Houston Astros announce multiple roster moves, latest on Justin Verlander
ASTROS NEWS
30 August 2022
Hunter Brown has been added to the Taxi Squad. Composite image by Brandon Strange.
The Houston Astros announced on Tuesday that Justin Verlander will be heading to the 15-day IL, and Brandon Bielak will be joining the big league club from AAA. The other notable move for the pitching staff is top prospect Hunter Brown joining the Taxi Squad.
The Astros have made the following roster moves:
— Houston Astros (@astros) August 30, 2022
- Justin Verlander has been placed on the 15-day IL
- Jake Meyers has been optioned to AAA
+ Brandon Bielak has been recalled from AAA
+ J.J. Matijevic has been recalled from AAA
+ Hunter Brown has been added to the Taxi Squad
According to the Astros, Verlander's calf showed fascial disruption, but no muscle fiber disruption.
An MRI done on Verlander’s right calf on Monday revealed fascial disruption, but no muscle fiber disruption. His IL stint is retroactive to Aug. 29. Verlander sustained the injury during his outing Sunday while moving to cover 1B during a rundown in the third inning.
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) August 30, 2022
Astros general manager James Click seems to think this is good news.
GM James Click said it’s “relatively good news” on Verlander.
“Our hope and expectation is this should be relatively short term,” Click said.
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) August 30, 2022
Verlander spoke about the injury.
#Astros starter Justin Verlander on a time frame for his return and his conversation with the doctors about the injury he sustained on Sunday: "All in all, I think this is about as good of news that I could've hoped for." pic.twitter.com/iiAtADgMeR
— Daniel Gotera (@DTGoteraKHOU) August 30, 2022
More moves coming
Brian McTaggart also reported on Monday evening that AAA prospect Yainer Diaz will be joining the Astros, but it looks like September will have to officially begin before that move is made. In the meantime, J.J. Matijevic will join the Astros with Jake Meyers going back to Sugar Land.
Meyers just hasn't been able to produce after returning this year after shoulder surgery following the 2021 season.
One big question
The next big question to be answered involves Cristian Javier's role with Verlander heading to the IL. Will he go back to the rotation, or stay in the bullpen with Hunter Brown starting? Our guess would be Javier returns to the rotation, with Brown getting bullpen work in while pitching for the Space Cowboys as of late. But, we'll have to wait to get confirmation.
#Astros GM James Click on what the Verlander injury means for the rotation in the short term and how they're moving forward. pic.twitter.com/3EOGdn4hEf
— Daniel Gotera (@DTGoteraKHOU) August 30, 2022
Hunter Brown pitched two-hit ball into the sixth inning, and the Houston Astros beat the slumping Cincinnati Reds 3-0 on Friday night.
Brown (6-1) struck out nine, matching his season high for the fourth straight start. The right-hander also issued a season-high four walks in his fifth consecutive win.
Brown departed after Gavin Lux walked with two out in the sixth. Kaleb Ort got Spencer Steer to bounce into a forceout at second.
Josh Hader handled the ninth for his ninth save.
Cincinnati finished with four hits in its sixth loss in seven games.
Reds right-hander Nick Martinez (1-4) surrendered 10 hits and three runs in six innings. He struck out five and walked none.
Zach Dezenzo hit a two-out RBI single in the second, and the Astros added two more runs in the fifth.
Mauricio Dubón followed Brendan Rodgers’ leadoff double with a chopper past third baseman Santiago Espinal, moving Rodgers to third. Jeremy Peña drove in Rodgers with a groundout to second, and Isaac Paredes doubled home Dubón with two down.
Jose Altuve, Christian Walker, and Yainer Diaz each had two hits for the Astros.
Cincinnati's Austin Hays returned from the injured list after missing 10 games with a left hamstring strain. He went 1 for 4.
Reds outfielder Jake Fraley was scratched due to left calf tenderness after missing the last two games.
Key moment
Tyler Stephenson hit a one-out double for Cincinnati in the ninth. But Hader struck out Rece Hinds and Espinal, ending the game.
Key stat
It was Houston's first win against the Reds since June 19, 2016, ending a nine-game skid.
Up next
Lance McCullers Jr. (0-0 0.00 ERA) will make his second start of the season and first home start since October 3, 2022, against Reds right-hander Brady Singer (4-2 3.66 ERA) on Saturday night.
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