Kendall Graveman is done for the year. Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images.
Coming into this season, we knew the bullpen could be a serious issue with Phil Maton, Hector Neris, and Ryne Stanek set to depart in free agency.
Well things just got much worse as the Astros announced on Tuesday that Kendall Graveman will miss the season after having shoulder surgery.
RHP Kendall Graveman underwent surgery on his right shoulder, General Manager Dana Brown announced today. pic.twitter.com/OgKezX9uJN
— Houston Astros (@astros) January 16, 2024
Fading the loss of Hector Neris was going to be a challenge BEFORE receiving this news. At least Graveman had the pedigree to be an effective seventh inning guy, leaving the 8th and 9th innings to Bryan Abreu and Ryan Pressly.
But with this news, the Astros may have to lean on Rafael Montero (5.08 ERA) more than they would like to this season.
In Graveman's short time with Houston in 2023, he posted a 2.42 ERA in 23 games. Unfortunately, shoulder discomfort kept him off the playoff roster, and now will keep him out for the entire 2024 season. We've likely seen the last of Graveman in an Astros uniform. He'll be a free agent in 2025.
The Astros trading catching prospect and former 1st round pick Korey Lee to the White Sox in exchange for Graveman looked like a reasonable trade at the time. But now, it appears to be a mistake, with Graveman unable to help the club in 2025.
Losing three quality bullpen arms now feels like a bigger pill to swallow with Graveman out of the picture. This now makes four losses to what used to be a strength for Houston.
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Jake Meyers hit a go-ahead home run, and Josh Hader stranded a runner on third in the ninth inning to preserve the Houston Astros' 4-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday night.
Chandler Simpson reached on catcher's interference to begin the ninth against Hader. Simpson advanced on a ground out before stealing third. Hader then got Taylor Wells to pop up a bunt and Isaac Paredes to pop out near third for his 12th save in 12 opportunities.
Meyers went 2 for 3 and hit his third home run on the second pitch from reliever Manuel Rodriguez (0-2) to put the Astros ahead in the seventh.
Meyers walked, stole his eighth base and scored on a double by Cam Smith as part of a three-run first inning against Rays starter Ryan Pepiot. Victor Caratini opened the scoring with his third home run — a two-out solo shot — and Chas McCormick capped it with an RBI single.
Houston's Colton Gordon — a native of St. Petersburg, Florida, making his second career start — allowed a single to Yandy Díaz leading off the first then retired 12 straight until Brandon Lowe singled in the fifth. Danny Jansen followed with his third homer to make it 3-2. Díaz and José Caballero had back-to-back doubles in the sixth to tie it.
Gordon allowed three runs and five hits in 5 1/3 innings with seven strikeouts. Bryan King (2-0) got four outs for the win.
Pepiot allowed three runs on eight hits in six innings.
Key moment
King allowed a walk and a single to begin the seventh with a one-run lead but came back to strike out both Taylor Walls and pinch-hitter Jonathan Aranda swinging. Bryan Abreu entered and got Díaz on a grounder for the third out.
Key stat
The Rays have gone 10-8 on the road but just 11-18 at George M. Steinbrenner Field — their temporary home.
Up next
Rays RHP Zack Littell (3-5 4.31) starts Tuesday's middle game. The Astros have not announced a starter.