Overview
- Jeremy Peña returned to the Astros' lineup Monday after leaving Saturday's game with a right hamstring cramp and missing Sunday’s game.
- Christian Walker sat out a second straight start after exiting Saturday’s game with right hip tightness, but he did on-field pregame work and could be available off the bench.
- Houston reinstated right-hander Ronel Blanco and left-hander Bennett Sousa from the 60-day injured list and optioned Bryan King and Raynel Delgado to Triple-A to open roster space.
- Blanco is scheduled to start and returns roughly 13 months after Tommy John surgery, while Sousa has been on the IL since May 6 with left elbow inflammation and has thrown only a few innings this season.
- Peña has been limited to 53 games this year by lower-body injuries and his sporadic availability makes the added pitching depth important for lineup flexibility and short-term roster health as the season progresses.