
Astros add to their rotation. Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images.
MLB Network's Jon Heyman is reporting that starting pitcher Jake Odorizzi and the Astros have agreed on a 2-year year contract with a 3rd-year player option. Odorizzi is 30 years old with a 3.92 career ERA. This signing seems to indicate Framber Valdez will miss significant time with a fractured left ring finger. But overall, the Astros rotation is looking good with the addition of Odorizzi, and hopefully Valdez will return to the rotation at some point this season.
Full terms on Odorizzi deal aren't known but with incentives he has a chance to make $30M over 2 years that would include a buyout on the 3rd year player option #Astros
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) March 6, 2021
While exact Odorizzi contract terms aren't known, it appears that with the creativity of the deal, which includes a 3rd year player option, the Astros are still leaving themselves a little room under the $210M luxury tax threshold
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) March 6, 2021
José Soriano and two relievers combined for a two-hitter and Oswald Peraza hit his first home run since a trade from the Yankees to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 3-0 win over the Houston Astros on Sunday.
Soriano (10-9) allowed one hit and struck out eight in seven innings. Luis García allowed one hit in a scoreless eighth and Kenley Jansen threw a perfect ninth for his 25th save.
There were two outs in the fifth when Peraza connected off Hunter Brown (10-7) into the bullpen in right-center field to put the Angels up 1-0. His homer comes after his two-run single in the ninth inning Saturday helped Los Angeles to a 4-1 victory that snapped a three-game skid.
Yoan Moncada walked to start the eighth and scored on Mike Trout’s double that bounced off the wall in center field to make it 2-0. Taylor Ward walked before Luis Rengifo reached and Trout scored on an error by Lance McCullers Jr. when the pitcher overthrew first base.
Yordan Alvarez singled with no outs in the first and Soriano walked a batter in the second and sixth innings. The Astros didn’t get another hit until Ramón Urías doubled with one out in the eighth inning. Los Angeles outfielder Taylor Ward was injured trying to make a catch on that hit when he crashed face-first into the metal scoreboard in left field.
He was carted off the field holding a towel to the right side of his face. He was taken to a hospital by ambulance where interim manager Ray Montgomery said he would receive stitches to close the cut and be evaluated.
Brown allowed three hits and a run with five strikeouts in six innings. McCullers Jr. allowed three hits and two runs in his first relief appearance since 2018.
Key moment
The home run by Peraza.
Key stat
It’s the fifth time the Astros have been shut out this month.
Up next
LHP Yusei Kikuchi (6-9, 3.68 ERA) will start for Los Angeles in the series finale Monday against RHP Luis Garcia, who’ll make his return after sitting out since May 2023 recovering from Tommy John surgery.