The Astros have seen a great deal of upheaval in their rotation throughout the season, as established hurlers like Luis Garcia, Jose Urquidy, and Lance McCullers Jr. have spent much of the season on the injured list while up and comers like Hunter Brown and J.P. France have taken up roles in the rotation. In the midst of all that turmoil, left-hander Framber Valdez and right-hander Cristian Javier have stood as fixtures at the top of Houston’s rotation.
That figures to change in the coming days, however, as the club has scratched Valdez from his planned start against the Rangers tomorrow. Manager Dusty Baker indicated to reporters, including Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle, that Valdez had been battling with a sprained ankle since June 20 against the Mets, and the injury worsened during his last start against the Cardinals. Right-hander Shawn Dubin figures to take the ball in Valdez’s stead tomorrow, though his 10.80 ERA in five innings this season doesn’t exactly measure up to Valdez’s Cy Young-caliber performance this season.
Per Kawahara, Baker noted that Javier is still expected to make his start on Monday “as of right now” despite the fact that the right-hander is “scuffling a bit,” as indicated by his uncharacteristically lackluster 5.79 ERA in June. Chandler Rome and Eno Sarris of The Athletic suggest the Astros could push Javier’s next start back by calling up right-hander Brandon Bielak, who was scratched from his start at the Triple-A level today.
More from around MLB’s West divisions:
- The Rockies may welcome back second baseman Brendan Rodgers from surgery before the 2023 campaign comes to an end. Rodgers suffered a torn labrum during spring training that ultimately required surgery, but the 26-year-old infielder has begun to work his way back to the field, per Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post. Rodgers took live batting practice for the first time today, ran the bases and took infield practice. Rodgers will report to Arizona for extended spring training after the All Star break, and manager Bud Black indicated to reporters (including Saunders) that Rodgers could return to the Rockies in August or September. That’s fantastic news for the Rockies, who have relied primarily on Harold Castro and Coco Montes at the keystone in Rodgers’ absence.
- The Padres will be without right-hander Yu Darvish tomorrow, as the veteran hurler was scratched from his start due to a bout of the flu. Annie Heilbrunn of the San Diego Union-Tribune adds that, per manager Bob Melvin, he may not be able to pitch Monday either. Who will start in Darvish’s stead tomorrow is currently unclear, though the club did recall right-hander Pedro Avila earlier today. Avila has made 13 starts at the Triple-A level this season, posting an 8.49 ERA in 46 2/3 innings of work.
I’m thinking a JV trade is coming with the Mets paying 50% or more of his salary with the Astros returning middling type prospects. Perhaps a reunion could fix him, etc.
And why would the Mets do that, other than to throw a solid to the Astros?
JV is on a one year deal and unless they suddenly start to play up towards their payroll, they would get a couple of longshot prospects. Boston last year traded Vasquez and got decent prospects back. Nothing earth shattering but you never know.
JV is not on a 1 year deal.
He is signed for over $43M next year + gets $35M in 2025 if he pitches 140 innings next year.
The Mets can’t trade him and sell the fact that hey are trying to compete next year.
Thank you. I thought it was one year. My bad
Im like 90% sure Shawn Dubin stole my friend’s catalytic converter.
Are you in Binghampton? I have a gang in Binghampton doing that.
The rate at which teams like Houston, LAD, and ATL keep coming up with starting pitching, and doing so despite always having low draft picks, is incredible.
I don’t think so. The evidence seems clear. It’s how you develop talent in baseball. The picking order is primarily hype. Some teams are ahead of the development game, and other teams are trying to catch up. This is the nature of such things.
This. If I’m a team that struggles to develop pitchers, I’m backing up the Brinks truck for any senior member of one of those front offices, and giving them free reign to change everything. That’s the coin of the realm now.
Yea. I don’t mean it’s impressive specifically because of the low picks. I know it’s their player development. But it is a bit more impressive considering if they had even higher picks they’d likely be even better. The draft pool is full of talent. The difference between the higher picks and lower picks is probably often just hitting your peak earlier and having those people around you who helped make the talent click earlier.
Yeah there is definitely a talent gap between the top 5 picks in a given year and picks 25-30. It might not be a huge gap but it exists. This year Paul Skenes is supposed to be hands down the best pitching prospect, while Cruz and Langford are far and away the top two hitters.
Good international scouting helps. Plus the draft position might actually help as the later they pick the more overlooked/underhyped better quality players you can find.
God the Padres have no depth. Their “next man up” starter has an 8.49 ERA in AAA. How can that organization not figure out this is not how good teams do it.
PCL. Everyone has a horrid ERA there, at least in the western half of it.
Also, I don’t know specifics but they could have promoted or traded away their better starting prospects in the last couple of seasons.
Dewey – Cal Quantil (CLE); Chris Paddack (Min); Patino (TB); Gore (WSH) are the best / mlb ready talent traded away. Not a great deal of help traded away. They were the better prospects I. Their system though (pitchers anyway).
Just goes to the argument that you can’t count on prospects. Gore is looming ok for. 4 or 5 but he was the #1 LH SP prospect – maybe someday but not now.
Well what will be now of Astros and Rotation. Bielak most likely starts Monday. Then France and Blanco for Colorado series. Then Hunter, Framber, and Javier at least for Seattle. Unless Bielak to Bullpen. I am sure being called up if was pulled from start. Javier struggled in June but it is July now so maybe he can take his start. But Houston will be lucky to gain anything now if Bielak returns in this series. He could go with Dubin on Sunday and Javier Monday and keep rest of rotation.
The Padres. LOL!
Everytime jp France is mentioned it’s basically like he is just there. No love is ever shown toward him. Given the circumstances of how he even ended up in the Astros rotation that doesn’t even matter, he’s done terrific with the opportunity given to him and if he keeps it up I feel like he has to be given a shot over some of the other guys that might be coming back from injury. “Oh but his fip is way higher than his performance” oh stfu he’s running with his opportunity and doing great and I feel like that should be noticed. He’s not just some scrub that’s getting mop up duty, he’s getting starts and doing consistently good for a team in the playoff hunt. That alone should bare mention and a close watch going forward. Sorry but I had to say it, so many articles already out with him being mentioned and nothing is said about his performance other than he’s doing “okay” as an injury replacement. It’s ridiculous, and this is coming from a braves fan. I hate seeing players get no love but some players who are having way less success than him or others get praised and are just having down seasons but they will get out of their slump eventually. Start showing these guys some love until they prove they don’t deserve it.
Rant over
Sorry not sorry
Braves saints and Celtics…..you just pick some good teams to root for around 2008?
Idk the years I went to the games, but I was living in Minnesota at the time and watched both the celtics and the saints destroy the Timberwolves and vikings respectively and I’ve been a fan of those two teams ever since. as far as the braves I’m from Alabama so I’ve always been in their viewing territory and have been a fan for ever lol. I’m also an Auburn fan to make matters worse lol
France has been great and I shutter to think where the Astros would be without him.
I hope he is a late bloomer who stays a bottom of the rotation producer for the next few years, but it’s unlikely
He is an older guy who took years to get to the bigs and relies on deception more than stuff.
Those guys tend to get hit around more once hitters see them multiple times as the season(s) go on.
@braves_saints_celts JP France has been in the MLB for a grand total of ten starts. In his last five starts he has lost three of them, although arguably has pitched well in a couple of those losses. However, the league has been full of players that had short term initial success when called up and shortly fizzled afterwards. I suspect the 28 year old rookie will be the same.
I think the Astros are very limited in what they can do this year. There is so little depth and many players are playing below career norms. Unless the division race tightens up, I think they just stand pat at the deadline. They flip a OFer for pitching, but that’s about it.
No one will send them decent pitching for one of their outfielders (obv unless it’s Tucker).
I agree it won’t be a blockbuster trade. Julks could get a decent reliever rental.
8.49 ERA gets you a call? Jeez… Whatever happened to resurrecting Cole Hamels?