Blanco was removed from his start Wednesday against the Mets after getting struck by a line drive in the fourth inning, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Blanco didn't seem to be too shaken up following the incident, but he retreated to the clubhouse afterward and was replaced on the mound for the start of the fifth inning. He later said that the ball only grazed his wrist, per Rome, and he only left the game because he had reached his pitch count. The 31-year-old righty finished the day with three runs allowed in 3.2 innings, bringing his Grapefruit League ERA to 8.44.
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Astros' Zach Dezenzo: Expected to play Thursday
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Astros manager Joe Espada said Wednesday that Dezenzo (jaw) is expected to return to Grapefruit League action Thursday versus the Marlins, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Dezenzo suffered a TMJ sprain on the left side of his jaw after getting hit in the head by a groundball Tuesday. He will undergo concussion testing just to be safe, but the expectation is that he will be fine. Dezenzo is competing for a reserve role with Houston.
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Astros' Jose Altuve: Confirmed as primary left fielder
Rotowire
Astros manager Joe Espada confirmed Wednesday that Altuve will play "most of his games" in left field this season, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Espada noted that it's possible personnel changes down the road alter this line of thinking, but for now the plan is to go into the season with Altuve as the club's everyday left fielder. It's no surprise, as Altuve has been focusing on left field since the beginning of camp and has played the position adequately enough that the team feels comfortable with him there. Mauricio Dubon is the favorite to open the season at Altuve's old second base position.
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Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Returns to lineup, as expected
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Alvarez (thumb) will start at designated hitter and bat third in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Mets, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Alvarez had to be scratched from Tuesday's lineup due to right thumb soreness, but it will be just a one-day absence. The slugger has yet to get going this spring, sporting a .493 OPS with one home run.
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Astros' Lance McCullers: Throws 13 pitches
Rotowire
McCullers (forearm) threw one inning without allowing a hit or a run in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Nationals.
McCullers took the mound for the first time since the 2022 World Series after working through several different arm injuries. He threw 13 pitches as a first step in what will likely remain a lengthy ramp up to return to big-league action. Nevertheless, it was a positive sign of his potential to make an impact with Houston in 2025.
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Astros' Zach Dezenzo: Suffers TMJ sprain
Rotowire
Dezenzo was diagnosed with a TMJ sprain on the left side of his jaw after getting hit in the head by a groundball in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against Washington, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Interestingly, Dezenzo's left side took the most damage even though he was hit on the right side of his face. The 24-year-old was also evaluated and cleared for a concussion, and he's slated to undergo further testing on his jaw Wednesday. Dezenzo has been great in spring training so far, slashing .378/.415/.615 with two homers and six RBI through 39 plate appearances.
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Astros' Zach Dezenzo: Hit in head, exits game
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Dezenzo exited Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Nationals after getting hit in the head by a groundball, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Dezenzo was able to walk off the field on his own, though he was visibly bothered by his jaw after getting hit. The Astros will take a look at him to make sure he didn't suffer any significant damage and should offer an update on his status relatively soon.
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Astros' Luis Garcia: Set for live BP on Thursday
Rotowire
Garcia (elbow) will throw a live batting practice session Thursday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Garcia has been slow-played in the Astros' camp after he encountered multiple setbacks last season while working his way back from Tommy John surgery. At last check, he was still working on regaining some zip on his fastball, and it's not clear where his velocity currently stands. When Garcia might be able to appear in games is a bit of a mystery, but he's getting closer.
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Astros' Nick Hernandez: Optioned to Triple-A
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The Astros optioned Hernandez to Triple-A Sugar Land on Tuesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
The right-hander's 8.59 ERA in nine spring appearances derailed his chances of earning a place on the Opening Day roster. Hernandez had a 2.83 ERA over 28.2 innings at Sugar Land last year but gave up seven earned runs in five regular-season outings with Houston.
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Astros' Kaleb Ort: Throwing off mound Thursday
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Ort (oblique) will throw a bullpen session Thursday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Ort has progressed slowly but surely from an early-camp left oblique injury. The Astros don't appear to have officially ruled him out for Opening Day yet, but it seems unlikely that he will be ready.
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Astros' Shay Whitcomb: Sent to minors camp
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The Astros optioned Whitcomb to minor-league camp Tuesday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
The Astros have an opening at second base with Jose Altuve expected to move to left field, but Whitcomb never seemed to be under any real consideration to start at the keystone. He'll begin the season at Triple-A Sugar Land, where he played every position other than center field, catcher and pitcher last season.
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Astros' Cesar Salazar: Sent to Triple-A
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Salazar was optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land on Tuesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Yainer Diaz and Victor Caratini are locked in as Houston's top catchers, so it's no surprise Salazar will be opening the campaign at Triple-A. The 29-year-old had a .787 OPS in 12 regular-season games with the Astros last season and had a near-identical .788 mark in 78 contests for Sugar Land.
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Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Scratched with sore thumb
Rotowire
Alvarez was scratched from Tuesday's Grapefruit League lineup versus the Nationals due to right thumb soreness, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Alvarez banged up the thumb during batting practice Sunday, and while he played in the game that day, he arrived at the park Tuesday with some discomfort. Astros manager Joe Espada expects Alvarez to be ready to play Wednesday against the Mets.
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Astros' Cam Smith: Conflicting reports on roster odds
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Smith may not break camp as Houston's everyday right fielder, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reported Monday.
Rome's dispatch contradicts a report provided Monday by Will Kunkel of Fox 26 Houston, who relayed that Smith has a "good" chance of making the roster, per a source familiar with the situation. Rome isn't completely ruling out the possibility of Smith breaking camp with the club, adding that "even if Smith isn't on the Opening Day roster, this spring has showcased that he should make his major-league debut this season." Still, Rome's report throws some cold water on the idea of Smith being promoted aggressively, while suggesting that the Astros might not want to give up on Chas McCormick as a near-everyday player just yet. Last week, manager Joe Espada left the door open for Smith to make the team, telling Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com that "it's super exciting to see young players showcasing themselves and putting us in a tough spot to make tough decisions."
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Astros' Brendan Rodgers: Making case to catch on
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Rodgers has gone 8-for-28 with six strikeouts in Grapefruit League games.
Rodgers is in Houston camp on a non-roster deal and is vying for the second base job. If he can't wrestle the role from Mauricio Dubon, Rodgers could miss out on a roster spot altogether due to his lack of defensive versatility. Included in his contract is an opt-out, per Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle, so he could find work elsewhere.
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Astros' Cam Smith: 'Good' chance to make roster
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Smith has a "good" chance of making the Astros' Opening Day roster, Will Kunkel of FOX26 Houston reports.
Smith has just 32 games' worth of experience in the minors, but he seems to be forcing the team's hand after coming over from the Cubs this winter in the Kyle Tucker trade. The 22-year-old hit his third home run of the spring Sunday, an opposite-field shot against established big leaguer Tylor Megill, and Smith also made an impressive diving catch in right field, which looks like his most likely position in the majors. The expectation is that if Smith does indeed make the roster, he will play close to every day for Houston.
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Astros' Framber Valdez: Named Opening Day starter
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Manager Joe Espada announced Sunday that Valdez will start Opening Day against the Mets on March 27, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
After posting a career-best 2.91 ERA with a 1.11 WHIP and 169:55 K:BB across 176.1 regular-season innings last season, it was only a matter of time before Espada named Valdez as Houston's Opening Day starter. The left-hander has focused on the movement of his pitches during spring training and overall has pitched well with a 2.53 ERA across 10.2 innings.
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Astros' Christian Walker: Closing in on return
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Astros manager Joe Espada said Sunday that Walker (oblique) is scheduled to return to spring games next weekend and should be ready for Opening Day, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Walker has been rehabbing from a sore left oblique that developed in early March and has progressed to hitting in a batting cage. Walker signed a three-year, $60 million contract with the Astros in December after spending the last eight seasons with the Diamondbacks.
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Astros' Yainer Diaz: Back in action Sunday
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Diaz (illness) is starting behind the plate and batting cleanup in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Mets, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
The 26-year-old has been sidelined the past few days due to an illness but is ready to return to the lineup. Diaz has gone just 4-for-30 through 11 games in spring training, but he also had a .666 OPS last spring before turning in a .299/.325/.441 slash line with 16 homers during the regular season.
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Astros' Zach Dezenzo: Versatility could land roster spot
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Dezenzo could make the Astros' Opening Day roster, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Dezenzo has racked up 33 at-bats and 34 plate appearances this spring while playing a combination of first base and both corner outfield spots. He's struck out at a 26.5 percent clip but also has four extra-base hits, and manager Joe Espada has noted the positive overall impression Dezenzo has made on the club. Even so, the status of Christian Walker (oblique) could ultimately dictate Dezenzo's fate to begin the campaign.
