Astros' Ronel Blanco: Dropped from rotation, sent to Triple-A
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The Astros optioned Blanco to Triple-A Sugar Land on Sunday.
The 32-year-old right-hander has struggled to return to form since making his 2026 debut for the Astros in late July after completing his recovery from his June 2025 Tommy John surgery with an internal brace. After posting a 6.98 ERA and 1.34 WHIP through his first four starts with Houston, Blanco was shifted to a relief role and was promptly roughed up for five earned runs on seven hits and one walk in four innings in his first appearance out of the bullpen in Saturday's 10-5 loss to the Mariners. The Astros recalled right-hander Miguel Ullola from Triple-A to take Blanco's spot in the bullpen.
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Astros' Ronel Blanco: Available in relief Wednesday
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Astros manager Joe Espada said that Blanco will be available out of the bullpen for Wednesday's game against the Giants, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Blanco has struggled to the tune of a 6.98 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 17:11 K:BB over 19.1 innings while starting in his first four appearances since coming off the 60-day injured list July 20. The Astros will have reliever Bryan King open Wednesday's game and presumably cover an inning or two, but it's unclear if Espada intends to use Blanco or Tatsuya Imai in bulk relief, or if both pitchers will be called upon to eat innings. If Blanco ends up going unused Wednesday, he could step back into the rotation at some point during this weekend's series versus the Mariners.
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Astros' Ronel Blanco: Can't complete five innings
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Blanco allowed three runs on four hits and three walks while striking out one over 4.2 innings Friday against the Padres. He did not factor into the decision.
Blanco was handed a 3-0 lead by the third inning but couldn't make it through five frames. The right-hander allowed two runs, including an RBI triple to Jackson Merrill in the fourth, before Fernando Tatis took him deep in the fifth. Blanco was pulled after issuing a two-out walk later in the frame, leaving him one out shy of qualifying for the win. He's now failed to complete five innings in three of his four starts this season, and his ERA sits at an ugly 6.98 with a 17:11 K:BB in 19.1 total innings. Blanco is scheduled to make his next start on the road against the Giants.
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Astros' Ronel Blanco: Takes first loss Sunday
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Blanco (0-1) took the loss Sunday against the White Sox, allowing five runs on four hits and three walks while striking out four over 5.1 innings.
Blanco was hurt by the long ball Sunday as he threw 55 of his 85 pitches for strikes. After walking the leadoff hitter in the first inning, he surrendered a two-run homer to Munetaka Murakami. Miguel Vargas took him deep for another two-run shot in the sixth. Both of Blanco's starts since returning to Houston have featured multiple home runs allowed and three walks, though he has also piled up 12 strikeouts across 10 innings. The right-hander is scheduled to make his next start Saturday on the road against the Rangers.
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Astros' Ronel Blanco: Works 3.1 scoreless in rehab start
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Blanco (elbow) struck out two and allowed two hits and two walks over 3.1 scoreless innings Thursday in a rehab start for Double-A Corpus Christi.
On the comeback trail after undergoing Tommy John surgery with an internal brace last June, Blanco has delivered a pair of strong performances to begin his rehab assignment. After tossing three scoreless frames in his first start in the rookie-level Florida Complex League on June 19, Blanco jumped up a few levels for his second outing and again held the opposition scoreless while building up to 50 pitches (31 strikes). Blanco should be able to get in at least two more rehab starts before the All-Star break, after which the Astros will assess whether he's worthy of a spot in their crowded rotation. The right-hander has a minor-league option remaining, so once he's activated from the 60-day injured list, the Astros could send Blanco to Triple-A Sugar Land to stay stretched out as a starter if they don't have room for him in the big-league rotation.
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Astros' Ronel Blanco: Sharp in first rehab outing
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Blanco (elbow) struck out five over three scoreless frames in his first rehab start with the Astros' Florida Complex League affiliate Friday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
He gave up only one hit and one walk. There's no word on what Blanco's velocity was, but it was an encouraging first rehab outing from a box score perspective. Blanco is working his way back from last June's Tommy John surgery with an internal brace. He will need several more rehab starts, but Blanco is tracking toward rejoining the Astros' rotation around the All-Star break.
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Astros' Ronel Blanco: Nearing rehab assignment
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Blanco (elbow) tossed 40 pitches in a simulated game Saturday and will soon start a rehab assignment in the rookie-level Florida Complex League, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Blanco has been sidelined all season while continuing his recovery from last June's Tommy John surgery with an internal brace. The right-hander has been throwing bullpen sessions for a few months and progressed to facing live hitters in late May. Blanco now appears ready to return to game action in the FCL, though he isn't expected to be ready to pitch for the Astros until after the All-Star break.
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Astros' Ronel Blanco: Progresses to live batting practice
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Blanco (elbow) has progressed to throwing live batting practice this week, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Both Blanco and Hayden Wesneski (elbow) are throwing live BP at the Astros' spring training facility in West Palm Beach. Blanco is working his way back from June 2025 Tommy John surgery and could return to the Astros later this season if his rehab goes smoothly.
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Astros' Ronel Blanco: Throwing side sessions in Florida
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The Astros announced Monday that Blanco (elbow) is continuing to complete regular bullpen sessions as part of his throwing progression, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Still on the mend from June 2025 Tommy John surgery with an internal brace as well as a repair of the flexor tendon of his forearm, Blanco remains at the Astros' complex in Florida to conduct his rehab. He's been throwing off a mound for more than a month now, so Blanco could soon be ready to take the next step in his progression by facing hitters. Blanco is hopeful to return from the 60-day injured list at some point in 2026, though he likely won't be a candidate for activation until after the All-Star break.
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Astros' Ronel Blanco: Moved to 60-day IL
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The Astros transferred Blanco (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Friday.
The Astros made a flurry of roster moves Friday, and moving Blanco to the 60-day IL opened up a spot on the 40-man roster for J.P. France, per Chandler Rome of The Athletic. Blanco is recovering from Tommy John surgery that he underwent in June of 2025, so he won't be available for the Astros until the second half of the 2026 season.
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Astros' Ronel Blanco: Surgery scheduled for Friday
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Blanco (elbow) is scheduled to undergo Tommy John surgery Friday, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
It was announced last week that Blanco needed the operation to repair a torn UCL in his right elbow and now the surgery is officially on the calendar. He will be out at least until the second half of the 2026 season.
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Astros' Ronel Blanco: To have season-ending surgery
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Blanco (elbow) will undergo surgery next week and will be sidelined for the rest of the 2025 season, the Astros announced Wednesday.
Blanco reported soreness in his throwing elbow on May 19 and hit the injured list May 22 with elbow inflammation. Houston sought out a second opinion on the 31-year-old's injury, which yielded severe enough results to require season-ending surgery. It's unclear if he will have traditional Tommy John surgery or a hybrid internal brace procedure. Colton Gordon should fill Blanco's spot in the rotation until Luis Garcia (elbow) or Spencer Arrighetti (thumb) are reinstated from the IL, which isn't expected to happen until late June or July. Blanco finishes 2025 with a 3-4 record, a 4.10 ERA and 48:20 K:BB in 48.1 innings spanning nine starts.
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Astros' Ronel Blanco: Lands on IL, seeking second opinion
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The Astros placed Blanco on the 15-day injured list Thursday due to right elbow inflammation, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Blanco's first examination Wednesday revealed inflammation in his elbow, which was all the Astros needed to hear to put him on the shelf for at least the next 15 days. It's still unknown exactly how much time the 31-year-old will miss, but his upcoming meeting with a second doctor should help the team determine the next steps in Blanco's recovery.
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Astros' Ronel Blanco: Takes loss despite quality start
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Blanco (3-4) was charged with the loss Saturday, giving up three runs on five hits and three walks over six innings in a 5-1 loss against the Rangers. He struck out five.
The right-hander came out for the sixth inning with the game tied 1-1, but a Joc Pederson two-run homer put him on the hook for the loss. It's the third straight quality start for Blanco, and he hasn't allowed more than three earned runs in an outing since April 6. He has a 3.24 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 39:14 K:BB across 41.2 innings during that stretch.
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Astros' Ronel Blanco: Dominates in victory
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Blanco (3-3) allowed two hits and a walk over eight shutout innings Sunday, striking out 11 and earning a win over the Reds.
Blanco was nearly untouchable in his dominant outing Sunday. He retired the first nine batters he faced and did not allow a runner to reach third base. It was his first career double-digit strikeout performance and his longest start since throwing a no-hitter April 1, 2024. Blanco threw 65 of 101 pitches for strikes and generated 16 whiffs, including nine with the slider. He dropped his ERA to 4.04 with a 43:17 K:BB through 42.1 innings. Blanco is currently lined up for a road start against the Rangers next weekend.
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Astros' Ronel Blanco: Gets little support in defeat
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Blanco (2-3) took the loss against Milwaukee on Monday, allowing three runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out six batters over six innings.
Blanco pitched well enough to notch a quality start, but the Astros managed just one run against Brewers starter Tobias Myers and four relievers. Blanco impressed with 14 whiffs and threw 19 of 26 first pitches for strikes but was done in by a rough third inning during which he gave up all three of his runs, two of which came on a Christian Yelich homer. The right-hander has completed at least five innings and yielded three or fewer runs in each of his past five starts, and he's projected to face Cincinnati the next time he takes the mound.
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Astros' Ronel Blanco: Fans six in five frames
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Blanco allowed three runs on three hits and two walks while striking out six batters over five innings in a no-decision against Detroit on Monday.
All three runs Blanco allowed came via the long ball, as Kerry Carpenter hit a two-run shot against him in the third inning and Riley Greene added a solo homer in the fourth. Otherwise, Blanco was pretty solid, as he surrendered just one other hit and induced a healthy 19 swinging strikes. The right-hander has completed at least five frames and given up three or fewer runs in five of his six appearances this season, and his lone ugly outing was a four-run, 1.2-inning start against Minnesota on April 6.
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Astros' Ronel Blanco: Earns first win
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Blanco (1-1) allowed two runs on four hits and a walk while striking out seven over five innings to earn the win over the Angels on Friday.
The Astros' offense was a little quiet early on before erupting for a six-run fifth inning. Blanco had allowed a solo home run to Mike Trout in the fourth and an RBI single to Jo Adell in the fifth to account for the two runs on his line. This was Blanco's first win in three starts, and he threw of 52 of 84 pitches for strikes. He's struggled with walks at times this year -- he has a 16:7 K:BB over 11.2 innings while adding a 6.94 ERA and 1.63 WHIP. However, the Trout homer was the first long ball Blanco's given up, and he should be able to find a decent amount of success if he keeps the ball down. The right-hander's next start is projected to be on the road versus the Cardinals next week.
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Astros' Ronel Blanco: Struggles against Twins
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Blanco pitched 1.2 innings, giving up four runs on five hits and three walks while striking out three batters in Sunday's 9-7 extra-inning win over the Twins. He did not factor into the decision.
Blanco was in trouble early Sunday, surrendering three hits and a walk in the first inning, which resulted in three runs for Minnesota. He then walked two batters and gave up two singles while recording just two outs in the second frame. Blanco has now combined to allow seven runs on eight hits and six walks while striking out nine batters over 6.2 innings in two starts this season. His next turn in the rotation is tentatively set to come Saturday at home against the Angels.
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Astros' Ronel Blanco: Goes five in loss
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Blanco (0-1) took the loss Monday against the Giants, pitching five innings while allowing three runs on three hits and three walks. He struck out six.
Blanco was not sharp during the Grapefruit League, pitching to an 8.44 ERA and 2.25 WHIP across 10.2 innings, and carried that malaise into this performance. The Houston right-hander labored across his five frames, requiring 92 pitches, only 43.5 percent of which found the strike zone, to complete the task. Blanco will look to bounce back in his next start this weekend, currently scheduled to be at Minnesota.
