1:45PM: Right-hander Alex Speas was designated for assignment to create a 40-man roster spot for King. Speas was claimed off waivers from the Athletics last month, and threw two innings in his lone MLB game in an Astros uniform (Houston’s 6-1 loss to the Twins on May 31.)
The hard-throwing Speas’ only other Major League experience came in the form of three appearances for the Rangers in 2023. A second-round pick for Texas in the 2016 draft, Speas has a big 32.73% strikeout rate over 165 1/3 career minor league innings, but also a 5.01 ERA and an ungainly 18.24% walk rate.
12:13PM: Bloss will indeed be placed on the 15-day IL due to shoulder discomfort, manager Joe Espada told the Houston Chronicle’s Matt Kawahara and other reporters.
8:38AM: The Astros will select the contract of left-hander Bryan King from Triple-A, MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart reports (X link), and righty Luis Contreras has also been called back up to the 26-man roster after being optioned to Triple-A on Thursday. Houston optioned right-hander Nick Hernandez to Triple-A, and Contreras’ quick return would indicate that another player is being placed on the injured list, since Contreras wouldn’t have otherwise been eligible for another call-up within 10 days of his demotion.
The injured player is likely Jake Bloss, as the right-hander’s MLB debut was cut short in the fourth inning yesterday due to shoulder discomfort. Bloss described the injury to McTaggart and other reporters as “a little tweak” and that “it doesn’t feel like anything that serious,” but the Astros’ subsequent transactions indicate that a trip to the 15-day injured list could be looming. It makes for a bittersweet birthday present for Bloss since he turns 23 tomorrow, coming on the heels of allowing two runs over 3 2/3 innings in his first game in the Show.
Assuming that Bloss does need to miss time, he’ll join nine other pitchers on Houston’s injured list, as the Astros’ pitching depth has been badly depleted all season long. To cover innings, 26 different players have taken the mound for the Astros this season, and King will be the 27th once he makes his Major League debut. The Astros will need to make another transaction to open up a 40-man roster spot for the 27-year-old King.
The Cubs made King a 30th-round selection in the 2019 draft, and he has a 2.77 ERA over 123 2/3 career minor league innings, all as a reliever. King’s time on the mound has been limited by both the canceled 2020 minor league season and by a Tommy John surgery that sidelined him for the entirety of the 2023 campaign. Fortunately, it seems as though King has returned from rehab in fine form, posting a 1.87 ERA, 51.9% grounder rate, and 29.9% strikeout rate in 33 2/3 innings for Triple-A Sugar Land this season.
A 3.86 xFIP and an 82.9% strand rate indicate some level of good fortune in King’s numbers, and a 10.2% walk rate is still a little high, if an improvement over greater control problems the southpaw endured earlier in his career. That said, if King can show he can hang at the majors, he could get an extended look both because the Astros simply need healthy arms, and because Houston’s bullpen is short of left-handed depth. With Bennett Sousa done for the season due to thoracic outlet syndrome surgery, closer Josh Hader is the only southpaw in Houston’s bullpen.
In a season defined by arm injuries, Houston is chewing up pitchers at league leading pace.
It is rather absurd. They had already made more transactions than all of last year in May
As much as I believe the pitch clock is leading to injuries, the Astros are trying to be the first team ever to forfeit games by running out of pitching. I’m obviously being facetious, but clearly there is an issue in Houston relating to poor management. They have an alarming number of pitching injuries this year, and I, for one, find it impossible to call it a coincidence.
Their manager has shown on numerous occasions that he isn’t prepared to be an MLB manager. Their general manager seems to be a complete bonehead who is nothing more than a yes-man to their owner. Why would anyone expect that their team of trainers is any good either?
The revolving door keeps on a-spinning.
Slightly surprised they didn’t give Speas a longer look. Not too many dudes doing all that well, could have thrown him in at least a couple more games
It’s crazy the Astros actually seem to be turning the corner with all these young unheard of people. Out with the old (Abreu) in with the new (Loperfido).
I feel for Bloss at how fast he rose. Yes we needed a starter. We had no bullpen really. Bloss did give us what he did. When returns maybe by maybe week of the 4th of July. I hope no pressure then. But if Verlander not back by his next time. Not sure what will do. Nice that Garcia is ramping up. Could he make a start after All Star break or by deadline. McCullers probably see time in August sometime. Not sure totally. Wonder if Graveman could be a surprise and see time in August perhaps. Not sure with July if he is working as heard. But all these moves makes me really wonder with management of Bagwell and Crane. Also do not see Espada as manager beyond this season. Nor our pitching and hitting staff remaining. Omar Lopez even as bench coach. But wonder if Crane May hang in or look at selling after this season
If Crane does sell, it won’t be until after the entertainment district around the ballpark is completed. 2 more years.
That will add a couple hundred Mill $$ to the value of the team, at least.
No way he doesn’t wait that out but I think he will continue to be the owner 10+ more years.