Remember that 7-0 beatdown our Mariners handed the Astros on Tuesday? Turns out, that game wasn’t just a dominant performance from our boys; it was Cristian Javier’s last appearance before Houston slapped him on the 15-day IL. According to The Athletic’s Chandler Rome, Javier is out with a Grade 2 right groin strain.
Javier’s Rough Season Gets Even Rougher
This is a massive blow for the AL West club, even if Javier hasn’t been the same guy we’ve seen tear it up in the past. Remember when he was that rock-solid arm? Those days feel like a distant memory this season. Seriously, his overall stats are a real struggle: a rough 5.14 ERA and a 1.460 WHIP across 17 appearances. Yeah, his 8.4 strikeouts per nine innings are still decent, but that overall line? Woof. You know it’s not ideal when a guy who used to be a reliable starter is getting moved to the bullpen for five of those outings. It just shows you how much his form has dropped. To make room for him on the Major League roster, the Astros called up lefty Josh Hendrickson. Talk about a tough break for their pitching staff when they need all hands on deck!
A Brutal Hit for Houston’s End Game
This isn’t Javier’s first dance with the IL this year, either. The dude already missed most of the first half of the season battling a shoulder strain, so you know his body just hasn’t been cooperating. He exited his most recent start on Tuesday after just two innings, throwing 45 pitches, striking out two and walking two in a 7-0 win against the Seattle Mariners. Even though the Astros pulled out that 7-0 win against our boys, Javier’s early exit was a huge red flag, and now we know why. For Houston, this timing could not be worse, especially with what’s on the line. The Astros are currently sitting with an identical 78-80 record alongside the Texas Rangers, though Houston holds the tiebreaker for the top spot in the AL West. Losing Javier, even as a bullpen option, as they push towards the postseason? That’s a brutal hit when every single game counts. They clearly wanted him as a bullpen option during the postseason, and now that opportunity might just be gone. Can they afford to lose a piece like that right now?
So, while we’re always locked in on our own M’s, it’s wild to see how quickly things can change for our AL West rivals. For the Astros, they’re heading into some absolutely intense games without a guy they clearly wanted as a key bullpen piece for the postseason. Keep your eyes glued to those standings, because every game from here on out is gonna be absolutely massive for who comes out on top in the AL West!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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