Houston Astros

Joey Loperfido is back in the lineup for the Houston Astros against the Detroit Tigers Saturday. (Source: MLB.com)

Fantasy Impact: Loperfido will see the field with Kyle Tucker out Saturday, patrolling right field and batting ninth against the Tigers Saturday.

Kyle Tucker is missing from the lineup for the Houston Astros against the Detroit Tigers Saturday. (Source: MLB.com)

Fantasy Impact: Tucker will receive the night off for routine rest, with Joey Loperfido starting in right field and batting ninth against the Tigers Saturday.

The Astros have designated Brandon Bielak for assignment. (Source: Chandler Rome on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: Bielak was removed from the roster Saturday as the Astros activated Cristian Javier from the injured list. He will hit the waiver wire and could draw interest from teams looking for bullpen depth.

Josh Hader notched his fifth save of the season, tossing a hitless inning with two strikeouts in the Astros' 5-2 win over the Tigers.

Fantasy Impact: Despite allowing a walk, Hader managed to keep the Tigers at bay, maintaining a clean sheet in terms of runs. This performance could be a sign of stabilization for Hader, who has been grappling with a bloated 5.29 ERA and a higher-than-ideal 1.35 WHIP this season. His impressive 14.3 K/9 continues to make him a valuable asset for strikeouts in fantasy leagues, but his overall effectiveness has been hampered by a high .371 BABIP, suggesting some bad luck has been at play. Fantasy managers should remain cautiously optimistic; while his strikeout ability is elite, the elevated ERA and WHIP are concerns that can't be ignored.

Framber Valdez delivered a solid performance, allowing two earned runs on six hits and two walks while striking out four over seven innings in Friday's 5-2 win over the Tigers.

Fantasy Impact: This outing was a typical display of Valdez's ability to eat innings and keep his team in the game, contributing to his third win of the season. His season ERA now sits at a respectable 3.64, with a WHIP of 1.35, which, while not elite, should keep him in the mix as a reliable fantasy starter. The 7.0 K/9 rate continues to cap his upside in strikeout-heavy formats, but his groundball tendencies and ability to limit damage make him a safer bet in ERA and WHIP categories. Fantasy managers should view Valdez as a steady, if not spectacular, rotation option moving forward.

Alex Bregman went 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI in the Astros' 5-2 victory over the Tigers.

Fantasy Impact: Despite contributing to the win, Bregman's season continues to be underwhelming, with a batting average lingering at .200 and a modest wOBA of .246. His lack of power and speed numbers this season, with only one home run and two stolen bases, might be concerning for fantasy managers. Given his current performance metrics, including a low BABIP of .222, there's a slight hope for improvement, but fantasy managers should temper expectations and consider him a risky play in most formats.

The Astros have optioned Jacob Amaya to Triple-A Sugar Land. (Source: Chandler Rome on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: The move was made Friday to clear a roster spot for the returning Grae Kessinger. Amaya could return later in the season if the Astros need infield depth.

The Astros have activated Grae Kessinger (shoulder) from the injured list. (Source: Chandler Rome on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Kessinger was on the injured list for the minimum amount of time and is ready to return. The team optioned Jacob Amaya in the corresponding move.

Yordan Alvarez went 2-for-5 with a home run, a double, two runs scored, and one RBI in the Astros' 4-3 victory over the Yankees.

Fantasy Impact: This performance might hint at a turning point for Alvarez, who has been struggling with a modest .245 batting average this season. His power display, adding his eighth homer and fifth double of the year, offers some hope for fantasy managers looking for more consistent production. However, while the power numbers are encouraging, his overall value could be hampered if he doesn't improve his contact rate and batting average on balls in play (BABIP).

Ronel Blanco pitched 5.2 innings, allowing two earned runs on four hits and four walks while striking out five in Thursday's 4-3 victory over the Yankees.

Fantasy Impact: Despite a somewhat shaky control that led to four walks, Blanco managed to limit the damage and secure his fifth win of the season. His ERA slightly rose to 2.23, but it remains impressive, as does his WHIP, which hovers just above 1.00. While his FIP suggests some regression might be on the horizon, his ability to maintain a low BABIP and a decent strikeout rate should keep him relevant in fantasy lineups. Owners should continue to monitor his walk rates, but for now, Blanco remains a solid starting option in most formats.

Cristian Javier (neck) is expected to be activated from the IL and start Saturday vs the Tigers. (Source: Chandler Rome on X)

Fantasy Impact: Javier has been out since April 14th due to neck discomfort but looks ready to return to the Astros rotation. He threw 68 pitches in his most recent rehab start, so it's possible that he won't see a full workload right away. Framber Valdez will start on Friday and Justin Verlander will take the mound on Sunday.

Jose Altuve went 1-for-5 with an RBI in the Astros' 9-4 defeat to the Yankees.

Fantasy Impact: Despite a less than stellar performance in this game, Altuve's season remains impressive, boasting a .331 batting average and contributing consistently with 49 hits, 7 home runs, and 25 runs scored over 36 games. His ability to maintain a high batting average and solid wOBA of .396 suggests that this game is likely just a minor blip in an otherwise productive season. Fantasy managers should continue to start him with confidence, expecting a bounce-back in his next appearances.

Spencer Arrighetti struggled in Wednesday's 9-4 loss to the Yankees, allowing five earned runs on eight hits and three walks while striking out four over five innings.

Fantasy Impact: This performance continues a troubling trend for Arrighetti, whose season ERA ballooned to 8.44 with a WHIP of 2.02 across five starts. Despite a solid 10.5 K/9 rate, his high BABIP of .413 and poor strikeout-to-walk ratio of 1.92 suggest that he's been both unlucky and inefficient. Fantasy managers should be wary of using Arrighetti in their lineups until he shows signs of substantial improvement, as his current form presents too much risk for negative impact on team statistics.

Jeremy Pena went 3-for-4 with a home run and an RBI in the Astros' 9-4 defeat to the Yankees.

Fantasy Impact: His performance included a solo home run, contributing to his season tally. Despite the team's loss, Pena's individual performance continues to bolster his fantasy value, maintaining a robust .326 batting average through 36 games. His consistent hitting, coupled with a decent mix of power and speed, makes him a valuable asset in most fantasy formats. His low strikeout rate and solid wOBA suggest sustained success, so fantasy managers should continue to deploy him with confidence.

Jose Urquidy is scheduled to make a rehab start this weekend with Triple-A Sugar Land. (Source: Matt Kawahara on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Urquidy has yet to pitch in a game this season after suffering inflammation in his forearm. He may need to make at least a few rehab starts as a result.

Chas McCormick reportedly could start a rehab assignment this weekend (Source: Matt Kawahara on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: McCormick recently started a running program. He has been sidelined for the past couple of weeks due to a right hamstring strain.

Astros’ manager Joe Espada said Wednesday that Ryan Pressly hasn’t pitched since Friday due to soreness in his lower back. (Source: Matt Kawahara on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Pressly played catch on Wednesday and Espada said he “felt OK” and termed it “nothing worrisome right now.” He can be considered as day-to-day.

Justin Verlander had a rough outing in Tuesday's 10-3 loss to the Yankees, allowing seven earned runs on eight hits and three walks while striking out only two over five innings.

Fantasy Impact: This performance marks a significant downturn for Verlander, whose season ERA ballooned to 4.43 and WHIP to 1.39. With a declining strikeout rate now at 6.0 K/9 and a FIP of 6.17, fantasy managers should be concerned about his effectiveness moving forward.

Jake Meyers is in the Astros lineup on Tuesday against the Yankees.

Fantasy Impact: Meyers is hitting No. 9 in the lineup and starting in center field. He is hitting .232 with three home runs so far this season.

Yainer Diaz is not in the Astros lineup on Tuesday against the Yankees.

Fantasy Impact: Diaz gets the day off with Victor Caratini starting behind the plate for Houston. He is hitting .274 so far this season.