In a tightly contested matchup between the Houston Astros and Pittsburgh Pirates, Astros manager Joe Espada opted for Shawn Dubin as his seventh-inning reliever instead of the usual Bryan King. Dubin, who has showcased impressive statistics this season, entered with a solid 0.77 ERA over ten appearances. He effectively neutralized the Pirates' right-handed hitters, contributing to a 3-0 victory for the Astros.

Espada recognized Dubin's potential for higher-leverage situations, noting his ability to handle both righties and lefties effectively. This performance comes after Dubin's earlier setbacks from injuries, making his current form a welcome return to the mound. His strategic use of pitches, particularly the slider, indicates his growth as a reliever, which could benefit fantasy leagues as he gains more trust from the coaching staff.

The Houston Astros are welcoming back reliever Shawn Dubin, who has been activated from the injured list to bolster their bullpen for a crucial matchup against the Reds. This comes after Logan VanWey was optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land following a challenging outing where he gave up six earned runs in just 8⅔ innings over the season. Dubin's return is significant as he brings a fresh arm to a bullpen that was heavily utilized in a recent loss against Cincinnati, covering nearly nine innings after starter Lance McCullers Jr. left in the first inning.

Dubin's road back has been rocky, starting with a shoulder injury that sidelined him during spring training, and an ankle issue briefly sidetracked his recovery. However, he showed promise with a perfect minor-league stint, not allowing a run over four innings in his rehab appearances. Over the last two seasons, Dubin has posted a 4.64 ERA across 34 games, and Manager Joe Espada indicated he could be relied upon for 25-30 pitches initially. The Astros are hoping Dubin can provide stability as they navigate a tight pennant race.

Yordan Alvarez is showing signs of improvement from his right hand muscle strain, although he has yet to swing a bat, according to Astros manager Joe Espada. Placed on the 10-day injured list on May 3, Alvarez's recovery includes rest and treatment, with hopes of resuming bat work soon. He has struggled this season with a .210 batting average and three home runs over 29 games, leading to concerns about his performance potential going forward.

Additional injury updates include Forrest Whitley, who may begin a minor-league rehab stint soon, and Cristian Javier, progressing well after Tommy John surgery. Reliever Shawn Dubin is also recovering nicely from shoulder inflammation.