Well like I said, there was still game left. When I posted that Weiss had given up a run, 2 hits and a walk in 1.1 innings. Looks like he calmed down.
Great momentum for Houston’s top 5 position player prospects (Alvarez, Neyens, Matthews, Janek, Frey) so far this spring.
I know this is just ST, but after last year I was really hoping to see Yordan mash it. I really hope he doesn't pull an Ensberg.
McCullers' velo is up, and his strike to ball ratio has been pretty good, considering I came into this season thinking he would contribute zero to the club, this is encouraging. Joey Lopes is making his case to make the opening day roster.
His velo faded a bit in the 3rd. Actually pretty discouraging outing compared to his first appearance imho. He was throwing cutters <90mph. Not great. I also think he is overthinking his pitch usage. But he still looked more viable today than he did last year.
If I had to guess, I think he’d be best used as a single inning RP who never throws consecutive days. His curve is still sick and if he could sit 95 with his 4S and locate his change, he’d be very effective in that role and could even potentially pitch in leverage. Either way it is still extremely likely this is his last year.
He was still throwing 93 with his 4S at least, which is still better than last season. Most importantly he has been throwing strikes. I don’t think he is going to be the old LMJ but won’t be surprised if he’s a decent 5/6 option in the rotation.
The last thing you should be worried about is Yordan hitting. He came back and lit it up with a OPS above 1.000 before spraining his ankle last season.
It looks like Cam is lifting the ball more this spring. It hasn't shown up in a homerun but he's not hitting as many line drives as last season.
I'm pretty sure his best role would be as an opener. It sounds like he still needs a set routine and pitching only on set planned days.
We all know he can make hard contact. His issue was that he had one of the worst angles in the major leagues last year. He just needs to lift the ball like JD Martinez, and he should put up some really good numbers. It looks like he worked on that during the offseason because his swing path is noticeably different from last season based on the clips I’ve seen this ST.
5 players who have a strong case to make Houston's Opening Day roster This story was excerpted from Brian McTaggart’s Astros Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox. WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The competition at Astros camp is beginning to ramp up this week as manager Joe Espada and his staff evaluate candidates for the final few bullpen spots, the back end of the rotation and the last couple of position player slots. Here’s a look at five players who began camp on the bubble and have put themselves in position to perhaps make the Opening Day roster: RHP Ryan Weiss How acquired: Signed to a one-year deal with a club option in December. Background: Weiss posted a 3.16 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP with 305 strikeouts in 270 1/3 innings over the last two seasons with the Hanwha Eagles of the Korea Baseball Organization. He pitched in 132 career Minor League games (47 starts) with Arizona and Kansas City, reaching Triple-A in 2021-23. Spring performance: Threw three scoreless innings Monday in relief with six strikeouts, touching 96.5 mph, and has a 1.69 ERA in 5 1/3 spring innings. What Espada said: “There is a presence about him now where he’s starting to take it to a different gear, reaching back and getting some fastballs by people, executing the slider. He’s got good stuff. The command is coming where he can throw his pitches any time in the count. It’s exactly the guy we say we really liked. He’s showing up at the right time.” RHP Peter Lambert How acquired: Signed to Minor League contract in November Background: A 2015 second-round Draft pick, Lambert has 74 career games (35 starts) in his career with the Rockies. He pitched in 28 games in ’24 and had a 5.72 ERA in 61 1/3 innings. He spent last year pitching with the Yakult Swallows in Japan. Spring performance: Has thrown six scoreless innings, allowing six hits and three walks with four strikeouts. He threw three scoreless Monday, hitting 96.3 mph. What Espada said: “There’s a lot of upside to his stuff. I think playing away from Colorado can help him use his pitches better and the shape of his pitches. Could be a starter, can come out of the ‘pen. His stuff can play much higher out of the ‘pen. He’s definitely someone who has caught our attention.” RHP Christian Roa How acquired: Signed to Minor League contract in January Background: Had a solid 2025 at Triple-A Jacksonville (Marlins) in which he posted a 2.83 ERA in 60 1/3 innings, with 64 strikeouts, 28 walks and 38 hits allowed. Roa made his Major League debut on Sept. 6 and threw two scoreless innings against the Phillies. Spring performance: Allowed one run (a homer) with no walks and eight strikeouts in five innings, including one scoreless inning Sunday, touching 97.6. What Espada said: “He has had a resilient arm for quite a while. We like the demeanor on the mound. We have presented some ideas about his usage and offspeed pitches and getting more in the zone, and so far he’s doing just that.” OF Taylor Trammell How acquired: Trade from Yankees on Nov. 4, 2024 Background: Posted a .629 OPS in 52 games with the Astros last year and spent time with Triple-A Sugar Land. He split the 2024 season between the Dodgers' and Yankees' organizations, playing five games in the Majors for each team, but was in Triple-A most of the season. Spring performance: Slashing .318/.423/.636 with a homer, five RBIs, four walks and a steal in 26 plate appearances. What Espada said: “Trammell is getting quality at-bats, getting some walks, driving the ball and running the bases aggressively.” OF/IF Brice Matthews How acquired: First-round Draft pick (No. 28 overall) in 2023 Background: Matthews was slashing .283/.400/.476 with 10 homers, 39 RBIs and 25 steals at Triple-A last year when he was called up to the Major Leagues on July 11. He homered three times in a two-game span in Arizona in July and wound up posting a .674 OPS with four homers in 47 big league plate appearances. Spring performance: Slashing .250/.333/.333 with seven RBIs and five steals while splitting time between center field and second base. What Espada said: “Brice, he knows he can control the strike zone. He can hit the ball out of the ballpark. I love the speed and his goal is, and he’s heard me say this before, we just need to get barrel on the ball. If he gets barrel on the ball, puts more balls in play, he is going to find himself doing some damage with power and also on the bases. He’s very dynamic, very explosive. It’s getting him to make quality of contact so he can be productive.”
