How Houston Astros’ pitching staff faces major challenges ahead
STONE COLD 'STROS
05 June 2024
Jose Urquidy and Cristian Javier are out for the season. Composite Getty Image.
The Astros have finally made the news official, just like we suspected for almost two weeks, Jose Urquidy and Cristian Javier are out for the season and undergoing surgery on their right elbows.
RHP Cristian Javier and RHP José Urquidy scheduled to undergo elbow surgery. pic.twitter.com/l2j8NRGYoo
— Houston Astros (@astros) June 5, 2024
Urquidy is scheduled to have his surgery Wednesday, and Javier is set for his procedure on Thursday. Astros GM Dana Brown said on the club's flagship station that the team will be in the market for starting pitching if they find a deal that “makes sense” for the team. But overall, he's very pleased with the team's starting five.
He believes they have enough talent currently to compete for a World Series with their current rotation.
One other concern is JP France's health. He still isn't throwing a baseball, so we shouldn't expect him to help the team anytime soon. Plus, with no depth on the starting staff, even more pressure is going to be put on the bullpen.
When will Kyle Tucker return?
Brown also gave an update on Kyle Tucker, who has a bone bruise on his shin. The hope is he will be able to return to the lineup this weekend.
Jack Flaherty struck out nine batters in seven scoreless innings and the Detroit Tigers went on to beat the Houston Astros 10-0 on Monday night.
Wenceel Pérez, Riley Greene, Trey Sweeney and Colt Keith homered for the Tigers, who were coming off a 5-2 road trip.
Flaherty (7-12) allowed three hits and a walk to win for the second time in 12 starts. Former closer Alex Lange, who underwent lat surgery last season, pitched the ninth — his first MLB appearance since May 22, 2024.
Spencer Arrighetti (1-4) gave up five runs on seven hits and four walks in five innings.
Houston loaded the bases on two hits and a walk in the first inning, but Victor Caratini lined out to end the inning. Flaherty only allowed two more runners — a hit batter and a single.
The Tigers took a 1-0 lead in the fourth on Pérez’s 10th homer of the season, and they added four runs in the fifth.
Trey Sweeney tripled in the sixth and scored on Keith’s sacrifice fly to make it 6-0. Sweeney hit a three-run homer in the seventh and Keith homered two batters later.
Outfielder Chas McCormick pitched a scoreless eighth for Houston.
Key moment
The Tigers missed an opportunity for a big inning in the second. With runners on first and second and no one out, Dillon Dingler hit a high fly to left that bounced off the fence. Appearing to think the ball had gone for a home run, the runners ended up advancing one base.
Arrighetti then struck out Sweeney before Javier Báez hit into an inning-ending double play.
Key stat
Gleyber Torres played in his 1,000th major league game. He entered the game with a .265 batting average, 151 homers, 499 RBIs and 57 stolen bases.
Up next
The teams play the second of three games on Tuesday night, with Tigers ace LHP Tarik Skubal (11-3, 2.42 ERA) facing Detroit native RHP Hunter Brown (10-5, 2.45).
