The Astros' problem is pretty straightforward: half their roster is in a sling. Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa, Yainer Diaz, Josh Hader, Hunter Brown, Lance McCullers Jr., Cristian Javier — that's an All-Star team on the IL. Hader is reportedly on his final rehab steps at Triple-A Sugar Land, but he doesn't help Joe Espada this afternoon. Lambert has been the bright spot of the patchwork rotation and is the exact kind of strike-throwing starter who can keep an Astros team afloat for 5-plus.
- Day-To-DayGerson Garabito (RP) — Garabito will be out for four months after undergoing surgery to address a broken bone in his foot, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.05/08
- 10-Day-ILBrandon Lockridge (LF) — Lockridge is expected to be sidelined until mid-to-late June after an MRI on his right knee showed a bone bruise, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.05/12
- 15-Day-ILQuinn Priester (SP) — Priester (shoulder) recorded two outs and was charged with three earned runs on two hits and three walks Wednesday in his rehab start with Triple-A Nashville. He struck out one batter.05/28
- 15-Day-ILJared Koenig (RP) — Koenig (elbow) said his live bullpen session went well Tuesday and he expects to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Nashville on Friday, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.05/26
- 15-Day-ILBrandon Woodruff (SP) — The Brewers announced Tuesday that Woodruff (shoulder) is scheduled for a 60-pitch live batting practice session next week, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.05/26
- 15-Day-ILLogan Henderson (SP) — Brewers manager Pat Murphy said Monday that Henderson might not make his next scheduled start Wednesday against the Cardinals due to back tightness, Jack Stern of BrewerFanatic.com reports.05/26
- 15-Day-ILAngel Zerpa (RP) — Zerpa will undergo UCL reconstruction on his left elbow next week, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.05/08
- 60-Day-ILRob Zastryzny (RP) — Zastryzny (shoulder/ribs) will resume a rehab assignment with Triple-A Nashville on Wednesday, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.05/12
- Day-To-DayWalker Janek (C) — Double-A Corpus Christi placed Janek on its 7-day injured list Sunday due to an unspecified injury.05/08
- 10-Day-ILJose Altuve (2B) — Astros manager Joe Espada said Wednesday that the Astros could have Altuve (oblique) simulate at-bats rather than embark on a rehab assignment, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.05/27
- 10-Day-ILJoey Loperfido (LF) — Astros manager Joe Espada told reporters Monday that Loperfido (quadriceps) will pause his rehab assignment until Wednesday after fouling a ball off his foot during Sunday's game with Double-A Corpus Christie, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.05/25
- 10-Day-ILYainer Diaz (C) — Astros general manager Dana Brown said Sunday that Diaz (oblique) is expected to begin a rehab assignment during the first week of June, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.05/25
- 10-Day-ILCarlos Correa (SS) — Correa is scheduled to undergo surgery Monday in Houston to repair the tendon in his left ankle, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.05/10
- 15-Day-ILLance McCullers Jr. (SP) — McCullers was scratched from his scheduled start against the Twins on Tuesday due to shoulder inflammation, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.05/19
- 15-Day-ILBennett Sousa (RP) — The Astros placed Sousa on the 15-day injured list Saturday with left elbow inflammation, retroactive to Wednesday, Julia Morales of Space City Home Network reports.05/09
- 60-Day-ILHayden Wesneski (SP) — Wesneski (elbow) has progressed to throwing live batting practice this week, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.05/29
- 60-Day-ILRonel Blanco (SP) — Blanco (elbow) has progressed to throwing live batting practice this week, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.05/29
- 60-Day-ILCristian Javier (SP) — Javier (shoulder) is scheduled to throw a live batting practice session Friday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.05/27
- 60-Day-ILJosh Hader (RP) — Hader (biceps) will pitch for Triple-A Sugar Land on Wednesday and Thursday, which should represent his final steps before he's activated from the 60-day injured list, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.05/27
- 60-Day-ILHunter Brown (SP) — Brown (shoulder) will make his next rehab start this weekend at Triple-A Sugar Land, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.05/25
- 60-Day-ILBrandon Walter (SP) — The Astros placed Walter (elbow) on the 60-day injured list.05/08
The market sees a coin flip. Pinnacle has Milwaukee at -108 with Houston at -102, and the total sits at 8.5 with the under juiced slightly. DraftKings is way more aggressive on the Brewers at -144, which is the kind of gap that tells you sharps and the public are not on the same page here. EV is negative on both sides at the book — fade if you must, but this isn't the screaming spot the public side is making it.
The angle to watch: can Sproat give Pat Murphy 5 innings? He's only done that 3 times in 8 starts this year, and the Brewers bullpen had to grind out 4-plus frames last night. If Sproat is short again, this becomes a battle of taxed relievers — and that usually favors whichever team's offense wakes up first. Brewers are the better team. Astros are home and have a real starter on the mound. Should be a fun one.