CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 22: Yordan Alvarez #44 of the Houston Astros runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on April 22, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images The latest news on the Houston Astros and from around MLB:Some injury updates for the Astros:Tatsuya Imai threw a bullpen today and “looked good,” manager Joe Espada said.His next step is a Minor League rehab outing.— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) April 24, 2026Tatsuya Imai threw 45 pitches in the bullpen today.— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) April 24, 2026LHP Bennett Sousa will likely be activated tomorrow— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) April 24, 2026Astros injury updates: pic.twitter.com/g8psCWbJFn— Matt Kawahara (@matthewkawahara) April 24, 2026What’s behind Yordan’s smashing start?Yordan Alvarez is pulling the ball at a career-high rate early this season. Astros staff view that not as a conscious effort but a byproduct of other things Alvarez is doing to fuel his torrid start: https://t.co/OhJv2YPgI3— Matt Kawahara (@matthewkawahara) April 25, 2026Yordan Alvarez has crushed the ball tonight pic.twitter.com/9jxfVP2J1q— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) April 25, 2026Lance McCullers tried something new to get a better start in the 1st inning.
It didn’t work:Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. changed up his routine pregame with hopes of some better results in the first inning. pic.twitter.com/Bvs1ki5Pcd— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) April 25, 2026How ugly was it for Lance McCullers Jr. vs. Yankees Friday? Only 5 swings and misses.
Lance McCullers Jr. against the Yankees: 5+ IP, 6 H, 7 R, 5 ER, 4 BB, 3 K, 92 pitches, 51 strikes, 31 swings, 5 whiffs, 95.4 mph average exit velocity. After five starts and 25.1 innings, McCullers' ERA is 6.75— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) April 25, 2026There’s always a cool down phase after a hot phase. Cam Smith is freezing.
Since his four-hit game on April 11, Cam Smith is 5-for-37.— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) April 25, 2026None of these numbers are good:Astros offense:First 11 games (6-5): .288/.394/.494, 7.0 runs per gameLast 16 games (4-12): .242/.313/.395, 4.0 runs per game— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) April 25, 2026Astros are 4-14 in their last 18 games, averaging 4.5 runs per game and giving up 6.6 runs per game in that span.— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) April 25, 2026The Astros have posted two shutouts this year. In the next game, they gave up 12 runs each times.— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) April 25, 2026Why do the Astros never have the roof open?Why won’t the Astros open the roof at Daikin Park?
The team wouldn’t make anyone available to discuss. Some players past and present prefer it open. Other teams with roofs — including one in Texas — try to open whenever possible.
Story with @SamBlum3 – https://t.co/6Sxn1cit9f— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) April 24, 2026Jazz Chisholm should be embarrassed.Jazz Chisholm challenging a pitch virtually middle-middle…in a 12-4 game.And then being shocked it wasn't a ball. 🤣 pic.twitter.com/5yr69bVvnA— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 25, 2026It’s getting ugly in Philadelphia The Phillies lose their 10th-consecutive game, their longest streak since 1999.— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) April 25, 2026Paul Skenes is pretty good. You may have heard:Paul Skenes with 7 shutout innings. He had a perfect game through 6 2/3 innings.His career ERA: 2.01He has now had an MLB-record 23 scoreless starts in his first 63 starts, per @CodifyBaseball— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) April 25, 2026Has to be the current AL ROY Leader:Murakami with his 11th HR tonight.
He has homered in 6 of his last 7 games https://t.co/VS9jff82Ll— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) April 25, 2026MUNETAKA MURAKAMI WON’T STOP HOMERING. 🤯(Via: @MLB) pic.twitter.com/AWyTaVDzYC— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) April 25, 2026It’s pretty hot on the North Side:The Cubs have won 10 in a row. The last time they had a longer winning streak, it was 2016.— Alden González (@Alden_Gonzalez) April 25, 2026ALEX BREGMAN TIES THE GAME IN LA. 💥(Via: @MLB) pic.twitter.com/hx7CQSEfD7— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) April 25, 2026DANSBY SWANSON GIVES THE CUBS THE LEAD IN THE 9TH! 🐻Chicago trailed 4-0 through six innings.(Via: @MLB) pic.twitter.com/DhysEDcHNo— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) April 25, 2026Current AL Cy Young leader:José Soriano's remarkable start continues with five more scoreless innings.
Soriano by the numbers this season, with MLB ranks:IP: 37.2 (1st)ERA: 0.24 (1st)Strikeouts: 43 (2nd)BA: .143 (2nd)OBP: .223 (5th)SLG: .175 (1st)Fastball velocity: 97.2 mph (8th)Pure dominance.— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) April 22, 2026The sudden outrage over the Shohei Rule:Unpacking the ‘Shohei Ohtani Rule,’ and if it’s too much or unfair. https://t.co/tj3yZgvldW— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) April 24, 2026"This is not a Dodger thing. It's not an Oht