Javier (2-0) earned the win Thursday after holding the Angels scoreless across five innings, giving up three hits and a walk while striking out nine.
Javier was lights-out in his return to the rotation, recording a career-high nine strikeouts en route to the victory. The 24-year-old's longevity was limited because he ran his pitch count up to 98 -- 62 for strikes -- but he generated 21 swings and misses. Javier, making his first start in nearly two weeks due to Houston's light schedule, was recalled from the alternate training site ahead of Thursday's game. The right-hander will look to carry his momentum into a Tuesday showdown against Seattle.