MLB rosters are set to grow on Sept. 1, and that timing could give the Astros a little breathing room as the final month arrives. Houston has already steadied itself with a strong trip to New York, taking four of six games against the Yankees and Mets and building a two-game lead in the division. That run came after a rough patch, though, including a 3-6 stretch and six straight games without scoring five runs.
With every club getting one extra hitter and one extra pitcher, the Astros have a chance to lean on players who have been making noise in Triple-A. Three names in particular have forced their way into the conversation.
Miguel Ullola looks like the most obvious pitching option. The 24-year-old reliever has already had three separate stints with Houston this season, though he has only appeared in four major league games.
His last inning in the big leagues came on Aug. 18, but he’s been sharp at Triple-A around that time, riding an eight-game scoreless streak. Since the start of June, Ullola has made 30 relief appearances and allowed earned runs in only three of them.
He’s also posted 14 strikeouts against four walks in August. If the Astros are looking for the first arm to bring back on Sept.
1, Ullola has made a strong case.
Cavan Biggio has spent the entire season in Triple-A Sugar Land, and while his overall year hasn’t been especially loud, he’s catching fire at the right moment. Over the last 15 days, he’s put up a .910 OPS with two homers, three doubles and eight RBI.
He has also worked 13 walks in that span while striking out just 10 times. Biggio’s value goes beyond the bat, too.
He can handle first base, second base, third base and both corner outfield spots, which gives Houston a flexible option to help manage workloads down the stretch.
Trenton Brooks is another player who has forced his way into the discussion. The 31-year-old joined the organization on a minor league deal in June and has 37 major league games on his resume between 2024 and 2025.
A left-handed outfielder, Brooks has found a groove in the last month. In August, he hit .292 with a .415 on-base percentage and a .415 slugging percentage.
He isn’t built to pile up home runs, but he does reach base at a strong rate, drawing 14 walks and striking out only 10 times in the month. That kind of production matters for an Astros outfield that has struggled since the All-Star break, ranking 28th with a 77 WRC+ and sitting last with a .273 on-base percentage.
For Houston, a call-up for Brooks would make sense.
In Other News...
Astros September Push Could Come Down To One Carlos Correa Update
The Astros head into September with the AL West lead in hand, but the next few weeks hardly look comfortable. Houston has 24 games left, and nine of them come against teams already positioned in the playoff race, which puts a premium on getting steady production from the core group that has carried the club this far. Yordan Alvarez, Framber Valdez, AJ Blubaugh, Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa all loom as important pieces in what could be a defining stretch.
Correa is the name that hangs over the month most prominently, because his status still carries some uncertainty as he moves toward a scheduled medical checkup tied to his ankle surgery. For an Astros team trying to protect a division lead while navigating a demanding schedule, any update on his availability could shape how the final month unfolds. The bigger picture is straightforward enough: Houston has put itself in position, but September will say a lot about whether that position holds. [Read more 🡒]
Astros Got An Unlikely Offensive Boost They May Really Need
Houston kept its grip on the AL West by getting unexpected offense in a 6-3 win over the White Sox, with Nelson Velzquez and Cam Smith delivering the kind of timely hits that can change the tone of a game. Peter Lambert gave the Astros a workable start, lasting 4 2/3 innings while allowing three runs and striking out six, and the lineup did enough damage to make sure Chicago never fully got back into it.
Velzquez provided the biggest swing of the night with a go-ahead two-run homer in the fourth, a jolt that helped turn a close game in Houstons favor. Smith then added a two-run double in the next inning to widen the gap, a useful reminder for the Astros that production can come from places they may not have been counting on as the season pushes deeper into its stretch run. [Read more 🡒]
Astros Bullpen Is Carrying A Playoff Push Few Saw Coming
The Astros keep finding ways to win because the relief corps has turned into a real weapon at exactly the right time. In a recent victory over the White Sox, Houstons bullpen covered 4 innings and gave up just two hits and one run, a reminder that the back end of games has become a strength rather than a concern. Josh Hader has been the headliner, but the group around him has helped make the entire inning-by-inning picture look much steadier.
Haders season has been as sharp as ever, with one miss in his last 48 save chances and a minuscule ERA in 37 appearances. Just as important for Houston, Bryan Abreu, Steven Okert, Cristian Javier and Tatsuya Imai have all looked more settled in their second-half roles, giving the Astros multiple arms they can trust when the margins get tight. For a club trying to keep its playoff push moving, the bullpen may be the part of the roster that changes the whole conversation. [Read more 🡒]