Overview
- Manager Joe Espada said the trio will pitch for Triple-A Sugar Land on Tuesday, with Tatsuya Imai starting, Josh Hader slated for one inning, then Nate Pearson.
- Josh Hader, on the 60-day injured list with biceps tendinitis, makes his first game appearance since last August on Tuesday and is not eligible to return to MLB until May 24 as the team gives him a spring-style buildup.
- Tatsuya Imai, placed on the 15-day IL for arm fatigue on April 13, advances to Triple-A after a rough two-inning rehab at Double-A in which his fastball reached up to 97 mph, and Espada said the goal now is more strikes.
- Nate Pearson continues a starter build after offseason elbow cleanup, entering his third rehab outing Tuesday following two two-inning starts in his return from elbow soreness.
- The returns matter for Houston because the rotation lost Framber Valdez in free agency and injuries sidelined Hunter Brown and Cristian Javier, leaving the bullpen stressed and the closer role unsettled without Hader.