Cristian Javier Starts Tonight for Houston Astros
The Houston Astros announced Cristian Javier as tonight's starting pitcher, slotting him in as previously indicated in the club's rotation plan.
The Houston Astros announced Cristian Javier as tonight's starting pitcher, per the official club account.
The start lands where the rotation plan had it. Earlier this week, the Astros had Javier penciled in for Tuesday against the Angels, with Wednesday listed as open and a Thursday starter also slotted. Tonight's announcement closes the loop on that Tuesday assignment.
The rotation picture around him
Javier takes the mound against a backdrop of genuine rotation uncertainty in Houston. Beat reporter Brian McTaggart noted broader concerns about the Astros' rotation depth beyond Hunter Brown's command issues. Ronel Blanco was optioned to Triple-A amid those rotation struggles, thinning the available arms at the major-league level.
The Wednesday starter remains unconfirmed — though the Astros' call-up of No. 9 prospect Ethan Pecko, reported for his MLB debut Wednesday against the Angels, makes that slot worth watching.
What to watch
Whether Pecko formally takes Wednesday's assignment is still unconfirmed. What is clear: Javier has the ball tonight, and the Astros are navigating a rotation that has drawn scrutiny from their own beat press.
More on the Astros wire.
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