Corporan ready to serve as emergency third baseman

Had the Astros forced extra innings against the A's in Friday's 6-5 loss at Minute Maid Park, Carlos Corporan, the backup catcher, would have gone into the game at third base because Matt Dominguez and Jimmy Paredes were already out of the game.

With starting job in tow, Martinez heating up

J.D. Martinez's season was in jeopardy before it began. Cast off the original Opening Day roster after Spring Training before a last-minute injury pushed him up, "run producer" wasn't a word many would have used to describe the 25-year-old outfielder.

Harrell struggles against hot-hitting A's

The A's posted a six-run second inning, chasing Lucas Harrell from the game early, and overcame a pair of home runs by two separate Astros to cruise to an 11-5 win Saturday night at Minute Maid Park.

Astros players teach kids fundamentals at local clinics

Four players, along with Astros president Reid Ryan, teamed up with the Astros Urban Youth Academy to host clinics at Ingrando, Diez and Moody Park on Saturday. Third baseman Matt Dominguez, outfielder Brandon Barnes and pitchers Jose Veras and Wesley Wright participated in the clinics to teach kids ages 7-12 some baseball fundamentals.

Cedeno, Dominguez return to Astros lineup

The Astros' lineup got two right-handed reinforcements back from injury on Friday against the A's in shortstop Ronny Cedeno and third baseman Matt Dominguez.

Healing Maxwell to begin rehab on Wednesday

Justin Maxwell, who's been out for a month with a fractured left hand that was expected to sideline him four to six weeks, said Friday he will travel to the club's extended spring training in Kissimmee, Fla., on Wednesday to begin a Minor League rehab assignment.

Blackley lends hand to those hit by tornado

The Astros' organization-wide efforts to aid victims of Monday's devastating tornado in Oklahoma have trickled down to individual players. Left-handed reliever Travis Blackley picked up some baseball equipment Thursday for a family with three young children who were affected by the storm.

Norris remembers time with a special fan

His high school graduation pictures sits on a table in the middle of the Astros' clubhouse. Curt William England was 19 when he died of cancer on May 19, 2012 and more than a year earlier had met Astros pitcher Bud Norris when the team's annual winter Caravan stopped at a hospital.

Astros fall as Veras allows costly homer in ninth

A's right fielder Chris Young ripped a three-run homer in the top of the ninth inning, lifting Oakland past the Astros, 6-5, in a home-run heavy affair Friday night in Minute Maid Park.

Astros to don special caps on Memorial Day

The Astros will join the rest of Major League Baseball in wearing specially designed caps and jerseys on Memorial Day featuring an authentic military digital camouflage design licensed by the United States Marine Corps.

Family ties: Moran has strong baseball pedigree

Colin Moran is the third baseman for North Carolina, one of the higher-ranked teams in college baseball. He's also B.J. Surhoff's nephew, and he's following nearly the same path as his uncle.

Astros take series behind Lyles' solid outing

J.D. Martinez hit a two-run home run and starter Jordan Lyles allowed six hits and one run to lead the Astros to a 3-1 win over the Royals at Minute Maid Park on Wednesday.

Paredes starts at third for ailing Dominguez

With starter Matt Dominguez nursing a sore left quadriceps muscle, Jimmy Paredes was in the lineup at third base in Wednesday's series finale against the Royals.

Porter goes with Carter at first for more flexibility

Astros manager Bo Porter has been going with Carlos Pena at designated hitter and Chris Carter at first base in recent weeks when both have been in the starting lineup.

Norris doesn't expect to miss start with back spasm

Astros right-hander Bud Norris said Wednesday he doesn't expect to miss his next start after he exited his second straight outing Tuesday with lower back spasms.

Dominguez reunites with Royals' Moustakas

Astros third baseman Matt Dominguez and his Royals counterpart, Mike Moustakas, grew up together just north of Los Angeles and played on the same team at Chatsworth High School from 2004-07.

Norris exits game with back injury

Astros ace Bud Norris left Tuesday's game against the Kansas City Royals due to tightness in his back. Norris blanked the Royals through six innings, allowing five hits, no runs and striking out two.

Tornado very close to Astros' Triple-A affiliate

The devastation from Monday's tornado that ripped through Moore, Okla., hit close to home for the Astros' Triple-A affiliate from Oklahoma City, and manager Tony DeFrancesco's team wants to help out.

Cruz, Ocampo to represent Astros at MLB Draft

A decorated member of the Astros' past and one of the men tasked with scouting the franchise's future will help usher in the next crop of Houston Astros, as Jose Cruz and Oz Ocampo will represent the Astros at the MLB First-Year Player Draft.

Norris' effort, Paredes' first homer can't lift Astros

Jimmy Paredes crushed a three-run shot, but Bud Norris left with an injury after six scoreless innings and the bullpen surrendered the lead in the eighth as the Astros fell, 7-3, on Tuesday.

Astros to help raise funds for tornado victims

The Astros Foundation plans to raise funds during the team's current homestand in an effort to aid those affected by Monday's tornado in Moore, Okla.

Dierker named special assistant to Astros president

The Astros are appointing a familiar face to a new role, as the team has made Larry Dierker a special assistant to the team president.

Altuve leaves Boras to rejoin former agency

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve recently left agent Scott Boras and signed with Scott Pucino and Wil Polidor of Octagon -- the agency that originally represented him before he switched to Boras about a year ago.

Maxwell ditches brace, making progress

Astros outfielder Justin Maxwell, who's been out nearly a month with a fractured left hand, is no longer wearing a brace and continues to make good progress. He hit 15 balls off a tee on Monday and took 30 more swings from soft toss.

On first day, Ryan gets up to speed with Astros

Monday, the first official day on the job for new Astros president of business operations Reid Ryan, included mundane tasks like getting the keys to the building, finding his office and getting his computer set up. He also wasted no time in rolling up his sleeves and getting his hands dirty.

Astros ride Dominguez's bat, glove past Royals

Astros third baseman Matt Dominguez started a terrific double play in the sixth inning and belted a decisive three-run homer to help the Astros earn a 6-5 win over the Royals on Monday night in the series opener at Minute Maid Park.

Harrell outdueled as Astros blanked by Pirates

With an effective sinker, Lucas Harrell held the Pirates to four hits and one run in seven innings Sunday afternoon, but the Pirates made a fifth-inning home run by Pedro Alvarez stand up for a 1-0 win over the Astros at PNC Park.

Cedeno scratched due to sinus problems, virus

Astros infielder Ronny Cedeno was scratched from the starting lineup Sunday with sinus problems and a stomach virus. That forced Marwin Gonzalez into action as the starting shortstop, even though he's nursing a sore back from a collision in Saturday's game.

Crane, Luhnow attend Astros game after scouting trip

Astros owner Jim Crane and general manager Jeff Luhnow attended Saturday's and Sunday's games against the Pirates at PNC Park in a surprise trip that came about after both men scouted the University of North Carolina's game against Virginia in Chapel Hill, N.C., earlier Saturday.

Singleton likely to start season with Quad Cities

Astros top prospect Jonathan Singleton, who is nearing the end of his 50-game suspension after violating the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program for a drug of abuse -- his second positive test -- will begin his season sometime next week at Class A Quad Cities before moving to Triple-A Oklahoma City, general manager Jeff Luhnow said Sunday.