Astros’ ace starting pitcher Hunter Brown was placed on the Injured List with a right shoulder strain. At this early point, we have no information on the severity of the issue.
The Astros called up Christian Roa from AAA to fill Brown’s roster spot. Roa has pitched 1 inning in Sugar Land, and I assume Roa will work out of the bullpen. However, potentially this could allow the Astros to place one of the long relievers in the bullpen into Brown’s rotation slot. Potential rotation fill ins could include Kai-Wei Teng, Ryan Weiss, or AJ Blubaugh. Also Spencer Arrighetti could be called up for a rotation slot if necessary.
In the early going, Hunter Brown is No. 7 among MLB starters in K/9 and has a 0.84 ERA. Obviously, we hope that the IL visit is a short one, because he probably is the most important pitcher in the Astros’ rotation.
Update:
Feature photo from @astros on X, Source Link.
So, I can’t help feeling angry over Hunter’s shoulder and him starting opening day with an alarming pitch count in the opener. Joe has priors now.
Was it related? Not sure, but cant be ruled out. We may burn Roa today and call up Spencer to replace him in the rotation. Weiss is a solid replacement as well.
JP France has been pitching lights out, even better than Cy-Feld, so believable he could get a call-up if something else terrible happens.
We can’t have anything nice…..
it was a lot of pitches, right? i don;t recall anyone going over 100 so early in a season before, but my memory might be wrong. usually first 2, even 3 times through the rotation, it’s like 80 pitches.
So looked it up for the Espada years:
Iin 2024 the first pitcher to go over 100 pitches was Ronel Blanco in game 5. An exceptional circumstance as he pitched a no-hitter.
Excepting that, no Astros pitcher went 100 pitches until Game 27 on April 27 when Ronel went 102 over 5.2 IP in his 5th start of the season.
In 2025, No astros pitcher wnet 100 pitches also until Game 27 on April 27 when Hunter went 100 exactly in 6 innings in his 6th start of the season.
This year, Hunter goes 102 pitches in Game 1 Start 1.
Hindsight is 20/20 sure, but why the change,,,
you get Bolton
Not making my Easter Sunday upon reading this. Get well soon, Sir Hunter.
Hader and Brown both down this early, how wonderful.