Overview
- Ronel Blanco will come off the injured list to start Monday’s series opener against the Miami Marlins, Astros manager Joe Espada confirmed.
- Blanco completed five minor-league rehab outings, allowing two earned runs in 17 innings for a 1.06 ERA and throwing 4 1/3 innings and 68 pitches in his final rehab start.
- Blanco underwent surgery in June 2025 that repaired the ulnar collateral ligament with an internal brace and repaired the flexor tendon, so the club expects to monitor his workload early in his return.
- To make room on the roster for Blanco the Astros optioned reliever Bryan King to Triple-A Sugar Land, and the club has already shifted Cristian Javier to the bullpen to manage workloads.
- Houston’s rotation has struggled this season with a 5.18 ERA, and general manager Dana Brown said Hayden Wesneski is close to returning, which could provide additional staged reinforcements and ease strain on the bullpen.