Houston Astros

Jake Meyers is in the Astros lineup on Thursday.

Fantasy Impact: Meyers is getting the start in center field. Joey Loperfido is out of the lineup.

Yainer Diaz is in the Astros lineup on Thursday.

Fantasy Impact: Diaz is back behind the plate after getting the day off on Wednesday.

Victor Caratini is not in the Astros lineup on Thursday.

Fantasy Impact: Caratini went 0-for-4 on Wednesday after hitting a walk-off home run on Tuesday. Yainer Diaz is back behind the plate for Houston.

Joey Loperfido is not in the Astros lineup in Thursday.

Fantasy Impact: Loperfido is 2-for-9 at the plate so far since he was called up from Triple-A. Mauricio Dubón is starting in left field in his absence.

Justin Verlander had a mixed outing in Wednesday's 3-2 loss to the Guardians.

Fantasy Impact: He allowed two earned runs on six hits and three walks while striking out only two over seven innings. Despite maintaining a solid 2.08 ERA and 1.15 WHIP through his first three starts of the season, Verlander's performance in this game was less dominant than fantasy managers might hope, especially with a lower-than-expected strikeout count.

Kyle Tucker went 1-for-4 with a home run and an RBI in the Astros' 3-2 loss to the Guardians.

Fantasy Impact: His solo shot accounted for one of the few offensive highlights for Houston in the game. Tucker's performance this season has been robust, maintaining a .298 batting average with consistent power, as evidenced by his eight home runs. His ability to contribute across multiple categories, including power and on-base skills (0.411 wOBA), makes him a valuable asset in fantasy lineups. Despite the team's loss, Tucker's individual contributions should keep him highly relevant in all fantasy formats.

The Astros have placed Chas McCormick on the 10-day IL with a right hamstring injury. (Source: Astros on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: McCormick is dealing with discomfort in his hamstring and there was some debate about if an IL stint would be needed. The Astros do not believe he will require more than the minimum 10 days.

The Astros have recalled Jacob Amaya from Triple-A Sugar Land. (Source: Astros on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: Amaya is joining the Astros after Chas McCormick was placed on the IL with a hamstring injury. He will provide depth on the Astros’ bench, but likely will not see many starts.

The Astros have recalled Trey Cabbage from Triple-A Sugar Land. (Source: Astros on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: Cabbage will take the roster spot of Jose Abreu, who was optioned to the team’s spring training facility. He will provide the Astros with depth on the bench.

Alex Bregman went 1-for-5 in the Astros' narrow victory over the Guardians, delivering a crucial home run along with three RBI.

Fantasy Impact: Despite a generally sluggish start to the season, Bregman's performance in this game was a bright spot, as he managed to notch his first home run of the year. His season batting average remains low at .216, and with only 10 RBI and 5 runs scored over 26 games, his production hasn't been what fantasy managers might hope for from the third baseman. However, this game could be a sign of turning things around. Owners should keep an eye on Bregman to see if he can build on this performance and start providing more consistent offensive contributions.

Jon Singleton went 1-for-4 with a home run, three RBI, two runs scored, and a walk in the Astros' 10-9 win over the Guardians.

Fantasy Impact: With a batting average of .239 and his first home run coming in this game, Singleton's fantasy relevance has been pretty much non-existent to this point. However, this game could be a sign of turning things around, making him a player to watch for those in deeper leagues.

Abreu is being optioned to West Palm Beach by the Astros effective Wednesday. (Source: Julia Morales on X)

Fantasy Impact: Abreu has struggled at the dish this season to the tune of a .099/.156/.113 slash line over 77 plate appearances. The 37-year-old will head to the minor leagues for the first time in his 10-year career. Jon Singleton could get more playing time at first base as a result.

Jeremy Pena went 1-for-3 with a home run and two runs on Sunday against the Rockies.

Fantasy Impact: Pena blasted his third home run on the season in the fourth inning off Austin Gomber. He is now hitting .321 at the plate for Houston.

Framber Valdez allowed two runs on five hits over five innings on Sunday against the Rockies.

Fantasy Impact: Valdez added five strikeouts, while throwing 71 pitches in his return from injury. He is scheduled to face the Mariners next.

Cristian Javier (neck) threw a bullpen session Sunday. (Source: Brian McTaggart on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: This marks the first mound work for Javier since landing on the injured list with neck discomfort. He is eligible to be activated next weekend and may not need a rehab assignment before returning to the Astros’ rotation.

Ronel Blanco delivered a solid performance, allowing two earned runs on five hits and two walks while striking out eight over 5 2/3 innings in Saturday's 12-4 win over the Rockies.

Fantasy Impact: This outing continues a strong start to the season for Blanco, who now boasts a 1.65 ERA and a 0.92 WHIP through six starts. His ability to maintain a high strikeout rate (8.3 K/9) while keeping runs to a minimum has been a boon for fantasy managers. Despite a potentially unsustainable .175 BABIP suggesting some regression might be on the horizon, Blanco's performance so far makes him a valuable asset in most fantasy formats. His solid strikeout-to-walk ratio (2.14) also indicates good control, reinforcing his role as a reliable starter in fantasy rotations.

Yordan Alvarez went 3-for-5 with two home runs and three RBI in the Astros' dominant win over the Rockies.

Fantasy Impact: His performance today, featuring a pair of homers, significantly bolsters his power credentials for the season, now tallying seven home runs. Despite a solid .283 average, Alvarez's impact in fantasy leagues has been somewhat fluctuating due to his modest BABIP of .271. However, today's multi-homer game could be a sign of him heating up, making Alvarez a potentially lucrative option for fantasy managers looking for power stats. His consistent RBI production, now at 17 for the season, also underscores his value in lineups that capitalize on run-producing opportunities.

Spencer Arrighetti struggled in Wednesday's 4-3 loss to the Cubs, allowing four earned runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out seven over 3.2 innings.

Fantasy Impact: This performance did little to reassure fantasy managers, as his season ERA ballooned to an unsettling 10.97, accompanied by a WHIP of 2.34. Despite a solid strikeout rate of 12.7 K/9, Arrighetti's high BABIP of .500 suggests he's been somewhat unlucky, though issues with control and susceptibility to hits are glaring.

Jose Altuve went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in the Astros' 4-3 loss to the Cubs.

Fantasy Impact: Despite the team's defeat, Altuve's performance this season continues to impress, maintaining a robust .350 batting average through 25 games. His power stroke was on display with his sixth homer of the season. While his RBI count stands at just eight, his consistent hitting and ability to get on base are valuable for fantasy teams.

Hunter Brown took the loss against the Nationals, allowing three runs on four hits across four innings.

Fantasy Impact: It was a late notice for Brown after Christian Javier was a late scratch. He allowed three runs in the first inning before he was able to settle in. He is scheduled to face the Rockies next.