Houston Astros trade for starting pitcher, give up huge haul
ASTROS TRADE FOR STARTER
30 July 2024
ASTROS TRADE FOR STARTER
With the trade deadline quickly approaching, many wondered if the Astros would be able to land a starting pitcher to bolster the rotation.
Well, it looks like we have our answer. The Astros are reportedly close to trading for Blue Jays LHP Yusei Kikuchi, per The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal and Chandler Rome.
Astros close to acquiring Yusei Kikuchi from Blue Jays, sources tell me and @Chandler_Rome. On it: @JimBowdenGM
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 29, 2024
Astros pitcher Jake Bloss is expected to be part of the trade package. Which makes sense considering Bloss was scratched from his start tonight.
This season, Kikuchi is 4-9 with a 4.75 ERA. He will be a free agent at the end of the 2024 season.
The final compensation for Kikuchi. Jake Bloss, Joey Loperfido, and Will Wagner.
Astros send Bloss, Loperfido and Wagner to Toronto. https://t.co/ge5tGQISWF
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) July 30, 2024
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.