DETROIT, MICHIGAN - JUNE 25: Joey Loperfido #10 of the Houston Astros catches a fly ball off the bat of Kerry Carpenter of the Detroit Tigers in the bottom of the sixth inning at Comerica Park on June 25, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images) Getty
DETROIT, MI - JUNE 28: Joey Loperfido #10 of the Houston Astros strikes out against the Detroit Tigers during the second inning at Comerica Park on June 28, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) Getty
TORONTO, CANADA - JUNE 23: Joey Loperfido #10 of the Houston Astros hits a go-ahead, three-run home run in the 11th inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre on June 23, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Tara Walton/Getty Images) Getty
HOUSTON, TEXAS - APRIL 14: Joey Loperfido #10 of the Houston Astros runs into the dugout against the Colorado Rockies during the seventh inning at Daikin Park on April 14, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) Getty
HOUSTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 15: Yordan Alvarez #21 of the Houston Astros celebrates his two-run home run with Jeremy Pena #21 in the fifth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Daikin Park on September 15, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) Getty
The Houston Astros are in the middle of a three-game series against the Kansas City Royals at Daikin Park in Houston.
The Astros won the first game of the series 4-2 on Tuesday. The Royals won the second game 5-2 on Wednesday.
The finale is scheduled to begin at 6:15 p.m. CDT on Thursday. Ahead of Thursday's game, the Astros demoted a three-year MLB player.
GettyDETROIT, MICHIGAN – JUNE 25: Joey Loperfido #10 of the Houston Astros catches a fly ball off the bat of Kerry Carpenter of the Detroit Tigers in the bottom of the sixth inning at Comerica Park on June 25, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
The Astros optioned outfielder Joey Loperfido to Triple-A Sugar Land and reinstated outfielder Taylor Trammell , according to The Athletic's Chander Rome .
The Astros recalled Loperfido from Triple-A on Tuesday. In 40 games with Houston this season, Loperfido has slashed .214/.311/.330.
GettyDETROIT, MI – JUNE 28: Joey Loperfido #10 of the Houston Astros strikes out against the Detroit Tigers during the second inning at Comerica Park on June 28, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
The Houston Astros selected Loperfido in the seventh round of the 2021 MLB Draft out of Duke.
He made his MLB debut with Houston in 2024.
GettyTORONTO, CANADA – JUNE 23: Joey Loperfido #10 of the Houston Astros hits a go-ahead, three-run home run in the 11th inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre on June 23, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Tara Walton/Getty Images)
The Astros traded Loperfido, right-hander Jake Bloss and second baseman Will Wagner to the Toronto Blue Jays for left-hander Yusei Kikuchi on July 29, 2024.
On Feb. 13, the Astros brought Loperfido back acquiring him from the Blue Jays for outfielder Jesús Sánchez .
GettyHOUSTON, TEXAS – APRIL 14: Joey Loperfido #10 of the Houston Astros runs into the dugout against the Colorado Rockies during the seventh inning at Daikin Park on April 14, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
Loperfido has appeared in 162 games between the Astros and Blue Jays throughout his three-year MLB career.
The outfielder has posted 1.1 bWAR and a .240/.300/.378 slash line with nine home runs and 51 RBI since reaching the majors in 2024.
GettyHOUSTON, TEXAS – SEPTEMBER 15: Yordan Alvarez #21 of the Houston Astros celebrates his two-run home run with Jeremy Pena #21 in the fifth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Daikin Park on September 15, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
The Astros have scuffled lately, losing seven of their last 10 games.
Because of their recent struggles, the Astros no longer have a lead for first place in the American League West. Both the Texas Rangers and Astros sit atop the division with 76-76 records.
Luckily for Houston, the club holds the tiebreaker over Texas , meaning the Astros are still in first place in the AL West.
After wrapping up their series against the Royals on Thursday, the Astros will begin a three-game series against the Atlanta Braves at Daikin Park on Friday. Houston will finish the season with a two-game series against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park followed by a four-game set against the Athletics at Sutter Health Park.
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