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
Nick Kurtz homered in the ninth inning for the second straight day and the Athletics beat the Houston Astros 3-1 on Monday night.
Brent Rooker drew a leadoff walk against Bryan Abreu (1-3) to open the ninth and reach safely in 12 straight home games. Kurtz followed with his seventh home run of the season 447 feet over the right-field wall.
Kurtz also hit a ninth-inning homer on Sunday to rally the Athletics to a 3-2 win and a three-game sweep at Kansas City.
The Athletics have won four straight games and are now 7-4 over the last 11 after losing 20 of the previous 21.
The Astros had a five-game winning streak snapped after entering winners in 16 of their last 22.
Athletics reliever J.T. Ginn struck out the side in the eighth and Mason Miller (1-2) added two strikeouts in the ninth. Starter Mitch Spence allowed seven hits and one earned run in five innings.
Third baseman Max Muncy made a nice defensive play to end the fifth when he made a backhand stab of a grounder and sent a jump throw from foul territory to get a hustling Jose Altuve at first base.
Houston rookie Ryan Gusto struck out a season-high eight and only allowed one earned run in five innings. He started in place of RHP Lance McCullers Jr., who was placed on the IL.
Altuve homered in the first and JJ Bleday went deep to tie the score 1-1 for the Athletics in the fifth.
Key moment
The Athletics appeared to have runners on second and third with two outs in the eighth following Tyler Soderstrom’s hit. However, an official review showed Jeremy Peña tagged Soderstrom when he came off the bag.
Key stat
Abreu had a string of 16 straight scoreless outings come to an end. Abreu has only allowed runs in three of his 32 appearances.
Up next
Athletics LHP JP Sears (5-5, 5.08) is scheduled to start on Tuesday. The Astros have not named a starter.
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