Astros’ Rotation in Turmoil
In an interview on SportsTalk790 radio, the Houston Astros general manager Dana Brown provided some hope for fans regarding the return of two key pitchers. He mentioned that right-handers Hunter Brown and Cristian Javier are expected to make their way back to the rotation by late May or early June. While this timeline is still subject to change, Brown expressed optimism that they might return a bit earlier than anticipated.
The Astros have faced a challenging start to the season due to a significant number of injuries. Currently, 14 players are on the injured list, with 10 of them being pitchers. This has left the team’s rotation in a precarious position, as it now relies on Mike Burrows, Lance McCullers Jr., Spencer Arrighetti, and Peter Lambert, who was recently called up from the minors.
The Impact of Injuries
Both Hunter Brown and Cristian Javier were sidelined due to Grade 2 shoulder strains. Brown had an impressive 0.84 ERA in his first two starts before being placed on the 15-day IL on April 2. Javier followed suit a week later after struggling with a 12.54 ERA over his first three starts and 9 1/3 innings. At the time of their injuries, no specific recovery timelines were given, and neither pitcher has resumed throwing, which makes Brown’s projected timeline quite broad.
If there are no setbacks, both pitchers will go through the standard process of returning to form. This includes playing catch, bullpen sessions, live batting practice, and likely several minor league rehab games due to the length of their IL stints. Even if everything goes smoothly, their return would mean the Astros will be without their starting pitchers for at least another month.
Struggles on the Field
The impact of these injuries has been evident on the field. The Astros are currently 8-15 after a recent extra-innings loss to St. Louis. They are in the middle of a grueling stretch of 13 games in 13 days, but there may be some relief for the pitching staff with off-days on April 23 and 27.
Looking Ahead
With the current state of the team, it’s clear that the Astros will need to rely on their depth and flexibility in the coming weeks. Fans are hoping for a quick return of their star pitchers to help stabilize the rotation and improve their chances of making a playoff run.
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