In a League of His Own
Jim Crane was less than twenty seconds into his introduction of Tatsuya Imai when he turned to the front row and thanked a sponsor. “One of the things that made this possible,” the Houston Astros owner said at Daikin Park on January 5,…
Astros Bringing Imai Back Despite Rough Rehab as Rotation Thins
The numbers from Tatsuya Imai’s rehab start Tuesday in Sugar Land were not encouraging. Three innings, five walks, 27 strikes on 63 pitches. By any measure, it was not the outing the Houston Astros were hoping to see before bringing him back to the…
Astros Injury Update: Imai Set for Second Rehab Start, Peña Nearing Return
The Houston Astros entered May with a crowded injured list and but a few cautiously encouraging updates. Tatsuya Imai will make a second minor-league rehab start early next week before the Astros consider reinstating him. His first outing Tuesday at…
Astros’ $54M Arm Takes Next Step: Imai Set for Rehab Start Tuesday
Houston Astros right-hander Tatsuya Imai is set to make a rehab start Tuesday for Double-A Corpus Christi against the Frisco Roughriders, the Texas Rangers’ Double-A affiliate, manager Joe Espada announced Sunday. Imai has been on the 15-day…
Astros Get Rare Good News: Hader Nears Rehab, Imai Set for Next Step
In the middle of a difficult start to the season, the Houston Astros got some encouraging injury news Saturday. Closer Josh Hader threw 25 pitches in a live batting practice session at Daikin Park before Saturday’s game, facing Astros hitters…
Astros Injury Update: Imai Nears Return, Sousa Could Be Back This Weekend
The Houston Astros got some encouraging injury news Friday, with right-hander Tatsuya Imai taking a significant step toward returning to the rotation and reliever Bennett Sousa nearing a comeback from the injured list. Tatsuya Imai Imai threw his second…
Astros Pitching Is Evolving—They Just Can’t Stay Healthy
The most important trend in pitching right now has nothing to do with velocity. It has to do with shapes. As Sports Illustrated’s Tom Verducci recently detailed, pitchers across baseball are adding weapons to their arsenals at an unprecedented…
Astros Pitching Crisis: 10 Starters in 21 Games
What was supposed to be the Astros’ biggest strength has become a nightly scramble. Three weeks into the 2026 season, injuries have torn through Houston’s pitching staff, forcing the club to piece together games with call-ups, short starts, and an…
Tatsuya Imai Points to American Lifestyle in Explaining Arm Fatigue
Tatsuya Imai has had an explanation for just about everything. The mound in Seattle was too hard. The weather was too cold. The baseball felt different. And now, the meal schedule. Since arriving in Houston on a three-year, $54 million contract, the…
Astros Injuries Mount as Peña, Imai Join Brown, Javier on IL
Before Monday’s game against the Seattle Mariners, the Houston Astros were already short two starting pitchers. Then things got worse. The club placed right-hander Tatsuya Imai on the 15-day IL with right arm fatigue, meaning three-fifths of…