Houston Astros announce multiple roster moves, latest on Justin Verlander
ASTROS NEWS
30 August 2022
ASTROS NEWS
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
Cam Smith hit a three-run homer in his first game against the Cubs since being traded to Houston and Brandon Walter threw six solid innings in his first MLB victory as the Astros beat Chicago 7-4 on Friday night.
THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER.#BuiltForThis pic.twitter.com/xZ9dvfZYTs
— Houston Astros (@astros) June 28, 2025
Yainer Diaz added a three-run homer as AL West-leading Houston extended its winning streak to five games.
3-run Yainer Bomb!#BuiltForThis pic.twitter.com/4zku17xsR0
— Houston Astros (@astros) June 28, 2025
The Astros scored four runs in the third off Cubs starter Cade Horton (3-2), with Jose Altuve scoring on a sacrifice fly by Victor Caratini before Diaz capped the inning with his 377-foot shot to left-center.
Smith, a first-round draft selection by Chicago last year was acquired by the Astros in the offseason as part of the deal for Kyle Tucker, extended Houston’s lead to 7-0 in the fourth with his home run off the left field façade, his sixth of the season. Smith had two hits and scored two runs.
Walter (1-1), a 28-year-old left-hander, allowed one run on four hits with five strikeouts. Josh Hader got the final out for his 22nd save.
Jeremy Peña exited in the fifth with left rib soreness. He was hit by a pitch in his left side in the second. There was no immediate word on the extent of his injury.
Nico Hoerner hit a solo home run in the fifth, and Matt Shaw added a two-run double in the seventh and an RBI double in the ninth for NL Central-leading Chicago.
Horton allowed seven runs on eight hits with four walks in four innings.
Tucker was hitless in his return to Houston. He kept the game scoreless in the first, throwing Isaac Paredes out at the plate to end the frame.
Hader inducing a lineout to center by Ian Happ to end it with Tucker, representing the tying run, on deck.
Houston has its second five-game winning streak for the month of June, and improved to an MLB-best 18-6 this month.
Cubs RHP Colin Rea (4-3, 4.42 ERA) starts the second game of the three-game series Saturday. Houston has not named a starter.