Astros News & Notes: Hader, Pena, Paredes, Smith, Brown, Abreu… Opening Day 2026

There is now a timeline on CL Josh Hader, according to Astros GM Dana Brown:

SS Jeremy Pena is not in the Opening Day lineup, but he is getting live ABs before the game in Sugar Land:

More on the timeline expected for Jeremy Pena from Chandler Rome:

UT Brice Matthews has clearly been coached up by Crash Davis (Kevin Costner’s character in Bull Durham) and has been working on his cliches before his first Opening Day:

Manager Joe Espada on how team plans to use Matthews:

Dana Brown on how team will use IF Isaac Paredes:

The Astros are 0-0 all time on March 26:

Nothing like the sound of a little Yordan Alvarez BP:

Astros manager Joe Espada on RP Christian Roa making the Opening Day roster:

Espada on how he will navigate playing time in LF:

Brown on the development of RF Cam Smith:

Brown on extension talks with CL Bryan Abreu, SP Hunter Brown and Pena:

2B Jose Altuve on Opening Day:

Matt Kawahara has 10 stats for the Astros to return to the postseason: