Overview
- Manager Joe Espada said Sousa is shut down from throwing and will be down for a while, confirming he will not make the Opening Day roster.
- Sousa strained his left oblique on a March 12 fielding play in a Grapefruit League outing and returned to Houston for evaluation.
- With Josh Hader starting the year on the IL for biceps tendinitis, Bryan Abreu will handle closing duties to open the season.
- Left-handed leverage work shifts to Bryan King and Steven Okert, while Enyel De Los Santos progresses from a knee sprain and could factor in soon.
- Open bullpen spots are being contested by Rule 5 pick Roddery Muñoz, AJ Blubaugh, Christian Roa and Peter Lambert, with Ryan Weiss and Kai-Wei Teng in swing roles and Spencer Arrighetti a relief option if he misses the rotation.