As mhatter106 elaborated in Friday’s game preview, Cristian Javier has had some issues this season. The numbers, simply put, haven’t been good. Even a second time through the order is pushing it for Javier this season. The Astros have learned the hard way to not push his limits. That’s a difficult position for the team with a rotation lacking depth.
In all honesty, Javier’s peak most likely occurred in 2021-22. But that doesn’t mean that he doesn’t have a role on this team, now and in the future. It is just figuring out which role best suits him and if any adjustments can prove beneficial. Of course, I am delving into uncertain territory when the present circumstances are arguably more important to the team on September 4 than what happens in 2027.
From time to time we see glimpses of the past version of Javier when he was at the height of his powers. Increasingly rare nowadays, but I think Friday’s start against the Diamondbacks was one of those instances.
Five innings of one-run ball and eight strikeouts with 19 whiffs to boot. In this rotation, that feels like the equivalent of unexpectedly finding a twenty-dollar bill in your couch cushions. Sure, it wasn’t necessarily new money, but it provides some momentary elation. However, other than a third look at Geraldo Perdomo, Joe Espada kept Javier’s exposure to just two times through Arizona’s batting order. That makes sense as pitchers cruise along until they don’t. In this AL West race, the Astros can ill afford another starting pitcher implosion.
Whether Javier has figured something out is to be determined. Brent Strom is back, so perhaps a tweak took place. Maybe not. Just file this start away as something to keep in mind if a trend develops. In the meantime, I agree with keeping Javier to a two-time through the order limit as long as he starts. If the Astros can close out the season with him being somewhat reliable, it is a huge boon.
It would be nice if the lineup could become more reliable again, but I can’t be too greedy. Other than a three-run third inning led by Yainer Diaz’s solo home run, Merrill Kelly and Arizona’s bullpen prevented any other damage. In fact, not one Astro even reached second base after the third inning.
But it was enough with how Javier and the Astros’ bullpen pitched. Josh Hader got his 250th career save. Jeremy Peña tagging out Gabriel Moreno on a double play from Ketel Marte’s grounder in the eighth inning prevented a possible Diamondbacks rally before it had a chance to materialize. With the Rangers losing to the Rays, the Astros lead for the AL West now increases to three games. The Mariners were trailing the A’s 7-5 in the fifth inning when I finished up this recap, but a Seattle loss would move them to seven games back.
Feature photo from Astros on X
Javier getting whiffs and Ks late in his outing is probably the most encouraging thing from this start. Normally, second time through the order is when the swing and miss would degrade, quality of contact would increase, and outs started getting “luckier”. Not so today, against Sneks who aren’t (IIRC) particularly strikeout prone.
Joe also managed the game quite well, having DLS warming in the pen for the 5th, even though Javier managed to get through that inning without incident.
Kinda refreshing to see a game like this happen at home.
It was a triple win day. Not only did the Astros win but the Rangers lost and the Mariners lost too.
Rangers now 3 games behind plus the Astros tiebreaker. Mariners now 7 behind with only 20 games to go. Even with the Mariners having tiebreaker, that’s a huge hole with not that many games left to climb from.
Astros 1.5 games behind White Sox, and 1 game ahead of Guardians, and have the tiebreaker against both.
Keep banking wins any way you can. As flawed as this team is, we still have a good shot to be playing meaningful games not only in September but October too. That seemed highly unlikely back in May.