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Diaz is not in the Astros' starting lineup against the Cardinals on Saturday.
Diaz will take a seat after starting in each of the Astros' last two games, going 0-for-8 with two strikeouts in that span. Christian Vazquez will start behind home plate and bat eighth while catching pitches from Lance McCullers.
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Astros' Yainer Diaz: On bench Tuesday
Rotowire
Diaz is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Rockies, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Diaz started the previous three games and will receive a day off after going 2-for-11 with a solo homer and an additional RBI during that stretch. Christian Vazquez will work behind the plate and bat ninth versus Colorado righty Michael Lorenzen.
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Astros' Yainer Diaz: Out of Friday's lineup
Rotowire
Diaz isn't in the lineup for Friday's game against Seattle.
Diaz will miss a second consecutive start Friday after starting each of Houston's previous five games, going 6-for-21 with four RBI and two runs scored in that span. Christian Vazquez will catch for Tatsuya Imai instead and bat ninth.
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Astros' Yainer Diaz: Resting Wednesday
Rotowire
Diaz is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rockies.
After starting in each of Houston's last five games, Diaz will get a much-needed breather as the Astros wrap up their series in Colorado with a day game after a night game. Christian Vazquez will handle catching duties Wednesday.
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Astros' Yainer Diaz: Not starting Wednesday
Rotowire
Diaz is out of the lineup for Wednesday's contest against the Red Sox.
Diaz had started at catcher each of the previous two days, so he will get some rest with the Astros wrapping up their series against the Red Sox with a day game after a night game. Christian Vazquez will start at catcher Wednesday as Houston attempts to finish off a series sweep.
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Astros' Yainer Diaz: Getting breather Sunday
Rotowire
Diaz is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Angels, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Diaz will get a break Sunday after starting the first three games of the season. He's yet to get his bat going, having gone 2-for-12 with a walk, two RBI, a run and five strikeouts. Christian Vazquez is starting behind the plate in the series finale, batting ninth.
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Astros' Yainer Diaz: Two RBI in final tuneup
Rotowire
Diaz went 1-for-2 with a pair of RBI in Tuesday's exhibition matchup against Triple-A Sugar Land.
Diaz is starting to warm up just in time after struggling for much of spring training -- the 27-year-old backstop finished Grapefruit League play with a .143/.226/.214 slash line, no homers and just two extra-base hits across 11 games. Still, Diaz should offer some upside at the catcher position after batting .256 with 20 homers, 70 RBI and a .701 OPS across 143 regular-season games in 2025.
Diaz (foot) will be the designated hitter Wednesday and will start at catcher in Friday's Grapefruit League game, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Diaz was delayed due to a foot sprain suffered in the Dominican Winter League, but he isn't too far behind, as he's scheduled to catch in a game before the end of February. Cesar Salazar is Diaz's only backup, so there should be ample playing time available for the latter once he puts the foot sprain behind him.
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Astros' Yainer Diaz: Coming back from foot sprain
Rotowire
Diaz is behind schedule with his running program after suffering a left foot sprain during the Dominican Winter League, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Diaz is participating in other baseball activities and will catch Tatsuya Imai's bullpen session Wednesday, but he's a tad behind with his running. It does not sound like an injury that will sideline Diaz long, but the Astros could hold him out of the first handful of Grapefruit League games just to be safe.
Diaz will make $4.5 million in 2026 after winning his arbitration hearing with the Astros on Tuesday, Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com reports.
Diaz slashed .256/.284/.417 in 2025 while tallying 20 homers, 70 RBI and 56 runs scored across 567 plate appearances. His success ultimately led to the arbitration panel choosing his $4.5 million figure over the $3 million that the Astros submitted. The 27-year-old backstop is expected to continue playing nearly every day in 2026 and has two years of arbitration eligibility remaining.
