How Houston Astros’ pitching staff faces major challenges ahead
STONE COLD 'STROS
05 June 2024
STONE COLD 'STROS
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.
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.
The home run by Peraza.
It’s the fifth time the Astros have been shut out this month.
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.