Astros remove catcher Max Stassi from 40-man roster

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JUPITER, Fla. - The Astros cleared a spot on their 40-man roster Tuesday by outrighting Max Stassi to Class AAA Fresno.

Stassi, who was out of minor league options, cleared waivers on Tuesday, which means he was placed on waivers on Sunday. He was reassigned to minor league spring training, leaving the Astros with 39 players in major league camp.

The Astros now have two open spots on their 40-man roster. Brian McCann and Evan Gattis are their only catchers on the 40-man, but the team could select the contract of non-roster spring training invitee Juan Centeno or Stassi in the event of an injury.

Stassi batted .150 (3 for 20) in Grapefruit League action. The 26-year-old has garnered only 55 major league at-bats over the last four years.

Odds & ends

- The Astros beat the Marlins, 2-1, on Tuesday behind solo home runs from first baseman Yuli Gurriel and outfield prospect Derek Fisher. For both, it was their first homer of the spring.

- Jose Altuve went 1 for 4 with a double, his first hit since returning to the team from the WBC on Monday.

Houston Astros catcher Max Stassi walks back to the clubhouse after workouts during spring training at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches, in West Palm Beach, Florida, Wednesday, February 22, 2017. Houston Astros catcher Max Stassi walks back to the clubhouse after workouts during spring training at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches, in West Palm Beach, Florida, Wednesday, February 22, 2017. Photo: Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle Photo: Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 12 Caption Close Astros remove catcher Max Stassi from 40-man roster 1 / 12 Back to Gallery

- Tony Sipp stayed back in West Palm Beach to pitch in a minor league game. Slated for two innings and 30 to 35 pitches, he needed around 38 pitches to complete 1 1/3 innings. In offering his report of Sipp's outing after the Astros' game in Jupiter, manager A.J. Hinch said he wasn't sure of the particular results aside from the pitch and innings count. Hinch estimated Sipp will get three more outings before the end of spring training.

- James Hoyt and Michael Feliz each pitched Tuesday and are also scheduled to pitch Wednesday, the first time this spring the Astros are asking their relievers to pitch on back-to-back days as they ready for the grind of the regular season.