Houston Astros
· 2026-07-05
The Houston Astros reinstated LaMonte Wade Jr. from the 10-day injured list on Saturday.
The move comes after Wade recovered from a right hamstring strain.
The Astros announced four roster moves, including the activation of Wade and the recall of outfielder Zach Dezenzo from Triple-A Sugar Land.
The team optioned outfielders Jake Meyers and Joey Loperfido to Triple-A to clear roster spots.
Meyers' demotion is notable, as it's his first assignment to the minors since 2022.
Meyers has struggled this season, posting a .206/.264/.316 slash line with a 62 wRC+ across 148 plate appearances.
His performance has been impacted by a Grade 2 oblique strain that kept him out of action for nearly six weeks.
With Meyers in Triple-A, the Astros are expected to split center field duties between Taylor Trammell and Brice Matthews.
Trammell has compiled a 108 wRC+ through 112 plate appearances, aided by a .371 BABIP.
The Astros entered their game against the Tampa Bay Rays on July 4 with a 43-47 record, but won 10-8, improving to 44-47.
As of July 5, the Astros stand 7th in the American League with a 44-47 record, on a W1 streak.
Wade's return, along with Dezenzo's promotion, gives the Astros additional options in left field.
Yordan Alvarez is expected to continue spending most of his time at designated hitter.
The Astros are looking to remain within reach of the division-leading Texas Rangers heading into the final series before the All-Star break.
And with their current record, the Astros are still in contention for a playoff spot.
But they will need to improve their performance to catch up with the leaders.
So the reinstatement of Wade and the recall of Dezenzo are crucial steps in the right direction.
The Astros' bullpen has been a strength this season, with a 3.50 ERA.
The team's starting pitchers have also been performing well, with a 4.20 ERA.
The Astros' offense has been led by Alvarez, who has a .280 batting average and 15 home runs.