Five days from now, the Houston Astros open the 2026 season against the Los Angeles Angels at Daikin Park. Between now and then, they have one final Grapefruit League game, two exhibitions against Triple-A Sugar Land, and an off day to sort through a roster that still has more questions than answers.
Here’s where things stand.
The Lineup
Assuming Jeremy Peña is healthy enough to go—and manager Joe Espada has not ruled that out—the projected Opening Day lineup looks like this:
1. Jose Altuve 2B
2. Jeremy Peña SS
3. Yordan Alvarez DH
4. Carlos Correa 3B
5. Yainer Diaz C
6. Christian Walker 1B
7. Joey Loperfido LF
8. Cam Smith RF
9. Jake Meyers CF
If Peña begins the season on the injured list, Correa shifts back to shortstop, Isaac Paredes moves to third, and the alignment changes:
1. Jose Altuve 2B
2. Isaac Paredes 3B
3. Yordan Alvarez DH
4. Carlos Correa SS
5. Yainer Diaz C
6. Christian Walker 1B
7. Joey Loperfido LF
8. Cam Smith RF
9. Jake Meyers CF
Either way, Paredes is in the lineup. The only question is how central his role becomes.
The Walker Question
Christian Walker’s first season in Houston was productive on the surface—27 home runs—but the underlying numbers told a different story. His .238 average and .717 OPS fell below league norms, and his spring has only amplified those concerns, with a .094 average and .390 OPS across 35 plate appearances.
Paredes, meanwhile, has quietly made a case. He posted a stronger overall profile last season (123 OPS+ to Walker’s 97) and has looked more comfortable this spring, reaching base consistently and adding power.
The Astros are financially tied to Walker through 2027 at over $20 million annually, which makes an Opening Day benching unlikely. But the leash may not be long. Paredes has already taken reps at first base, and if Walker struggles early, the Astros have a ready-made alternative.
The Outfield
Espada has yet to name definitive starters in the outfield, though Jake Meyers in center and Cam Smith in right appear to have inside tracks. Beyond that, the situation remains fluid.
Joey Loperfido figures into the mix, though his case comes with a caveat: He hit .333 last season in limited time but struck out 27 times against just four walks in 104 plate appearances. That’s a lot of swing and miss for a player competing for a regular role.
Zach Cole and others have rotated through multiple spots, and the upcoming exhibitions against Sugar Land represent the final meaningful evaluation window before decisions are locked in.
General manager Dana Brown has been consistent about wanting a left-handed bat, but that need remains unmet. Trade talks with Boston involving Jarren Duran and Wilyer Abreu never materialized, and time is running out for a significant move.
One late possibility: Mike Tauchman, currently with the Mets on a minor league deal, can opt out on March 25—one day before Opening Day. The left-handed hitter posted a 115 wRC+ in 93 games last season and could fit as a short-term solution, even if he isn’t the impact addition fans envisioned.
The Rotation
Hunter Brown is the unquestioned ace and Opening Day starter. Manager Joe Espada announced Saturday that Houston will open with a five-man rotation for the first two weeks, transitioning to a six-man setup on April 10 at the start of a stretch of 13 consecutive days without an off day.
That decision puts immediate focus on Imai’s workload. The Astros brought him in with his once-a-week NPB schedule in mind; a six-man setup would have maintained that rhythm. A traditional five-man rotation asks more of him right out of the gate.
Brown, Tatsuya Imai, Mike Burrows, and Cristian Javier are the likely rotation locks for the opening series against the Angels. The fifth spot comes down to Lance McCullers Jr. and Spencer Arrighetti. McCullers has the edge based on his spring—three earned runs in eight innings—and his track record. Arrighetti, who didn’t start a Grapefruit League game and made three multi-inning relief appearances instead, left camp Tuesday for the birth of his twins and threw a bullpen session at Daikin Park Friday. Both will pitch in Tuesday’s exhibition finale, which should settle the question.
Arrighetti could also begin the season in the bullpen as a piggyback option and slot into the rotation when it expands to six men in April.
The Bullpen
Bryan Abreu closes in Josh Hader’s absence. Bryan King and Steven Okert set up. With Hader and Bennett Sousa both opening on the IL, the Astros plan to carry an eight-man bullpen featuring multiple long relievers to protect a rotation whose starters may not be fully stretched out early in the season.
Blubaugh, Teng, and Weiss are all vying for bullpen spots, and it seems likely at least two of them break camp with the club. Weiss, who has said repeatedly he prefers to start and has contract incentives based on innings pitched, posted a strong spring, allowing just one run in 9⅔ Grapefruit League innings, and could open in long relief in Houston or head to Triple-A Sugar Land to stay stretched out as a rotation option. Non-roster right-handers Peter Lambert and Christian Roa are also in the mix. Enyel De Los Santos has not been ruled out for Opening Day as he continues to recover from a knee strain. The final roster won’t be set until after Tuesday’s exhibition, with decisions due Wednesday morning.
The Bottom Line
The Astros still have a competitive roster. They just don’t have many settled answers.
With five days to go, the lineup is mostly in place, the rotation is defined, and the bullpen is patchwork. What happens next isn’t about building the roster, it’s about how quickly it stabilizes once the season begins.
Opening Day isn’t waiting.
Like free Astros gear? See the full Astros 2026 promotions schedule.