The Houston Astros recalled infielder Raynel Delgado from Triple-A Sugar Land and optioned right-hander Ronel Blanco to the Space Cowboys ahead of Sunday’s regular-season finale against the Athletics.
The move was all about Game 162. Houston wanted an extra position player available for a game that would determine its postseason fate, and Blanco was the logical arm to send down. The Astros needed hitters more than pitchers with one game left on the schedule.
It worked out. The Astros beat the Athletics 9-0 to clinch the AL West title, finishing the regular season at 81-81—the worst record by a postseason team in a full season in MLB history.
Blanco’s Up-and-Down 2026
The option wraps up a strange 2026 for Blanco, who didn’t even pitch in the majors until late July after undergoing Tommy John surgery with an internal brace in June 2025.
The Astros transferred him to the 60-day injured list in April, and he spent over a month on a rehab assignment working through the Florida Complex League, Double-A Corpus Christi, and Triple-A Sugar Land before being activated on July 20 to start against the Marlins. He struck out eight in 4.2 innings in his debut, but the results were up and down after that.
Blanco made five appearances—four starts—before getting optioned to Sugar Land on August 16 after posting a 7.71 ERA. He came back up on September 1 when rosters expanded and threw four scoreless innings against the White Sox, but the overall numbers didn’t improve much.
He finishes the regular season with an 0-1 record and a 6.68 ERA in 33.2 innings—a far cry from his 2024 breakout, when he threw a no-hitter and posted a 2.80 ERA over 167.1 innings.
Blanco could still return for the Wild Card Series. Playoff rosters are reset before each series, so his minor-league option doesn’t carry over into October. Whether the Astros carry him on a postseason roster is another question, but the door is open.
Delgado Keeps Bouncing Back
Delgado’s latest call-up is nothing new for the 26-year-old, who has been shuttled between Houston and Sugar Land all season.
The Astros acquired Delgado from Tampa Bay on June 10 in exchange for cash considerations—a minor move that turned out to be pretty useful. He’s been up and down multiple times since then, serving as infield insurance whenever the Astros needed a body, particularly during Jeremy Peña’s injury absences.
In 19 games with Houston this season, Delgado is hitting .243 (9-for-37) with one home run and four RBI. Not eye-popping numbers, but he can play second, short, and third, which makes him a useful piece for Joe Espada off the bench.
Born in Havana, Cuba, Delgado was drafted by Cleveland in the sixth round in 2018. He signed a one-year deal with the Rays last November before being shipped to Houston. His role in the postseason is uncertain—the Astros may not carry an extra utility infielder in a short series—but his versatility at least puts him in the conversation.
What’s Next
The Astros move on to the Wild Card Series as the No. 3 seed in the American League bracket, having clinched the division with Sunday’s 9-0 win. Blanco’s option was essentially a paperwork move to get Delgado on the roster for one game. If the Astros want him back for the playoffs, the path is there. The bigger question is whether his 6.68 ERA earns him a roster spot when every game counts the way it did for this team all season.
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