Pitchers and catchers haven’t even reported yet for Spring Training, but baseball fans know it is just days away and that means there in intrigue in the air about this Houston Astros team. The team is largely intact from last season, but there should be some good battles as we get into Spring Training in Florida.
Since we are getting antsy, let’s take a first crack at the opening day 26-man roster. We reserve the right to be very, very wrong.
STARTERS (9)
Yainer Diaz (C)
Christian Walker (1B)
Jose Altuve (2B)
Jeremy Peรฑa (SS)
Carlos Correa (3B)
Zack Dezenzo (LF)
Jake Meyers (CF)
Cam Smith (RF)
Yordan Alvarez (DH)
This might not be the best lineup the Astros can field either defensively or offensively without Isaac Paredes out there, but it might be where we are at if the Astros cannot make a deal to move Paredes or Walker. Injuries happen, of course, and that could free up space as well. For now, Altuve will likely split time between second, left field and DH, while Alvarez will play some in LF, but mostly at DH.
The corner outfield spots are the most competitive and where there are the biggest stakes for these guys. Smith, Dezenzo and Zach Cole all have options left, meaning they could be sent to the minors. Jesus Sanchez cannot, which could mean a promising youngster will start the year in Sugar Land unless Sanchez is moved or DFA’ed.
BENCH (4)
Cesar Salazar (C)
Isaac Paredes (1B/3B)
Nick Allen (UTIL)
Zach Cole (OF)
Salazar provides a capable defensive play caller backing up Diaz and Allen is the team’s cheaper replacement for Mauricio Dubon. The questions will remain with Paredes and Cole until the roster gets sorted or until someone is injured.
ON THE BUBBLE
Jesus Sanchez (OF), Brice Matthews (2B), Shay Whitcomb (OF)
Sanchez could make the 26-man roster by default if they cannot move him or if he is able to outplay Smith or Dezenzo in the spring. Being a lefty bat is a huge advantage for a team bereft of them. Matthews is doing everything he can to force the Astros hand, but there isn’t really a spot for him on the current roster. Whitcomb is a serviceable utility player who might be out of options.
STARTING ROTATION (6)
Hunter Brown
Cristian Javier
Tatsuya Imai
Spencer Arrighetti
Mike Burrows
Lance McCullers, Jr.
The Astros play something like 22 of the first 24 days of the year, so expect a six-man rotation out of the gate and a lot of up-and-down movement between Sugar Land and Daikan Park early in the year. Brown is the ace and will take the ball opening day, but it could be Javier or Imai on day two. Arrighetti is healthy and pitched well before getting hurt last year. Burrows came over in a trade and should fill that back-of-the-rotation spot. McCullers is the wild card. If he isn’t up to par, don’t be surprised to see youngsters like AJ Blubaugh, Colton Gordon, Miguel Ullola, or vets like Kai-Wei Tang or Jason Alexander being brought up.
The good news is the Astros have a lot of options for starters and guys who should be able to play duel roles as starters or relievers. Which one of them will emerge to provide quality innings is still up in the air.
BULLPEN (7)
Josh Hader
Bryan Abreu
Bryan King
Steven Okert
Enyel De Los Santos
Roddery Muรฑoz
Ryan Weiss
The first four on this list are set as the team returns their closer and set up man along with reliable arms King and Okert. De Los Santos proved he could pitch out of the pen and should make the team. Muรฑoz was taken in the Rule 5 draft and has to remain on the big league roster or he will be shipped back to Cincinnati. If the Astros thought enough of him to grab him, don’t be surprised if they commit to keeping him in Houston unless he just goes off the rails. At this point, Weiss is just a guess, but he should factor into their plans this season.
Beyond this group, there are a bunch of pitchers with options who will move in and out of the bullpen throughout the year. GM Dana Brown and the team’s scouting staff took very seriously the problems they had with injuries last season and they aren’t going to get caught without plenty of available arms this season.
This article appears in Private: Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2026.