WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Astros left-handed reliever Bennett Sousa will begin the season on the injured list after straining his left oblique in last Thursday's Grapefruit League outing against the Nationals.

Sousa was sent back to Houston for further tests, but manager Joe Espada said Thursday he would “be down for a while.”

Sousa was set to be a key member of Houston’s bullpen this year. He appeared in 44 games in 2025 and posted a 2.84 ERA, holding left-handers to a .145 average and a .433 OPS. He was placed on the IL on Aug. 22 with left elbow inflammation and finished the season there.

https://www.mlb.com/astros/news/bennett-sousa-oblique-to-open-2026-season-on-injured-list