HOUSTON'S EMPIRE CRUMBLES: Injury Crisis Threatens Astros' Division Control

Paul Riverbank, 7/20/2025Astros' division lead threatened as injuries mount, including latest casualty Isaac Paredes.

The injury bug continues to feast on the Houston Astros' roster, and it just claimed another victim.

In what's becoming an all-too-familiar scene at Minute Maid Park, Isaac Paredes pulled up lame running to first base during Saturday's crucial showdown with Seattle. The third baseman, acquired in the offseason Kyle Tucker deal with Chicago, grabbed at his hamstring before limping off the field. Veteran beat writer John McClain didn't mince words on Twitter: "looks like a significant hamstring injury."

Talk about terrible timing. Paredes has been raking this year, pacing the club in homers and crossing home plate more than any other Astro. Now he's likely headed to an injured list that's starting to read like a Who's Who of Houston baseball – Yordan Alvarez, Jeremy Pena, and potentially 13 others are already keeping the training staff busy.

But hey, baseball gods giveth and taketh away. While Paredes was hitting the trainer's room, Spencer Arrighetti was dealing down in Corpus Christi. The young right-hander, working his way back from a busted thumb, painted the corners through three shutout frames in his rehab start. Twenty-nine strikes in 43 pitches? Not too shabby for a guy who hasn't faced live hitting since early April.

Don't expect to see Arrighetti back in Houston just yet, though. Word from the Chronicle is the medical team wants to see "several more" rehab outings before giving him the green light.

The mounting injuries couldn't come at a worse moment for the defending AL West champs. They've dropped six of seven, watching their cushy division lead shrink faster than a cotton jersey in hot water. The Mariners, now just four games back, could slice that margin in half with a series sweep.

Manager Dusty Baker's crew is hanging tough, but you've got to wonder how long they can keep patching lineup holes while waiting for cavalry like Alvarez (sidelined since May with that nagging hand issue) and Pena to return. Welcome to baseball in June – when depth charts get tested and division races start heating up like a Texas summer.

The injury bug continues to feast on the Houston Astros' roster, and it just claimed another victim.In what's becoming an all-too-familiar scene at Minute Maid Park, Isaac Paredes pulled up lame running to first base during Saturday's crucial showdown with Seattle. The third baseman, acquired in the offseason Kyle Tucker deal with Chicago, grabbed at his hamstring before limping off the field. Veteran beat writer John McClain didn't mince words on Twitter: "looks like a significant hamstring injury."Talk about terrible timing. Paredes has been raking this year, pacing the club in homers and crossing home plate more than any other Astro. Now he's likely headed to an injured list that's starting to read like a Who's Who of Houston baseball – Yordan Alvarez, Jeremy Pena, and potentially 13 others are already keeping the training staff busy.But hey, baseball gods giveth and taketh away. While Paredes was hitting the trainer's room, Spencer Arrighetti was dealing down in Corpus Christi. The young right-hander, working his way back from a busted thumb, painted the corners through three shutout frames in his rehab start. Twenty-nine strikes in 43 pitches? Not too shabby for a guy who hasn't faced live hitting since early April.Don't expect to see Arrighetti back in Houston just yet, though. Word from the Chronicle is the medical team wants to see "several more" rehab outings before giving him the green light.The mounting injuries couldn't come at a worse moment for the defending AL West champs. They've dropped six of seven, watching their cushy division lead shrink faster than a cotton jersey in hot water. The Mariners, now just four games back, could slice that margin in half with a series sweep.Manager Dusty Baker's crew is hanging tough, but you've got to wonder how long they can keep patching lineup holes while waiting for cavalry like Alvarez (sidelined since May with that nagging hand issue) and Pena to return. Welcome to baseball in June – when depth charts get tested and division races start heating up like a Texas summer.