HOUSTON -- With seven starting pitchers on the injured list and in the midst of playing 13 consecutive games without a day off, the Astros’ starting pitching depth is being tested. Lance McCullers Jr. landing on the injured list on Tuesday with a blister was the latest blow to a rotation that has been decimated by injuries.
The Astros summoned Jason Alexander, a 32-year-old they claimed off waivers in in May, from Triple-A Sugar Land for a spot start Thursday night against the A’s, and it didn’t go well. Alexander, who beat the A’s on June 17 in West Sacramento by allowing three runs (two earned) in six innings, was rocked this time around for five runs and 11 hits in six innings in the Astros’ 5-2 loss at Daikin Park.
The Astros are 29-11 this year in games started by co-aces Hunter Brown and Framber Valdez, who have thrown 43.8% of the innings by Houston starters (247 of 564 1/3). The Astros are 31-32 in games started by anyone else, but help appears to be on the way.
HOUSTON -- With seven starting pitchers on the injured list and in the midst of playing 13 consecutive games without a day off, the Astros’ starting pitching depth is being tested. Lance McCullers Jr. landing on the injured list on Tuesday with a blister was the latest blow to a rotation that has been decimated by injuries.
The Astros summoned Jason Alexander, a 32-year-old they claimed off waivers in in May, from Triple-A Sugar Land for a spot start Thursday night against the A’s, and it didn’t go well. Alexander, who beat the A’s on June 17 in West Sacramento by allowing three runs (two earned) in six innings, was rocked this time around for five runs and 11 hits in six innings in the Astros’ 5-2 loss at Daikin Park.
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The Astros are 29-11 this year in games started by co-aces Hunter Brown and Framber Valdez, who have thrown 43.8% of the innings by Houston starters (247 of 564 1/3). The Astros are 31-32 in games started by anyone else, but help appears to be on the way.
Cristian Javier, a key member of the Astros’ rotation from 2022-23, made a rehab start Thursday night for Triple-A Sugar Land and allowed one run, two walks, three hits and struck out one batter in 2 2/3 innings at El Paso. He threw 30 of 49 pitches for strikes and averaged 93.6 mph with his fastball but generated only three whiffs from among 20 swings.
Three other injured Astros starters are scheduled to make rehab outings this weekend at Double-A Corpus Christi -- Spencer Arrighetti on Friday, Luis Garcia on Saturday and J.P. France on Sunday. Arrighetti is the first in line to be activated from among Houston starters on the IL, followed by Javier.
https://www.mlb.com/astros/news/cristian-javier-works-toward-return-to-astros-rotation