More bad news for the Astros rotation. Composite Getty Image.
The Houston Astros’ battered starting rotation suffered another blow this week as right-hander Ronel Blanco was sent back to Houston to be evaluated by team doctors after experiencing elbow soreness.
Ronel Blanco has elbow soreness and was sent back to Houston to be seen by team doctors.
— Julia Morales (@JuliaMorales) May 21, 2025
Blanco, who has been one of the bright spots in a rotation ravaged by injuries, now becomes the latest name on a growing list of sidelined Astros arms. His departure comes at a time when the club can least afford it, with the rotation already operating under extreme strain.
The Astros have already lost Hayden Wesneski for the season after the young righty was diagnosed with a torn UCL and will undergo Tommy John surgery. Meanwhile, Luis Garcia and Cristian Javier are each still working their way back from Tommy John procedures of their own.
In addition, JP France is still recovering from shoulder surgery, and Spencer Arrighetti is on the shelf with a broken thumb.
The team has leaned heavily on minor-league reinforcements and bullpen arms to patch together innings, but with Blanco now dealing with arm discomfort, those emergency options are thinning fast.
The severity of his elbow soreness is not yet known, but the decision to send him home for evaluation signals real concern.
With so many starters either injured or rehabbing, Houston’s pitching depth is being tested early. For a team built around elite run prevention, the health of the rotation may ultimately define their season. And let's face it, it's mostly been a worst-case scenario when Astros pitchers have dealt with elbow discomfort. Hopefully that won't be the case with Blanco.
*ChatGPT assisted.
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Christian Walker's walkoff 2-run homer lifts Astros over Mariners
May 26, 2025, 3:11 pm
Christian Walker hit a game-winning, two-run homer in the ninth inning to lift the Houston Astros to a 5-3 win over the Seattle Mariners on Sunday.
WALK(ER) - OFF.#BuiltForThis pic.twitter.com/n6sZvAux3Y
— Houston Astros (@astros) May 25, 2025
The game was tied at 3 when Jose Altuve singled with no outs in the ninth. Walker, who had three hits, then sent a fastball from Casey Legumina (4-2) into the seats in left field to give the Astros the walkoff victory and 3-1 series win over the AL West leaders.
Walker's big game came after the struggling first baseman had just three hits combined in his previous seven games.
Bryan King (3-0) struck out Randy Arozarena to end Seattle’s ninth and manager Dan Wilson was ejected for the first time in his career for arguing with home plate umpire Laz Diaz after the call.
Seattle had runners on first and third with one out in the eighth when Ben Williamson hit a grounder to second baseman Mauricio Dubón. He threw home in time to get J.P. Crawford out at the plate before Leo Rivas grounded out for the third out.
The Astros loaded the bases with two outs in the eighth, but Isaac Paredes grounded out to leave everyone stranded. That came after they loaded the bases with one out in the seventh, but came away empty after Seattle turned a double play.
Jake Meyers was on first with two outs in the sixth when Cam Smith laced an RBI double down the right field line to tie it at 3.
Seattle starter Luis Castillo allowed nine hits and three runs with six strikeouts in six innings. Castillo threw 114 pitches Sunday to tie Cincinnati’s Hunter Greene for most pitches thrown in a game this season.
Houston’s Colton Gordon allowed seven hits and three runs in five innings in his third major league start.
Julio Rodríguez had three hits and Mitch Garver drove in two runs for the Mariners.
Rodríguez and Arozarena hit consecutive singles with two outs in the first before Garver made it 2-0 on his double to center.
There were two outs in the third with Rodríguez on third when Donovan Solano singled on a grounder to left field to extend the lead to 3-0.
Houston cut it to 3-1 on an RBI single by Walker with one out in the bottom of the third. A sacrifice fly by Caratini that Leody Taveras jumped to catch on the warning track scored Altuve to make it 3-2.
Key moment
Walker's walkoff home run gave him three RBIs, tying a season high.
Key stat
The teams combined to go 4 for 22 with runners in scoring position.
Up next
Both teams are off Monday before Houston opens a series with the Athletics and Seattle gets a visit from Washington on Tuesday night.
