{"id":401668,"date":"2026-08-09T06:14:11","date_gmt":"2026-08-09T06:14:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/401668\/"},"modified":"2026-08-09T06:14:11","modified_gmt":"2026-08-09T06:14:11","slug":"houston-astros-peter-lambert-feels-strong-despite-laboring-vs-padres","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/401668\/","title":{"rendered":"Houston Astros: Peter Lambert feels strong despite laboring vs. Padres"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img alt=\"Peter Lambert's durability matters even more as questions surround the rest of the rotation after the Astros did not add pitching at the trade deadline.\" loading=\"eager\" fetchpriority=\"high\"   style=\"aspect-ratio:3 \/ 2\" class=\"x100 y100 opc bgpc ofcv bgscv block bg-gray200 mnh0px fill\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Peter Lambert&#8217;s durability matters even more as questions surround the rest of the rotation after the Astros did not add pitching at the trade deadline.<\/p>\n<p>Gregory Bull\/Associated Press<\/p>\n<p>SAN DIEGO\u00a0\u2014 No starting pitcher has proven more durable for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.houstonchronicle.com\/sports\/astros\/\" data-link=\"native\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"\">Houston Astros<\/a> this season than <a href=\"https:\/\/www.houstonchronicle.com\/sports\/astros\/article\/peter-lambert-start-rangers-win-22341543.php\" data-link=\"native\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"\">Peter Lambert<\/a>, an asset a depth-starved team must try to preserve. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.houstonchronicle.com\/sports\/astros\/article\/hunter-brown-astros-rangers-22368602.php\" data-link=\"native\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"\">Hunter Brown<\/a> and Lambert are the anchors of a rotation currently rounded out by two pitchers who recently returned from elbow surgeries and another who has started two games since coming back from a shoulder strain.<\/p>\n<p>Lambert, the unlikely rotation savior signed to a minor-league deal last winter, has a 3.09 ERA over 113 \u2154 innings. The innings total leaves him just short of qualifying for rate stats, but just seven qualified American League starters sport a lower ERA. The innings are also nearing the most Lambert has thrown in a season since before the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign.<\/p>\n<p>Last season, Lambert threw 124 \u2153 innings in NPB in Japan. That was his highest total since 2019, when he logged 149 \u2154 innings between Triple-A and the majors with the Rockies. Lambert could surpass last year\u2019s total soon. Nine of his 20 starts for Houston this season have lasted at least six innings. No Astros starter has delivered more quality starts.<\/p>\n<p class=\"uiTextSmall f aic jcc\">Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n<p>For a team <a href=\"https:\/\/www.houstonchronicle.com\/sports\/astros\/article\/houston-trade-deadline-pitching-22372609.php\" data-link=\"native\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"\">that did not add pitching at the trade deadline<\/a>, maintaining what sources of rotation stability it has is paramount. Astros manager Joe Espada said pregame Saturday he is staying mindful with \u201chow many pitches I want to give him out there\u201d and giving Lambert an extra day of rest when possible. Five of Lambert\u2019s starts have occurred on four days\u2019 rest; all other Astros have combined for 11.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAll those things we\u2019re monitoring with him and all these guys,\u201d Espada said. \u201cBut right now, the velo is still there, steady. He\u2019s bouncing back well.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>After facing the Padres on Saturday, Lambert said he feels \u201cgreat\u00a0\u2014 physically, mentally, all of the above I feel good.\u201d Even on a day he said he \u201cwasn\u2019t very sharp,\u201d Lambert toiled through five innings, allowing three runs\u00a0\u2014 one of them unearned\u00a0\u2014 in a game <a href=\"https:\/\/www.houstonchronicle.com\/sports\/astros\/article\/houston-san-diego-padres-score-recap-22380075.php\" data-link=\"native\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"\">Houston lost 3-2 to San Diego<\/a> as its lineup was held to five hits and a defensive miscue proved costly.<\/p>\n<p class=\"uiTextSmall f aic jcc\">Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTheir approach was actually pretty good,\u201d Espada said of the Padres postgame. \u201cI think just the walks, and they fouled some pitches off and just drove the pitch count up. But I thought for the most part the stuff was there. I thought that was your typical Peter, competing, battling, making pitches.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>BATTERS<br \/>\nAVG<br \/>\nOBA<br \/>\nAB<br \/>\nR<br \/>\nH<br \/>\n2B<br \/>\n3B<br \/>\nHR<br \/>\nRBI<br \/>\nBB<br \/>\nSO<br \/>\nSB<br \/>\nCS<br \/>\nE<\/p>\n<p>Team Totals<br \/>\n.246<br \/>\n.322<br \/>\n3985<br \/>\n548<br \/>\n981<br \/>\n179<br \/>\n10<br \/>\n160<br \/>\n521<br \/>\n402<br \/>\n964<br \/>\n38<br \/>\n16<br \/>\n51<\/p>\n<p>Alvarez<br \/>\n.325<br \/>\n.439<br \/>\n422<br \/>\n79<br \/>\n137<br \/>\n24<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n35<br \/>\n86<br \/>\n82<br \/>\n89<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n2<\/p>\n<p>Pe\u00f1a<br \/>\n.302<br \/>\n.362<br \/>\n275<br \/>\n54<br \/>\n83<br \/>\n12<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n13<br \/>\n37<br \/>\n21<br \/>\n58<br \/>\n8<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n6<\/p>\n<p>Correa<br \/>\n.279<br \/>\n.369<br \/>\n122<br \/>\n22<br \/>\n34<br \/>\n8<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n3<br \/>\n16<br \/>\n18<br \/>\n26<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n1<\/p>\n<p>Delgado<br \/>\n.273<br \/>\n.314<br \/>\n33<br \/>\n3<br \/>\n9<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n4<br \/>\n2<br \/>\n5<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n2<\/p>\n<p>Allen<br \/>\n.260<br \/>\n.307<br \/>\n104<br \/>\n17<br \/>\n27<br \/>\n4<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n11<br \/>\n7<br \/>\n24<br \/>\n2<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n5<\/p>\n<p>Diaz<br \/>\n.259<br \/>\n.286<br \/>\n220<br \/>\n25<br \/>\n57<br \/>\n9<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n8<br \/>\n28<br \/>\n8<br \/>\n37<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n2<\/p>\n<p>Shewmake<br \/>\n.256<br \/>\n.272<br \/>\n78<br \/>\n10<br \/>\n20<br \/>\n4<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n3<br \/>\n9<br \/>\n2<br \/>\n13<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n2<\/p>\n<p>Paredes<br \/>\n.253<br \/>\n.347<br \/>\n407<br \/>\n45<br \/>\n103<br \/>\n20<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n15<br \/>\n60<br \/>\n45<br \/>\n69<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n6<\/p>\n<p>Altuve<br \/>\n.245<br \/>\n.308<br \/>\n364<br \/>\n54<br \/>\n89<br \/>\n15<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n13<br \/>\n34<br \/>\n33<br \/>\n81<br \/>\n2<br \/>\n2<br \/>\n4<\/p>\n<p>Walker<br \/>\n.242<br \/>\n.321<br \/>\n422<br \/>\n59<br \/>\n102<br \/>\n24<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n22<br \/>\n67<br \/>\n41<br \/>\n112<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<\/p>\n<p>Trammell<br \/>\n.236<br \/>\n.322<br \/>\n157<br \/>\n24<br \/>\n37<br \/>\n6<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n7<br \/>\n20<br \/>\n16<br \/>\n53<br \/>\n3<br \/>\n2<br \/>\n2<\/p>\n<p>Harris<br \/>\n.226<br \/>\n.286<br \/>\n31<br \/>\n4<br \/>\n7<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n4<br \/>\n2<br \/>\n6<br \/>\n2<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<\/p>\n<p>Wade<br \/>\n.225<br \/>\n.353<br \/>\n71<br \/>\n10<br \/>\n16<br \/>\n4<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n2<br \/>\n15<br \/>\n14<br \/>\n18<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<\/p>\n<p>Smith<br \/>\n.220<br \/>\n.293<br \/>\n381<br \/>\n49<br \/>\n84<br \/>\n15<br \/>\n2<br \/>\n15<br \/>\n42<br \/>\n35<br \/>\n105<br \/>\n10<br \/>\n2<br \/>\n5<\/p>\n<p>V\u00e1zquez<br \/>\n.216<br \/>\n.270<br \/>\n199<br \/>\n18<br \/>\n43<br \/>\n7<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n5<br \/>\n23<br \/>\n15<br \/>\n41<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<\/p>\n<p>Loperfido<br \/>\n.216<br \/>\n.314<br \/>\n102<br \/>\n13<br \/>\n22<br \/>\n7<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n12<br \/>\n14<br \/>\n31<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n1<\/p>\n<p>Meyers<br \/>\n.213<br \/>\n.268<br \/>\n141<br \/>\n15<br \/>\n30<br \/>\n7<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n3<br \/>\n11<br \/>\n10<br \/>\n31<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n2<br \/>\n0<\/p>\n<p>Dezenzo<br \/>\n.213<br \/>\n.280<br \/>\n75<br \/>\n11<br \/>\n16<br \/>\n4<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n3<br \/>\n7<br \/>\n31<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n1<\/p>\n<p>Matthews<br \/>\n.197<br \/>\n.250<br \/>\n208<br \/>\n23<br \/>\n41<br \/>\n5<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n7<br \/>\n22<br \/>\n15<br \/>\n71<br \/>\n4<br \/>\n4<br \/>\n1<\/p>\n<p>Price<br \/>\n.167<br \/>\n.231<br \/>\n12<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n2<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n6<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n1<\/p>\n<p>Spence<br \/>\n.162<br \/>\n.244<br \/>\n37<br \/>\n4<br \/>\n6<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n3<br \/>\n3<br \/>\n15<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n1<\/p>\n<p>Cole<br \/>\n.157<br \/>\n.189<br \/>\n51<br \/>\n4<br \/>\n8<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n3<br \/>\n8<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n21<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n1<\/p>\n<p>Johnson<br \/>\n.143<br \/>\n.294<br \/>\n14<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n2<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n2<br \/>\n3<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<\/p>\n<p>Whitcomb<br \/>\n.130<br \/>\n.167<br \/>\n23<br \/>\n2<br \/>\n3<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n2<br \/>\n5<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n11<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<\/p>\n<p>Varsho<br \/>\n.111<br \/>\n.273<br \/>\n18<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n2<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n4<br \/>\n4<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<\/p>\n<p>Salazar<br \/>\n.056<br \/>\n.227<br \/>\n18<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n3<br \/>\n3<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-divider\">___<\/p>\n<p>PITCHERS<br \/>\nW<br \/>\nL<br \/>\nERA<br \/>\nG<br \/>\nGS<br \/>\nSV<br \/>\nIP<br \/>\nH<br \/>\nR<br \/>\nER<br \/>\nHR<br \/>\nBB<br \/>\nSO<\/p>\n<p>Team Totals<br \/>\n60<br \/>\n58<br \/>\n4.57<br \/>\n118<br \/>\n118<br \/>\n37<br \/>\n1046.1<br \/>\n926<br \/>\n571<br \/>\n531<br \/>\n157<br \/>\n493<br \/>\n1032<\/p>\n<p>Meyers<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0.00<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<\/p>\n<p>Hader<br \/>\n3<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n1.08<br \/>\n27<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n16<br \/>\n25<br \/>\n10<br \/>\n3<br \/>\n3<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n10<br \/>\n36<\/p>\n<p>Santa<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n1.17<br \/>\n10<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n15.1<br \/>\n8<br \/>\n6<br \/>\n2<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n6<br \/>\n9<\/p>\n<p>VanWey<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n1.50<br \/>\n5<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n6<br \/>\n5<br \/>\n2<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n5<\/p>\n<p>Okert<br \/>\n5<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n2.20<br \/>\n57<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n57.1<br \/>\n38<br \/>\n15<br \/>\n14<br \/>\n6<br \/>\n12<br \/>\n59<\/p>\n<p>Lambert<br \/>\n8<br \/>\n6<br \/>\n3.09<br \/>\n20<br \/>\n20<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n113.2<br \/>\n87<br \/>\n40<br \/>\n39<br \/>\n12<br \/>\n44<br \/>\n111<\/p>\n<p>Sousa<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n3.38<br \/>\n14<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n10.2<br \/>\n8<br \/>\n6<br \/>\n4<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n7<br \/>\n10<\/p>\n<p>Brown<br \/>\n3<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n3.53<br \/>\n11<br \/>\n11<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n58.2<br \/>\n41<br \/>\n25<br \/>\n23<br \/>\n7<br \/>\n32<br \/>\n63<\/p>\n<p>King<br \/>\n2<br \/>\n3<br \/>\n3.54<br \/>\n46<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n6<br \/>\n48.1<br \/>\n48<br \/>\n21<br \/>\n19<br \/>\n6<br \/>\n17<br \/>\n37<\/p>\n<p>Blubaugh<br \/>\n4<br \/>\n2<br \/>\n3.58<br \/>\n43<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n70.1<br \/>\n54<br \/>\n30<br \/>\n28<br \/>\n9<br \/>\n33<br \/>\n73<\/p>\n<p>Pearson<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n3.60<br \/>\n16<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n20<br \/>\n16<br \/>\n10<br \/>\n8<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n12<br \/>\n16<\/p>\n<p>Wesneski<br \/>\n2<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n3.86<br \/>\n2<br \/>\n2<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n11.2<br \/>\n11<br \/>\n5<br \/>\n5<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n4<br \/>\n8<\/p>\n<p>De Los Santos<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n3<br \/>\n4.07<br \/>\n51<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n5<br \/>\n55.1<br \/>\n50<br \/>\n28<br \/>\n25<br \/>\n7<br \/>\n12<br \/>\n53<\/p>\n<p>Abreu<br \/>\n4<br \/>\n3<br \/>\n4.29<br \/>\n45<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n7<br \/>\n42<br \/>\n29<br \/>\n22<br \/>\n20<br \/>\n7<br \/>\n30<br \/>\n55<\/p>\n<p>Teng<br \/>\n5<br \/>\n6<br \/>\n4.35<br \/>\n25<br \/>\n10<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n68.1<br \/>\n62<br \/>\n37<br \/>\n33<br \/>\n10<br \/>\n30<br \/>\n67<\/p>\n<p>Arrighetti<br \/>\n7<br \/>\n5<br \/>\n4.60<br \/>\n17<br \/>\n17<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n88<br \/>\n68<br \/>\n47<br \/>\n45<br \/>\n12<br \/>\n50<br \/>\n87<\/p>\n<p>Roa<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n5.19<br \/>\n7<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n8.2<br \/>\n10<br \/>\n5<br \/>\n5<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n7<br \/>\n6<\/p>\n<p>Bolton<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n5.40<br \/>\n8<br \/>\n3<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n20<br \/>\n21<br \/>\n12<br \/>\n12<br \/>\n3<br \/>\n14<br \/>\n22<\/p>\n<p>Ullola<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n5.40<br \/>\n3<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n5<br \/>\n4<br \/>\n3<br \/>\n3<br \/>\n2<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n7<\/p>\n<p>Imai<br \/>\n6<br \/>\n4<br \/>\n5.55<br \/>\n16<br \/>\n15<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n61.2<br \/>\n50<br \/>\n38<br \/>\n38<br \/>\n9<br \/>\n40<br \/>\n77<\/p>\n<p>Burrows<br \/>\n4<br \/>\n9<br \/>\n5.99<br \/>\n18<br \/>\n17<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n94.2<br \/>\n112<br \/>\n69<br \/>\n63<br \/>\n21<br \/>\n35<br \/>\n75<\/p>\n<p>Javier<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n2<br \/>\n6.59<br \/>\n9<br \/>\n5<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n27.1<br \/>\n31<br \/>\n20<br \/>\n20<br \/>\n4<br \/>\n15<br \/>\n23<\/p>\n<p>McCullers<br \/>\n2<br \/>\n3<br \/>\n6.86<br \/>\n8<br \/>\n8<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n39.1<br \/>\n38<br \/>\n32<br \/>\n30<br \/>\n7<br \/>\n22<br \/>\n43<\/p>\n<p>Blanco<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n6.98<br \/>\n4<br \/>\n4<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n19.1<br \/>\n15<br \/>\n15<br \/>\n15<br \/>\n6<br \/>\n11<br \/>\n17<\/p>\n<p>Murray<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n7.43<br \/>\n8<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n13.1<br \/>\n19<br \/>\n11<br \/>\n11<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n7<br \/>\n8<\/p>\n<p>Weiss<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n3<br \/>\n7.62<br \/>\n9<br \/>\n2<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n26<br \/>\n35<br \/>\n24<br \/>\n22<br \/>\n8<br \/>\n20<br \/>\n30<\/p>\n<p>France<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n8.10<br \/>\n3<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n6.2<br \/>\n6<br \/>\n6<br \/>\n6<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n5<br \/>\n4<\/p>\n<p>Salazar<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n9.00<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<\/p>\n<p>Alexander<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n9.33<br \/>\n4<br \/>\n2<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n18.1<br \/>\n21<br \/>\n19<br \/>\n19<br \/>\n4<br \/>\n8<br \/>\n14<\/p>\n<p>Gordon<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n11.57<br \/>\n4<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n9.1<br \/>\n21<br \/>\n12<br \/>\n12<br \/>\n6<br \/>\n3<br \/>\n11<\/p>\n<p>Mu\u00f1oz<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n15.75<br \/>\n3<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n4<br \/>\n7<br \/>\n7<br \/>\n7<br \/>\n3<br \/>\n6<br \/>\n6<\/p>\n<p>Lambert worked in traffic in each of his five innings. He walked two of his first four batters in a 26-pitch first, when one run scored on a bases-loaded flare that fell in right field. Five hits against Lambert were all singles except for Jackson Merrill\u2019s solo home run on a full-count fastball in the third. Just five of 17 balls put into play against him were hard-hit, per Statcast.<\/p>\n<p>San Diego\u2019s persistence spiked his pitch count, however. The Padres fouled off 21 pitches he threw and whiffed on just nine of 47 swings. Lambert finished the fifth at 97 pitches.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCredit to them for putting together the at-bats,\u201d Lambert said. \u201cPersonally, I just didn\u2019t think I was very sharp, wasn\u2019t able to locate as well as I have in the past. And some of the pitches that I\u2019ve leaned on in the past I just wasn\u2019t able to today. Overall, wasn\u2019t very sharp.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"uiTextSmall f aic jcc\">Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n<p>Lambert needed 70 pitches to get his first nine outs. Relievers stretched and milled around in the Astros bullpen during the early innings, but none actually began to throw until the fifth. Houston had Tatsuya Imai available for long relief, Espada said pregame. But at no point in a game that remained close until the end did Imai warm up, even as Lambert labored.<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"Houston Astros' Christian Walker (8) walks with trainers after getting hit by a pitch during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo\/Gregory Bull)\" loading=\"eager\"   style=\"aspect-ratio:3 \/ 2\" class=\"x100 y100 opc bgpc ofcv bgscv block bg-black mnh0px fill\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Houston Astros&#8217; Christian Walker (8) walks with trainers after getting hit by a pitch during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo\/Gregory Bull)<\/p>\n<p>Gregory Bull\/Associated Press<img alt=\"Houston Astros' Taylor Trammell celebrates after hitting a home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo\/Gregory Bull)\" loading=\"lazy\"   style=\"aspect-ratio:3 \/ 2\" class=\"x100 y100 opc bgpc ofcv bgscv block bg-black mnh0px fill\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Houston Astros&#8217; Taylor Trammell celebrates after hitting a home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo\/Gregory Bull)<\/p>\n<p>Gregory Bull\/Associated Press<img alt=\"Houston Astros' Taylor Trammell celebrates after hitting a home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo\/Gregory Bull)\" loading=\"lazy\"   style=\"aspect-ratio:3 \/ 2\" class=\"x100 y100 opc bgpc ofcv bgscv block bg-black mnh0px fill\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Houston Astros&#8217; Taylor Trammell celebrates after hitting a home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo\/Gregory Bull)<\/p>\n<p>Gregory Bull\/Associated Press<img alt=\"Houston Astros' Taylor Trammell celebrates after hitting a home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo\/Gregory Bull)\" loading=\"lazy\"   style=\"aspect-ratio:3 \/ 2\" class=\"x100 y100 opc bgpc ofcv bgscv block bg-black mnh0px fill\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Houston Astros&#8217; Taylor Trammell celebrates after hitting a home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo\/Gregory Bull)<\/p>\n<p>Gregory Bull\/Associated Press<img alt=\"Houston Astros' Taylor Trammell, left, celebrates with team members after hitting a home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo\/Gregory Bull)\" loading=\"lazy\"   style=\"aspect-ratio:3 \/ 2\" class=\"x100 y100 opc bgpc ofcv bgscv block bg-black mnh0px fill\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Houston Astros&#8217; Taylor Trammell, left, celebrates with team members after hitting a home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo\/Gregory Bull)<\/p>\n<p>Gregory Bull\/Associated Press<img alt=\"San Diego Padres' Jackson Merrill, right, celebrates with third base coach Bob Henley after hitting a home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo\/Gregory Bull)\" loading=\"lazy\"   style=\"aspect-ratio:3 \/ 2\" class=\"x100 y100 opc bgpc ofcv bgscv block bg-black mnh0px fill\"\/><\/p>\n<p>San Diego Padres&#8217; Jackson Merrill, right, celebrates with third base coach Bob Henley after hitting a home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo\/Gregory Bull)<\/p>\n<p>Gregory Bull\/Associated Press<img alt=\"San Diego Padres' Jackson Merrill celebrates after hitting a home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo\/Gregory Bull)\" loading=\"lazy\"   style=\"aspect-ratio:3 \/ 2\" class=\"x100 y100 opc bgpc ofcv bgscv block bg-black mnh0px fill\"\/><\/p>\n<p>San Diego Padres&#8217; Jackson Merrill celebrates after hitting a home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo\/Gregory Bull)<\/p>\n<p>Gregory Bull\/Associated Press<img alt=\"San Diego Padres pitcher Mason Miller adjusts his hat after hitting Houston Astros' Christian Walker, left, with a pitch during the ninth inning of a baseball game Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo\/Gregory Bull)\" loading=\"lazy\"   style=\"aspect-ratio:3 \/ 2\" class=\"x100 y100 opc bgpc ofcv bgscv block bg-black mnh0px fill\"\/><\/p>\n<p>San Diego Padres pitcher Mason Miller adjusts his hat after hitting Houston Astros&#8217; Christian Walker, left, with a pitch during the ninth inning of a baseball game Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo\/Gregory Bull)<\/p>\n<p>Gregory Bull\/Associated Press<img alt=\"Houston Astros starting pitcher Peter Lambert works against a San Diego Padres batter during the second inning of a baseball game Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo\/Gregory Bull)\" loading=\"lazy\"   style=\"aspect-ratio:3 \/ 2\" class=\"x100 y100 opc bgpc ofcv bgscv block bg-black mnh0px fill\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Houston Astros starting pitcher Peter Lambert works against a San Diego Padres batter during the second inning of a baseball game Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo\/Gregory Bull)<\/p>\n<p>Gregory Bull\/Associated Press<img alt=\"Houston Astros starting pitcher Peter Lambert works against a San Diego Padres batter during the second inning of a baseball game Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo\/Gregory Bull)\" loading=\"lazy\"   style=\"aspect-ratio:3 \/ 2\" class=\"x100 y100 opc bgpc ofcv bgscv block bg-black mnh0px fill\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Houston Astros starting pitcher Peter Lambert works against a San Diego Padres batter during the second inning of a baseball game Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo\/Gregory Bull)<\/p>\n<p>Gregory Bull\/Associated Press<img alt=\"Houston Astros starting pitcher Peter Lambert works against a San Diego Padres batter during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo\/Gregory Bull)\" loading=\"lazy\"   style=\"aspect-ratio:3 \/ 2\" class=\"x100 y100 opc bgpc ofcv bgscv block bg-black mnh0px fill\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Houston Astros starting pitcher Peter Lambert works against a San Diego Padres batter during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo\/Gregory Bull)<\/p>\n<p>Gregory Bull\/Associated Press<img alt=\"Houston Astros starting pitcher Peter Lambert works against a San Diego Padres batter during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo\/Gregory Bull)\" loading=\"lazy\"   style=\"aspect-ratio:3 \/ 2\" class=\"x100 y100 opc bgpc ofcv bgscv block bg-black mnh0px fill\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Houston Astros starting pitcher Peter Lambert works against a San Diego Padres batter during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo\/Gregory Bull)<\/p>\n<p>Gregory Bull\/Associated Press<\/p>\n<p>That perhaps spoke to both the leash Lambert has earned through his performance this season and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.houstonchronicle.com\/sports\/astros\/article\/houston-rotation-after-trade-deadline-22379638.php\" data-link=\"native\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"\">the unsettled nature of the Astros\u2019 rotation<\/a> right now. Imai\u2019s presence in the bullpen reflects the latter, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.houstonchronicle.com\/sports\/astros\/article\/tatsuya-imai-reliever-bullpen-blue-jays-22371436.php\" data-link=\"native\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"\">he has pitched in relief just once<\/a> since the inconsistency of his first MLB season <a href=\"https:\/\/www.houstonchronicle.com\/sports\/astros\/article\/tatsuya-imai-bullpen-22369439.php\" data-link=\"native\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"\">prompted the move<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Cristian Javier, who threw a quality start in his last outing but has made just two starts since a shoulder strain, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.houstonchronicle.com\/sports\/astros\/article\/cristian-javier-start-padres-finale-22380362.php\" data-link=\"native\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"\">will pitch Sunday<\/a>.\u00a0Ronel Blanco, who has exited in the fifth inning of three of four starts since returning from elbow surgery, would be on turn to pitch again Wednesday unless Houston shuffles its rotation for the upcoming series in San Francisco.<\/p>\n<p>Such question marks enhance the importance of the Astros getting length from Brown and Lambert, as well as the balance they must strike to ensure the latter remain effective down the stretch. Espada did have reliever Enyel De Los Santos begin to warm as Lambert started his fifth inning. Lambert delayed De Los Santos\u2019 entry until the sixth by finishing his outing with a clean frame.<\/p>\n<p class=\"uiTextSmall f aic jcc\">Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n<p>A two-run deficit for Houston at that point might have been one. With a runner on third and two out in the fourth inning, Lambert induced a slow chopper from Fernando Tatis Jr. that shortstop Jeremy Pe\u00f1a charged but could not field cleanly, producing an unearned run. Espada said he thought \u201cthat ball just stayed down on Jeremy\u201d on a play the shortstop \u201cmakes nine out of 10 times.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI wouldn\u2019t say it stayed down on me,\u201d Pe\u00f1a said. \u201cI would say my thought process was do-or-die. Tatis hit the ball, he was already running when he hit it, so you\u2019ve got to go charge it. Then it\u2019s two options, you either put your glove through the ball or kind of play it back, and I played it back and I should have played it through. But it\u2019s stuff that happens and you learn from it and you go keep playing the game.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Catcher Christian V\u00e1zquez threw Tatis out stealing at second to curtail the inning. After Lambert\u2019s five innings, De Los Santos and Bryan King combined for three scoreless innings, preserving the rest of the Astros\u2019 bullpen ahead of Sunday\u2019s series finale. Espada credited Lambert with \u201cgrinding through it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"uiTextSmall f aic jcc\">Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe kept us in the game,\u201d Espada said, \u201cgave us a chance to win.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Peter Lambert&#8217;s durability matters even more as questions surround the rest of the rotation after the Astros did&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":401669,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[56,58,57],"class_list":["post-401668","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-houston","tag-houston","tag-houston-headlines","tag-houston-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/401668","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=401668"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/401668\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/401669"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=401668"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=401668"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=401668"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}