Deadspin | Astros place SS Jeremy Pena, RHP Tatsuya Imai on IL Sep 20, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena (3) reacts after a play during the sixth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images The Houston Astros placed shortstop Jeremy Pena and right-hander Tatsuya Imai on the injured list Monday. Right-hander Jayden Murray was optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land, while right-hander J.P France, left-hander Colton Gordon and infielder Shay Whitcomb all were recalled from Triple-A. Pena, 28, sustained a Grade 1 hamstring strain in Saturday’s 8-7 road loss to the Seattle Mariners. He is batting .256 with four doubles in 10 games this season and is a career .271 hitter with 64 home runs and 247 RBIs in 578 career games in Houston since 2022. Imai, 27, is dealing with right arm fatigue. He’s 1-0 with a 7.27 ERA in three starts for Houston after arriving from Japan this past offseason on a three-year, $54 million deal. France, 31, had just been optioned to Sugar Land, and returns after allowing four runs on three hits and four walks in his season debut Friday against the Mariners. He is 12-9 with a 4.49 ERA in 32 appearances (28 starts) with Houston since 2023. Gordon, 27, made 20 appearances (14 starts) for the Astros last season, going 6-4 with a 5.34 ERA. Whitcomb, 27, is batting .173 with one home run and six RBIs in 42 games with Houston over the past three seasons. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Astros #place #Jeremy #Pena #RHP #Tatsuya #Imai

World number two Carlos Alcaraz eased to a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Finnish qualifier Otto Virtanen on Tuesday to begin his push for a third Barcelona Open title.

The Spaniard, who lost the Monte Carlo Masters final to new number one Jannik Sinner on Sunday, can reclaim top spot if he triumphs this week in Barcelona, as he did in 2022 and 2023.

Alcaraz, who finished as runner-up last year in Catalonia, started the first round clash slowly but found his rhythm in a dominant second set.

“I didn’t have much time to adjust in terms of training — this morning was the first practice session I’d done here in Barcelona, which makes it a bit hard to find good sensations at the start,” said Alcaraz afterwards.

“I’m happy to have come through the problems I had in the first set.

“Little by little I started feeling maybe a bit better, and I’m happy to win the match in straight sets and give myself another chance to try to feel a bit better in the next round.”

Alcaraz received some treatment from the physio on his forearm but said he hoped it was “nothing” and without time to rest between tournaments that it was normal to have “little niggles”.

World number 130 Virtanen started strongly in front of a full crowd at the court named after Spanish great Rafael Nadal, pushing hard on Alcaraz’s serve, while holding his own relatively comfortably.

However, Alcaraz broke in the 10th and final game of the first set to take the lead.

In the second set, the players exchanged breaks before Alcaraz broke to love and consolidated for a 4-1 lead.

Alcaraz opened up a triple match point on Virtanen’s serve and hit a cross-court winner to capitalise on the first of those.

The seven-time Grand Slam winner will face Czech Tomas Machac in the second round.

Earlier on, second seed Lorenzo Musetti defeated Martin Landaluce 7-5, 6-2 for his first win since the Australian Open.

Australian Alex de Minaur overcame Sebastian Ofner 7-6 (9/7), 6-4, while Karen Khachanov suffered a surprise 6-3, 6-4 defeat by Camilo Ugo Carabelli.

Published on Apr 14, 2026

#Barcelona #Open #Alcaraz #beats #Virtanen">

Barcelona Open 2026: Alcaraz beats Virtanen in first round World number two Carlos Alcaraz eased to a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Finnish qualifier Otto Virtanen on Tuesday to begin his push for a third Barcelona Open title.The Spaniard, who lost the Monte Carlo Masters final to new number one Jannik Sinner on Sunday, can reclaim top spot if he triumphs this week in Barcelona, as he did in 2022 and 2023.Alcaraz, who finished as runner-up last year in Catalonia, started the first round clash slowly but found his rhythm in a dominant second set.“I didn’t have much time to adjust in terms of training — this morning was the first practice session I’d done here in Barcelona, which makes it a bit hard to find good sensations at the start,” said Alcaraz afterwards.“I’m happy to have come through the problems I had in the first set.“Little by little I started feeling maybe a bit better, and I’m happy to win the match in straight sets and give myself another chance to try to feel a bit better in the next round.”Alcaraz received some treatment from the physio on his forearm but said he hoped it was “nothing” and without time to rest between tournaments that it was normal to have “little niggles”.World number 130 Virtanen started strongly in front of a full crowd at the court named after Spanish great Rafael Nadal, pushing hard on Alcaraz’s serve, while holding his own relatively comfortably.However, Alcaraz broke in the 10th and final game of the first set to take the lead.In the second set, the players exchanged breaks before Alcaraz broke to love and consolidated for a 4-1 lead.Alcaraz opened up a triple match point on Virtanen’s serve and hit a cross-court winner to capitalise on the first of those.The seven-time Grand Slam winner will face Czech Tomas Machac in the second round.Earlier on, second seed Lorenzo Musetti defeated Martin Landaluce 7-5, 6-2 for his first win since the Australian Open.Australian Alex de Minaur overcame Sebastian Ofner 7-6 (9/7), 6-4, while Karen Khachanov suffered a surprise 6-3, 6-4 defeat by Camilo Ugo Carabelli.Published on Apr 14, 2026 #Barcelona #Open #Alcaraz #beats #Virtanen

mwasimuddin125 0

World number two Carlos Alcaraz eased to a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Finnish qualifier Otto Virtanen on Tuesday to begin his push for a third Barcelona Open title.
The Spaniard, who lost the Monte Carlo Masters final to new number one Jannik Sinner on Sunday, can reclaim top spot if he triumphs this week in Barcelona, as he did in 2022 and 2023.
Alcaraz, who finished as runner-up last year in Catalonia, started the first round clash slowly but found his rhythm in a dominant second set.
“I didn’t have much time to adjust in terms of training — this morning was the first practice session I’d done here in Barcelona, which makes it a bit hard to find good sensations at the start,” said Alcaraz afterwards.
“I’m happy to have come through the problems I had in the first set.
“Little by little I started feeling maybe a bit better, and I’m happy to win the match in straight sets and give myself another chance to try to feel a bit better in the next round.”
Alcaraz received some treatment from the physio on his forearm but said he hoped it was “nothing” and without time to rest between tournaments that it was normal to have “little niggles”.
World number 130 Virtanen started strongly in front of a full crowd at the court named after Spanish great Rafael Nadal, pushing hard on Alcaraz’s serve, while holding his own relatively comfortably.
However, Alcaraz broke in the 10th and final game of the first set to take the lead.
In the second set, the players exchanged breaks before Alcaraz broke to love and consolidated for a 4-1 lead.
Alcaraz opened up a triple match point on Virtanen’s serve and hit a cross-court winner to capitalise on the first of those.
The seven-time Grand Slam winner will face Czech Tomas Machac in the second round.
Earlier on, second seed Lorenzo Musetti defeated Martin Landaluce 7-5, 6-2 for his first win since the Australian Open.
Australian Alex de Minaur overcame Sebastian Ofner 7-6 (9/7), 6-4, while Karen Khachanov suffered a surprise 6-3, 6-4 defeat by Camilo Ugo Carabelli.
Published on Apr 14, 2026

#Barcelona #Open #Alcaraz #beats #Virtanen">Barcelona Open 2026: Alcaraz beats Virtanen in first round