Isaac Paredes

Paredes opened the Astros' two-run rally in the ninth with a single. He's been off to a tough start, and he remain without a homer on the season. He upped his average from .148 to .242 today, though.

This could turn into a really frustrating situation for fantasy leaguers. Twins manager Rocco Baldelli definitely showed more confidence in Jax than in Duran at the end of last year, but it was assumed Duran would remain the primary guy to start 2025. However, it's been really tough to tell with the Twins not having any save chances previously. Jax was reserved for the top of the Astros order today after Duran easily dispatched the eight, nine and one hitters in the eighth. Jax then entered with a two-run lead and gave up a single to Isaac Paredes, a game-tying homer to Yordan Alvarez and a double to Christian Walker, only to strike out the next three batters and preserve the tie. We'd have plenty of faith in Jax as a closer, but we have plenty of faith in Duran, too. There's little to be gained from mixing and matching a pair of right-handers, so Baldelli really ought to just stick with one for the most part.

Walker didn't show any ill effects of the back tightness that sidelined him over the weekend, needing just 13 pitches (nine strikes) to retire Isaac Paredes, Yordan Alvarez and Christian Walker in succession. The 29-year-old right-hander has now converted each of his first two save chances while compiling a 3.00 ERA, 0.67 WHIP and 2/1 K/BB ratio across his first three innings.

He also drew a walk. It's the first two RBI of the season for Paredes, and his first runs driven in wearing a Houston uniform. The 26-year-old is hitting a less-than-ideal -- but far from panic-inducing -- .167/.375/.250 over the first three games of 2025.

In a 1-1 game, the Mets let Canning pitch to the top of the order for a third time in the sixth. They almost got away with it, too, but Yordan Alvarez doubled in Isaac Paredes with two outs. Canning definitely looks considerably better than he did last season, but he's still not a guy who is likely to retire Yordan Alvarez three times in a row (in fact, Alvarez was 7-for-13 with two homers and three walks against him during his Angels days). Canning's next start will come next weekend against the Blue Jays.