Astros Place 2 More Key Players on Injured List Amid Tough Stretch

Houston's pitching staff has been stretched thin as injuries continue to pile up.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 7:42pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting fragmented and overlapping shapes representing baseball players, equipment, and the field of play, conveying the chaotic and challenging situation the Astros find themselves in due to a rash of injuries.Injuries mount for the Astros as they struggle to stay afloat in a crowded AL West race.Houston Today

The Houston Astros have placed shortstop Jeremy Peña and right-handed pitcher Tatsuya Imai on the injured list, joining several other key players who are currently sidelined. This comes during a difficult stretch for the team, which has lost seven straight games. The Astros have called up reinforcements from the minors to help fill the gaps, but the mounting injuries have put a strain on the pitching staff and offense.

Why it matters

The Astros are dealing with a rash of injuries to important players at a critical point in the season, which could significantly impact their playoff hopes if the issues persist. Losing Peña and Imai, along with several other starters, puts pressure on the team's depth and forces them to rely more on unproven talent to keep pace in a competitive AL West division.

The details

Peña was placed on the 10-day IL with a grade 1 hamstring strain, while Imai went on the 15-day IL with right arm fatigue. They join starting pitcher Hunter Brown, right-hander Cristian Javier, and center fielder Jake Meyers on the injured list. Starter Cody Bolton also exited Sunday's game with back tightness. To fill the roster spots, the Astros called up right-hander J.P. France, left-hander Colton Gordon, and infielder Shay Whitcomb from Triple-A.

  • On Saturday, Peña left the game with right posterior knee tightness.
  • On Friday, Imai recorded just one out and allowed three runs with four walks in his start.
  • Over the past week, the Astros have lost seven straight games to the Athletics, Rockies, and Mariners.

The players

Jeremy Peña

Astros shortstop who was placed on the 10-day injured list with a grade 1 hamstring strain.

Tatsuya Imai

Astros right-handed pitcher who was placed on the 15-day injured list with right arm fatigue.

J.P. France

Right-handed pitcher called up from Triple-A to help fill the rotation while several Astros starters are injured.

Colton Gordon

Left-handed pitcher called up from Triple-A to provide pitching depth for the Astros.

Shay Whitcomb

Infielder called up from Triple-A to join the Astros roster.

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What’s next

The Astros will need to rely on their depth and unproven talent to weather this injury storm, as they look to end their seven-game losing streak and keep pace in the AL West. The team's ability to manage the injuries and get healthy contributors back will be crucial to their playoff aspirations.

The takeaway

The Astros' rash of injuries to key players like Peña and Imai, combined with their recent seven-game losing skid, has put the team in a precarious position as they try to stay competitive in the AL West. Houston's depth and ability to get healthy will be tested, and their performance over the next few weeks could significantly impact their postseason chances.