Houston Astros starting pitcher Ronel Blanco had a memorable first start of 2024 in Monday's 10-0 win over the Blue Jays. The 30-year-old tossed a no-hitter, allowing two walks and seven strikeouts on 105 pitches. Blanco likely would not have been in the starting rotation if not for several injuries but made the most of his opportunity by completing the 17th no-hitter in franchise history. He is currently rostered in just 10 percent of leagues, so he is widely available. However, his next start will be a tough matchup at the Rangers, so fantasy managers may want to wait to start him even if they do pick him up.

Houston Astros manager Joe Espada said he told right-hander Ronel Blanco in the dugout after his outing on Tuesday against Triple-A Sugar Land that he has won a starting rotation spot to open the regular season. Blanco's performance on Tuesday (10 strikeouts over 4 2/3 innings) convinced Espada apparently. The 30-year-old Dominican hurler will grab the team's final rotation spot with both Justin Verlander (shoulder) and Jose Urquidy (forearm) starting the year on the injured list. Blanco will have at least several turns through the rotation to prove himself after going 2-1 with a 4.50 ERA (5.99 FIP) and 1.48 WHIP with 28 walks and 52 strikeouts in 52 innings over 17 appearances (seven starts) for Houston a year ago. He had a 4.74 ERA and 1.37 WHIP as a starter and will only be worth a flier in AL-only fantasy leagues.

Houston Astros pitcher Ronel Blanco capped off a great spring in Tuesday's 7-3 exhibition game win over Triple-A Sugarland. Blanco pitched 4 1/3 innings, allowing one run on two hits (including a solo home run) and two walks with 10 strikeouts. While it may not have been against big-league competition, it was another strong outing for the 30-year-old, who pitched 15 2/3 scoreless Cactus League innings this spring with 18 strikeouts. He had some fantasy streaming appeal last season and could start this season in the rotation for the Astros given his performance and injuries on the team. He will need to prove he can deliver consistently, but Blanco could be worth a look in favorable matchups if he can carry his strong spring into the regular season.

Houston Astros right-hander Ronel Blanco will start the team's Cactus League Opener on Feb. 24 versus the Washington Nationals, according to manager Joe Espada. Espada didn't reveal much about the rest of his plans for the spring opener but did mention Dylan Coleman will be one of the scheduled relievers to appear in the contest. Blanco made seven starts and 10 relief outings for the Astros in 2023 and worked to a 4.50 ERA across 52 innings of work. He also tossed a 3.68 across 13 starts and two relief outings at Triple-A Sugar Land. The 30-year-old was recently mentioned as a potential rotation candidate to begin the 2024 season with fellow right-handers Lance McCullers Jr. and Luis Garcia out until the second half of the campaign while future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander is behind in camp due to a shoulder issue.

If Houston Astros right-handers Justin Verlander (shoulder) and J.P. France (shoulder) aren't ready for the start of the 2024 regular season, it's possible that right-handers Ronel Blanco and Brandon Bielak could be starting rotation options to begin the year. It's worth noting that Bielak is out of minor-league options. Blanco, 30, has appeared in 24 games (seven starts) for Houston the last two years and has gone 2-1 with a 4.78 ERA and 1.53 WHIP with 32 walks and 59 strikeouts in 58 1/3 innings. Bielak, 27, probably the more likely option of the two, had 15 outings (13 starts) last year in Houston and had a 3.83 ERA and 1.52 WHIP with 36 walks and a career-high 62 K's in 80 innings. He filled in admirably for the team's injury-ravaged rotation in 2023 until struggling later in the year and being demoted to the minors.

Houston Astros pitcher Ronel Blanco has been added to the ALCS roster. The 30-year-old was not on the ALDS roster but he replaced outfielder Jake Meyers for the Championship Series. Blanco finished the regular season with a 4.50 ERA, 1.481 WHIP, and 52:28 K/BB ratio over 52 innings (17 appearances, seven starts). With Kendall Graveman (shoulder) set to miss the ALCS, Blanco should work out of the bullpen for Houston.

Houston Astros right-hander Ronel Blanco allowed five runs on seven hits over 5 2/3 innings in a 9-7 loss to the Cincinnati Reds in 10 innings on Sunday. Blanco struck out five and walked two but struggled with the long ball, serving up two in the no-decision. The 29-year-old right-hander wasn't particularly sharp in the outing, although he did manage to rack up 16 swinging strikes across 94 pitches. Blanco now has a 1-0 record, 4.66 ERA, 1.69 WHIP, and 31 strikeouts across 29 innings of work in 2023. His next start is scheduled to come against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday.

The Houston Astros recalled right-hander Ronel Blanco from Triple-A Sugar Land on Thursday and optioned left-hander Parker Mushinski to the minors in a corresponding move. Blanco will start the series opener on Thursday at home against the Los Angeles Angels, pushing left-hander Framber Valdez's next start to Friday. This will be Blanco's first big-league start, although he's made 16 relief appearances for Houston in the last two years, including nine this year. The 29-year-old has allowed nine runs (six earned) on 16 hits while walking seven and striking out 16 in his 12 relief innings this year. Blanco has made only two starts at Sugar Land this year, so he figures to be on a short leash on Thursday and shouldn't be considered a viable fantasy streamer.