Another injury added to the list for the Astros as catcher Yainer Díaz was officially placed on the injured list with a left oblique strain.
Díaz was removed from the lineup at the last minute before Monday’s game against the Los Angeles Dodgers after feeling discomfort during pregame batting practice. He reportedly felt the injury on a swing and notified team trainers immediately, though there were no prior issues.
The injury adds another hit to a Houston roster already dealing with multiple players on the injured list, further testing the team’s depth early in the season.
Díaz had been a regular presence behind the plate for Houston early this season, handling the majority of catching duties. Offensively, Díaz was hitting .248 with two home runs and 14 RBIs through 26 games, showing some signs of life at the plate before the injury struck.
Christian Vázquez is expected to take over the majority of the catching duties while Díaz is sidelined, with César Salazar providing additional depth after being added to the active roster.
Vázquez has been productive so far in 2026, hitting .316 with an .862 OPS through his first 57 at-bats. He has added two home runs and 11 RBIs, giving Houston a strong offensive option at catcher in Díaz’s absence, per MLB.
Over the course of his career, Vázquez has posted a .251 average with 73 home runs and 360 RBIs across more than 3,000 at-bats, per MLB.
With multiple everyday players sidelined, the Astros will need to rely heavily on depth pieces to stay competitive through this stretch.
Houston continues to deal with a growing list of injuries across both the pitching staff and everyday lineup, forcing early adjustments throughout the roster. Díaz joins several key contributors already on the shelf, including Jeremy Peña, Hunter Brown, Josh Hader, Cristian Javier, and Jake Meyers.
With these key players still on the injured list and now adding Díaz, 2026 is beginning to resemble the Astros’ 2025 season, a year slowed by injuries.
No timetable has been announced for Díaz’s return as he undergoes further evaluation.
The Astros will now have to navigate the next stretch without another key piece of their lineup, forcing even more reliance on depth options across the roster. With the season still early, Houston will look to avoid letting the injury list define their start to 2026.