Orioles' Adrian Houser: Nets MiLB deal with Baltimore
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Houser agreed to a minor-league contract with the Orioles on Saturday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Houser was released by the Mets in late July, but he caught on with the Cubs on Aug. 7 on a minor-league deal, only to be cut less than a month later. Now with his third organization of the season, Houser should provide starting depth for the Orioles at Triple-A Norfolk, but his lack of a 40-man roster spot could be an obstacle in getting another big-league opportunity in 2024.
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Cubs' Adrian Houser: Receives MiLB deal from Cubs
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The Cubs signed Houser to a minor-league contract Tuesday.
Houser was cut loose by the Mets in late July after putting up a 5.84 ERA and 45:32 K:BB over 69.1 innings covering seven starts and 16 relief appearances. He will join the rotation at Triple-A Iowa, where he'll provide the Cubs with some veteran starting pitching depth.
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Adrian Houser: Heads to open market
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The Mets released Houser on Wednesday, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.
Houser will head to free agency after he went unclaimed off waivers upon being designated for assignment last weekend. The right-hander opened the season in the Mets' rotation, posting an 8.55 ERA over seven starts before he was permanently moved him to the bullpen in late May. Houser turned in a 3.28 ERA over 35.2 innings as a reliever, but he didn't notice much of a bump in his strikeout rate (16.8 percent) and had mostly underwhelming underlying statistics. He'll look to catch on elsewhere as organizational starting pitching depth and may have to settle for a minor-league contract.
Houser looked like a reasonable addition to the back end of the Mets rotation when they traded for him over the offseason. The gambit didn't work out, however, with the 31-year-old holding an 8.55 ERA and 20:21 K:BB over 33.2 innings in seven starts. He posted a 3.28 ERA while working out of the bullpen but had allowed nine runs over nine innings this month. Houser will almost certainly clear waivers, given his $5.05 million salary. He'll likely elect free agency once he clears waivers and will pursue an opportunity with another organization.
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Mets' Adrian Houser: Stuck with loss Thursday
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Houser (1-5) took the loss Thursday against the Nationals, striking out two and giving up a solo home run in an inning of relief.
The Mets managed only one hit on the day, but Jose Quintana kept the game scoreless through seven innings. Houser took the mound for the eighth and served up a one-out blast to Jesse Winker, and that was all the offense the Nats needed. It was the first long ball Houser had allowed in 23.2 innings since being shifted to the bullpen in late May, and the 31-year-old right-hander has been mostly effective in relief, posting a 1.52 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 17:6 K:BB during that stretch.
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Mets' Adrian Houser: Records three-inning save
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Houser picked up a save in the Mets' 12-2 win over the Yankees on Wednesday, allowing two hits and one walk while striking out three batters over three scoreless innings.
Houser entered with the Mets holding an eight-run lead and cruised the remainder of the way to notch the first save of his career. The right-hander threw 44 pitches in the outing, and he's tossed at least two frames in all but one of his eight appearances since returning to the bullpen May 26. Houser has thrived since making that transition, allowing just three earned runs across 20.2 innings.
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Mets' Adrian Houser: Collects first hold
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Houser gave up two hits and two walks over 2.1 scoreless relief innings Monday to record his first hold of the season in Monday's win over the Nationals. He failed to strike out a batter.
It was far from a dominant performance, but Houser was able to protect an 8-5 lead after taking the ball from Tylor Megill to begin the sixth inning. Houser has adjusted well to a long-relief role so far, allowing two earned runs in 12.1 innings over five appearances, but his 5:7 K:BB suggests his luck won't last. Monday's hold was just the second of his career, with the other coming back in 2019 when he filled a similar swingman role with the Brewers.
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Mets' Adrian Houser: Returning to bullpen
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Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Houser will be available out of the bullpen for Sunday's game against the Giants, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Houser returned to the rotation Tuesday against the Guardians but put up another dud with six runs allowed over five innings. He'll lose his starting spot during the upcoming week, as the Mets will bring David Peterson (hip) back from the 60-day injured list to start Wednesday versus the Dodgers. Houser has struggled to an 8.55 ERA in seven starts this season, but he's pitched better in his two relief outings with just one earned run allowed over four frames.
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Mets' Adrian Houser: Struggles in return to rotation
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Houser (0-4) took the loss Tuesday against the Guardians, allowing six runs on six hits and a walk over five innings. He struck out four.
Houser looked to be rolling early, as he retired the first seven batters faced. However, he allowed three runs on three doubles in the third inning before Jose Ramirez launched a two-run home run in the fifth, leaving Houser with his fourth loss. The 31-year-old right-hander has struggled to a 7.88 ERA with a 1.78 WHIP and 21:24 K:BB through his first 37.2 innings with New York. If the Mets return to a five-man rotation, Houser will likely head back to the bullpen.
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Mets' Adrian Houser: Drawing start Tuesday
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Houser is scheduled to start Tuesday's game against the Guardians at Progressive Field.
Houser had made his last two appearances as a reliever, but he'll slot into the rotation at least temporarily and afford all other five starters some rest while the Mets are in the midst of a stretch of 13 games in 13 days that ends Wednesday. After Thursday's off day, the Mets will have another stretch of 13 games in 13 days, but unless he impresses Tuesday, Houser may not be the top choice to stick around in a starting role if New York expands its rotation to six men. Rather than Houser, Jose Butto -- who posted a 3.08 ERA over seven starts before being optioned to Triple-A Syracuse last Wednesday -- would look to be a more worthy candidate to rejoin the big-league rotation.
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Mets' Adrian Houser: Won't start Wednesday after all
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Houser will no longer start Wednesday in Philadelphia after warming up in the bullpen during Tuesday's game versus the Phillies, Abbey Mastracco of the New York Daily News reports.
Houser had been set to rejoin the rotation after a brief demotion to the bullpen, but the club had him get loose when it looked like he might be needed in relief Tuesday. He ultimately didn't pitch, but he won't be ready to start Wednesday. The team has not yet announced a starter for Wednesday's contest.
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Mets' Adrian Houser: Drawing start Wednesday
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Manager Carlos Mendoza said Houser will start Wednesday's game in Philadelphia, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.
Houser made one relief appearance following his brief demotion to the bullpen earlier this month, tossing two scoreless frames last Friday against Atlanta. The right-hander isn't guaranteed any additional starts beyond Wednesday, especially with Tylor Megill (shoulder) being a possibility to return from the 15-day injured list later this week or next week. Houser holds an 8.16 ERA in six starts this season.
The Mets are moving Houser to the bullpen for their upcoming road series, Abbey Mastracco of the New York Daily News reports.
Houser last started Thursday against the Cubs, allowing four runs on four hits and four walks while striking out two over five innings in a no-decision. He's registering an 8.16 ERA, 1.85 WHIP and 16:20 K:BB over 28.2 innings this season and holds an 0-3 record over six starts. With top pitching prospect Christian Scott making his major-league debut Saturday against the Rays and Tylor Megill (shoulder) inching closer to a return, Houser will shift over to the bullpen, at least temporarily. Following New York's road series against St. Louis, the Mets will determine whether Houser's move will be permanent.
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Mets' Adrian Houser: Goes five innings in no-decision
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Houser did not factor into the decision against the Cubs on Thursday, allowing four runs on four hits and four walks over five innings. He struck out two.
Houser held the Cubs to one run through his first four innings before giving up a three-run homer to Christopher Morel in the fifth. While the Mets would rally for a win in extra innings, saving Houser from a third straight loss, it was another subpar outing from the 31-year-old right-hander. Houser's yet to record an out in the sixth inning this year while posting an ugly 8.16 ERA with a 1.85 WHIP and 6.28 BB/9 -- well up from his career average of 3.68. With Christian Scott, the Mets' top pitching prospect, poised to join the rotation this weekend and Tylor Megill (shoulder) working his way back from injury, Houser's starting job could soon be in jeopardy. However, he may receive another turn through the rotation since the Mets will move to a six-man unit with the addition of Scott, per SportsNet New York.
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Mets' Adrian Houser: Rotation spot secure for now
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Houser (0-3) took the loss Saturday versus the Cardinals, permitting six runs on nine hits and two walks over 4.1 frames.
Houser notched just two strikeouts and needed 89 pitches to cover his 4.1 unimpressive innings. In five starts and 23.2 innings this season, Houser holds an 8.37 ERA and 14:16 K:BB. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said after Saturday's game that Houser's spot in the rotation is not currently in jeopardy, per Laura Albanese of Newsday. However, with Tylor Megill (shoulder) starting a rehab assignment and youngster Christian Scott dominating at Triple-A Syracuse, Houser had better right the ship in a hurry.
Houser (0-2) took the loss Sunday against the Dodgers, allowing eight runs on seven hits and four walks while striking out three over four innings.
Houser had given up just two runs through four innings after Shohei Ohtani took him deep in the third, but he was unable to get an out in the fifth and wound up being charged with six runs in the frame. The home run to Ohtani was the first Houser's given up this year, though his command continues to be a struggle, as he now owns a 12:14 K:BB to go along with a 7.45 ERA and 1.76 WHIP in 19.1 innings. The 31-year-old will look to bounce back in his next outing, which projects to come against the Cardinals.
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Mets' Adrian Houser: Walks five in no-decision
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Houser did not factor into the decision Monday against Pittsburgh, allowing two runs on two hits and five walks over 5.1 innings. He struck out five.
Houser struggled with his command Monday night as he yielded five free passes, matching a career-worse set three times in 2021. However, in encouraging news, he managed to regain velocity on his main pitch, the sinker. The pitch averaged 92.4 mph Monday night, in-line with his 92.5-mph average velocity in 2023. Houser is slated to face the Dodgers on the road in his next start.
