Schedule
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Sat, Feb 21
1:05 pm
NATV
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1:14Impact Of Freddy Peralta Trade On Market For Framber Valdez
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8:27Top-12 Starting Pitchers for 2026!
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0:44Panic or Don't Panic: AL Playoff Picture
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0:39Astros Swept By Mariners, Now Tied For Final AL WC Spot
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8:49Start or Sit Questions & Injury Updates for the Final Week!
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10:59Week 27 Preview: Schedule, Sleepers & Two-Start Pitchers
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1:18Highlights: Rangers at Astros (9/16)
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1:05Gut Check Time for Astros
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0:40Still A Tight Race For AL West Title
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1:04Aaron Boone's Reaction After Yankees Fall to Astros
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1:12Highlights: Angels at Astros (9/1)
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1:44Highlights: Astros at Tigers (8/20)
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9:08Cristian Javier's Return & Josh Hader's Shoulder Injury!
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1:53Highlights: Astros at Yankees (8/9)
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1:31Highlights: Astros at Marlins (8/4)
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10:13Trade Deadline Deals! Mason Miller to the Padres, Correa Back to Houston & More!
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0:46Bigger Impact: Carlos Correa or Eugenio Suarez
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1:15Carlos Correa Heads Back to Astros
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0:31BREAKING: Carlos Correa Traded to Astros
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1:19MLB Trade Deadline: Top Potential Buyers Ahead of Deadline
Player Outlook
Tatsuya Imai is looking to become the latest in a growing group of Japanese starting pitchers to successfully make the jump from NPB to MLB. He had an outstanding 2025 season for the Saitama Seibu Lions, with career bests in both ERA (1.92) and WHIP (0.89). NPB is in a dead-ball era right now, with league-wide ERA dropping to 3.01 last year, so those figures are a little less dominant than they may seem, but they came with career bests in both K% (27.8%) and BB% (7.0%). That latter is particularly notable, as Imai struggled significantly with control early in his career and had never previously produced a BB% better than 9.8%. Imai is undersized at 5-foot-11, but he has decent fastball velocity (94.8 mph), a five-pitch mix and a deceptive, low-slot delivery. If the command gains stick around, he should be able to get big-league hitters out, though don't expect dominance on the same level as Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who had three straight seasons with an ERA south of 1.70 before making the leap.
Recent Tweets
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Brian McTaggart@brianmctaggart7H agoRT @MLB: Houston, we have heat from @astros Photo Day 🚀 Jose Altuve 🚀 Carlos Correa 🚀 Tatsuya Imai 🚀 Jeremy Peña https://t.co/az8ehDXyQ3 -
Chronicle Astros@ChronAstros9H agoTwenty-six of the top images from the Houston Astros' 2026 spring training. https://t.co/6Ap4AXOUeI -
Chronicle Astros@ChronAstros11H agoAstros don't want to waste challenges early in games so Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa will likely be patient on using new system. https://t.co/a1zrQ16Dx3
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Chandler Rome@Chandler_Rome12H agoRT @Chandler_Rome: On the eve of Grapefruit League play, the Astros' outfield remains murky - https://t.co/DahisJEj82 -
Chronicle Astros@ChronAstros12H agoIn throwing his first batting practice against his teammates, Tatsuya Imai drew positive reviews from Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa and others. https://t.co/WmIYcMTkEr
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Matt Kawahara@matthewkawahara12H agoTatsuya Imai threw his first live batting practice in Astros camp today. Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa and Jake Meyers describe what they saw from the batter’s box: https://t.co/8wz9m1OiSi -
Brian McTaggart@brianmctaggart13H agoTatsuya Imai faced hitters for the first time Saturday, including Jose Altuve. “As soon as I started facing Jose, I was like, ‘Oh shoot, I’m actually in the big leagues,’” Imai said. More on his outing and what Astros hitters thought of him: https://t.co/XcbfFMWYx9
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Brian McTaggart@brianmctaggart13H agoWith the Astros set to begin Grapefruit League play on Saturday, here are three storylines to watch during exhibition play. https://t.co/siRLj1av0h
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Chandler Rome@Chandler_Rome13H agoWhat I’m seeing at Astros camp: Tatsuya Imai gets nervous, Isaac Paredes’ new normal and a new strength coach for a team that took a "deep dive" into its return to play policy - https://t.co/V6yV4eICos
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Matt Kawahara@matthewkawahara15H agoAs the Astros maintain an infield surplus, Brice Matthews broadens his defensive profile: https://t.co/3UEjCfYwJn