Cristian Javier had finally started to look like himself again, and that made the timing of this latest setback sting even more for Houston.
After spending most of the season looking nothing like the pitcher the Astros remember, Javier had begun to turn a corner in September. His command had sharpened, the velocity had settled down, and the edge in his delivery was back. For the first time in a while, he was giving Houston the version it desperately needed.
That’s what made his recent stretch so encouraging. In his first two September outings, he threw 11 innings, allowed two earned runs, gave up four hits and four walks, and struck out 13 while helping the Astros win both games. He followed that with another solid turn against Kansas City, holding the Royals to two earned runs in 5.1 innings even though Houston dropped that game after Enyel De Los Santos gave up three runs in the eighth.
Then came last night, and the sight of Miguel Ullola getting loose for the third inning told the story before the full diagnosis was even known.
Javier had already labored through two innings, needing 45 pitches while allowing one hit, two walks and two strikeouts. At the time, the early exit was unexpected. Later, it became clear he had groin tightness that worsened with each pitch.
The injury lands hard because Javier was heating up just as the Astros needed help most. It also hits a staff that has been stretched thin for weeks and is now absorbing yet another blow.
The bullpen, in particular, has been pushed to the edge. Bryan Abreu has given up a pair of crushing home runs that swung games.
AJ Blubaugh has suddenly had trouble even getting out of an inning. Enyel De Los Santos gave up multiple runs in three straight appearances before going on the injured list.
Steven Okert, Houston’s most reliable reliever aside from Josh Hader, landed on the IL in early September and is done for the year.
The slide has continued elsewhere too. Bryan King has an ERA above 13 since July 10.
Ronel Blanco has posted a 7.11 ERA since returning from Tommy John surgery. Tatsuya Imai has been pushed into extremely low-leverage work once every week to 10 days, and he has made only seven appearances since July 27.
The Astros have also brought up Logan VanWey to help in relief, though the club does not appear to have much trust in him.
Tonight, rookie Ethan Pecko is scheduled to start for Houston, and for the first time in his last three outings, he will not have an opener in front of him. Miguel Ullola had been serving in that role, but instead handled bulk innings last night.
Looking ahead to the postseason, Houston still has Hunter Brown, Hayden Wesneski and Peter Lambert lined up to start. But after those three, the picture is much less certain, and Pecko may be the next name forced into a bigger role.
The roster itself may still change as the Astros try to manage a rotation and bullpen that already include three unusable arms at the most important time of the year.
For a pitching staff already running on fumes, this is another body blow.
In Other News...
Astros Are Back In Control But One New Concern Looms
Yordan Alvarez kept the Astros from lingering in their three-game skid for long, launching his 41st home run and driving in three runs in a 7-0 win over the Mariners. Houston got the sort of response it needed after dropping three straight, and the victory pulled the club back into a first-place tie with the Rangers in the American League West.
Cristian Javier helped set the tone before leaving early because of right groin tightness, which gave the night a quieter edge despite the lopsided score. Houstons bullpen handled the rest and protected the shutout, but the bigger question now is what the club might be facing if Javiers early exit turns into something more than a brief scare. [Read more 🡒]
Astros Front Office Opening Comes With One Huge Concern
With the regular season winding down, the Astros remain one of three clubs still without a permanent head of baseball operations, a notable holdover for a franchise that has spent years operating with clear expectations and a championship standard. Houston moved on from James Click in November 2022 soon after winning the World Series, and since then Jeff Bagwell has been around the organization in a senior advisor role, keeping a familiar baseball voice close to the room.
The bigger question now is not just who fills the job, but how much power that person will actually have once they arrive. There is already speculation that Bagwells influence in the front office could shape the authority of the next general manager or president of baseball operations, which makes this vacancy feel a little different from a routine hiring cycle. For an Astros club trying to keep its edge, the structure of the next decision-maker may end up mattering just as much as the name on the door. [Read more 🡒]
Astros Just Cast New Doubt On Jorge Barrosas Roster Future
The Astros roster churn continued with another quiet but meaningful move, as the club outrighted outfielder Jorge Barrosa to Triple-A Sugar Land after he cleared waivers. Barrosa had been designated for assignment earlier, and the decision leaves him back in the organization but no longer on the 40-man roster, which is often a telling sign for a player trying to carve out a longer-term role.
Barrosa has spent parts of seven minor league seasons in pro ball, and his path now feels pointed toward another reset. He appeared in four games for Houston this season, but unless the Astros bring him back onto the 40-man roster before the end of the MLB season, he will be eligible for minor league free agency and is expected to look for a minor league deal this offseason. [Read more 🡒]