test results are in. Dubin held a 4.17 ERA and 49:26 K:BB over 45.1 innings for Houston in 2024.
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Astros' Pedro Leon: Dealing with knee discomfort
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Leon was scratched from Sunday's Grapefruit League game due to left knee discomfort, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Leon was originally slated to be in the lineup as Houston's right fielder, but he was pulled due to the knee issue. Per Rome, the injury appeared to occur while Leon was performing outfield drills prior to the exhibition contest. Quincy Hamilton was inserted into the Astros' lineup in right field Sunday in Leon's stead.
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Astros' Taylor Trammell: Dealing with significant strain
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Astros manager Joe Espada said Sunday that Trammell's right calf strain is "pretty significant," Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
The 27-year-old suffered the injury while running the bases Friday and remains without an official recovery timeline, though it appears his availability for the start of the regular season could be in jeopardy. Trammell already faced long odds to crack Houston's Opening Day roster, and a multi-week absence during spring training will only dampen his outlook.
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Astros' Luis Castro: Lands with Houston
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Castro signed a minor-league contract with the Astros in November that includes an invitation to spring training.
Castro hasn't seen action in affiliated baseball since 2021 and spent the past few seasons playing in independent ball and the Venezuelan Winter League. The 29-year-old had a 1.095 OPS and 24 homers in 95 games with the Staten Island Ferry Hawks in the Atlantic League last year and is likely to begin 2025 at Triple-A Sugar Land.
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Astros' Chas McCormick: Needs to earn PAs
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McCormick is likely to begin the season as Houston's starting right fielder, but he will be on a short leash, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
McCormick had a very disappointing 2024 season, maintaining only a 66 wRC+ across 267 plate appearances. Due to Houston's lack of offseason additions in the outfield, he's likely to maintain a starting role by default, though he'll need to return to the form he showcased earlier in his career to maintain that status. McTaggart named Taylor Trammell (calf) as a potential playing time winner should McCormick continue to struggle.
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Astros' Taylor Trammell: Suffers calf strain
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Trammell was diagnosed with a right calf strain Saturday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Trammell suffered the injury Friday while running the bases and is set to be out for a while, though the Astros didn't specify exactly how long that will be. The 27-year-old outfielder is fighting for a spot on the Astros' roster after being traded from New York in November, but his latest injury doesn't help his chances.
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Astros' Luis Garcia: Throws bullpen session
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Garcia (elbow) threw a bullpen session Thursday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
The Astros have already ruled Garcia out for Opening Day after he had a couple setbacks last season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. However, he's been throwing for a while without issue and should be able to make some Grapefruit League appearances. Garcia hasn't started a major-league game since May 2023.
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Astros' Mauricio Dubon: Could get regular looks at 2B
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Dubon is an option to start at second base if Jose Altuve plays in left field, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
The Astros have been coy about their plans for Altuve, though Rome notes that he has only observed Altuve in the outfield early in spring training. Given that, current signs point to him getting at least some time in left field during the regular season, with the goal of Yordan Alvarez being the full-time designated hitter. In turn, playing time will open at second base, with Dubon and Brendan Rodgers seemingly the top candidates to fill the spot. Dubon has served as a utility player for Houston across the last two seasons and would be a candidate to post double-digit homers and steals with more regular at-bats.
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Astros' Josh Hader: Makes minor adjustments
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Hader worked this offseason on limiting his movements before his windup in an effort to not tip his pitches, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Houston failed to make the ALCS for the first time in eight years, with Hader giving up a three-run double to Andy Ibanez as the Tigers were able to break open Game 2 of the American League Wild Card Series and eliminate the Astros early. During the regular season, Hader logged a 3.80 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 105 strikeouts and 34 saves in 71 innings. In addition to trying to cut down on any pre-windup tells, Hader said he is working on making his changeup a bigger part of his arsenal, although that's something he's wanted to do for years, by his own admission, so it's too early to say this will actually be the year he can rely on anything besides his sinker and slider. Regardless of whether he has a more reliable third pitch, Hader should once again rank near the top of the majors in saves and strikeouts among relievers.
Astros' Jose Altuve: First spring game will be in LF
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Manager Joe Espada said Wednesday that Altuve will play left field in first Grapefruit League game this spring, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Altuve has seen significant reps in the outfield in the early days of camp and will work with the outfielders exclusively over the next 4-to-5 days. It's becoming clear at this point that the Astros are serious about potentially moving Altuve to left field, although the 34-year-old will have to show he's comfortable out there before the team commits to it. If Altuve does shift to the outfield, Mauricio Dubon looks to be the current favorite to start at second base. Houston also just agreed to a minor-league deal with Brendan Rodgers, who will be a threat to win the second base job.
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Astros' Jacob Melton: Nursing sore back
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Melton is dealing with mild back soreness, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
It sounds like a day-to-day type injury. One of the Astros' top prospects, Melton is not yet on the 40-man roster but should push to debut sooner rather than later, particularly with the team's lack of outfield depth. He slashed .253/.310/.426 with 15 home runs and 30 stolen bases between Double-A Corpus Christi and Triple-A Sugar Land in 2024.
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Astros' Brendan Rodgers: Signs with Houston
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Rodgers signed a minor-league contract with the Astros on Tuesday that includes an invitation to spring training, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Rodgers slashed .267/.314/.407 with 13 home runs and 54 RBI over 539 plate appearances with the Rockies last season. However, his OPS dropped to .571 when he wasn't hitting at Coors Field, which likely factored into Colorado's decision to non-tender him in November. Now in Houston, he figures to have a better chance of making the Opening Day roster with Jose Altuve moving to left field, though Rodgers will still have plenty of competition for the second-base job during spring training from Mauricio Dubon and Shay Whitcomb, among others.
Astros manager Joe Espada said Tuesday that Ort experienced left oblique soreness following a recent bullpen session and won't throw for a few days, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
The injury will most likely push Ort's Grapefruit League debut back until at least next week, but Espada hasn't suggested that the Astros are worried about the right-handed reliever's availability for Opening Day. Ort covered 24.2 innings out of the Houston bullpen in 2024, logging a 2.55 ERA, 0.81 WHIP and 26:4 K:BB while collecting three holds.
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Astros' Jose Altuve: Dabbling in left field, second base
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Astros manager Joe Espada reiterated Monday that Altuve will see action at both second base and in left field this spring, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Earlier this month, Espada revealed that Altuve had been working out in left field for a couple weeks before the start of spring training, perhaps in anticipation of the Astros re-signing third baseman Alex Bregman, which would have resulted in offseason pickup Isaac Paredes shifting over to second base. While Bregman ultimately came to terms with the Red Sox on a three-year, $120 million deal, the Astros aren't yet closing the door on giving Altuve some exposure to left field, a position the 34-year-old hasn't played at any point since beginning his professional career in 2007. Espada said that he's made no permanent decisions on where Altuve will play this season, calling it an "everyday thing" with regard to how Altuve's deployment in the field will evolve throughout the spring based on the feedback he receives from the veteran. Even if Altuve ends up opening the season at his familiar spot at the keystone, the Astros could still look to move him to left field later on in the campaign to make way in the infield for top prospect Brice Matthews, who has spent most of his time at shortstop in the minors but made 11 starts at second base during winter ball in Puerto Rico.
