Diaz really needed a game like this. Hit-less in seven of his nine games this season, he teed off on the Angels bullpen in this one. His fifth inning grand slam broke the game open and his sixth inning double was tattooed as well. Hopefully he can build on this because he’s had one of the worst starts for any hitter in the league and he still has a lowly .432 OPS even after this huge performance. In the end, the Astros pulverized the Angels and reminded them who the top dogs still are in the AL West.

Diaz will get a night off; one of several regulars who are not in the lineup. Victor Caratini will be the catcher for Spencer Arrighetti while Diaz rests. Brendan Rodgers, Cam Smith and Jake Myers also will get a rest and will be replaced in the lineup by Chas McCormick, Mauricio Dubon and Zach Dezenzo.

Diaz missed the previous couple of days with an illness. The home run was his second of the spring.

Diaz has not appeared in a game over the last two days, but it appears he is simply sick, not injured. That’s good news with so many catches going down with injuries early in spring training.