St. Louis Cardinals vs. Houston Astros - News - April 19, 2026 | FOX Sports

Jeremy Peña - Does some running Monday Astros manager Joe Espada said that Pena (hamstring) did some running Monday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Impact It appears to be the first time Pena was cleared to run since he landed on the 10-day injured list a week ago with a Grade 1 right hamstring strain. Pena is eligible to return Friday, but it's possible the Astros will ask him to go out on a rehab assignment before being activated. Carlos Correa has been the team's primary shortstop since Pena went down, with Isaac Paredes handling third base.

APRIL 20 • ROTOWIRE

Cody Bolton - Set for live batting practice Bolton (back) will throw a live batting practice session Tuesday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Impact Bolton landed on the 15-day injured list last week with mid-back inflammation. He is eligible for activation April 28 and has a good chance to be back by that date, given that he's already been cleared to face hitters.

APRIL 20 • ROTOWIRE

Tatsuya Imai - Throws off mound Imai (arm) threw a bullpen session Monday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Impact It appears to be the first time he has thrown off the mound since landed on the 15-day injured list a week ago with right arm fatigue. The Astros haven't revealed the next steps for Imai, but it will likely involve facing hitters and perhaps making a rehab start or two. Imai holds a 7.27 ERA and 13:11 K:BB over his first 8.2 innings with Houston.

APRIL 20 • ROTOWIRE

Pedro Pagés - Idle Monday Pages is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Marlins.

Impact After starting behind the dish in three of the last four games, Pages will hit the bench for the series opener in Miami. Ivan Herrera will handle catching duties for St. Louis.

APRIL 20 • ROTOWIRE

Taylor Trammell - Serving as primary center fielder Trammell will start in center field and bat sixth in Monday's game against the Guardians.

Impact Trammell will draw his fifth consecutive start and should have a clear path to an everyday role in center field for the time being after Joey Loperfido (quadriceps) recently joined Jake Meyers (oblique) on the injured list. Since receiving a call-up from Triple-A Sugar Land on April 10, Trammell has slashed .321/.387/.429 with two extra-base hits (one double, one triple), one stolen base, four RBI and four runs in nine games.

APRIL 20 • ROTOWIRE

Cam Smith - Receiving rare day off Smith is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Guardians, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Impact Smith will exit the starting nine for just the second time through the Astros' first 24 games, clearing the way for waiver pickup Dustin Harris to make his first start with Houston. Though he'll head to the bench after going hitless in each of his last four games, Smith is still holding maintaining a .764 OPS on the season, well ahead of the .670 mark that he posted during his 2025 rookie campaign.

APRIL 20 • ROTOWIRE

Nathan Church - Retreating to bench Church is absent from the lineup for Monday's contest in Miami.

Impact Church had started each of the last four games, but he will begin Monday's series opener on the bench. The Cardinals will go with Thomas Saggese in left field and in the No. 8 spot in the batting order.

APRIL 20 • ROTOWIRE