Astros' Cristian Javier: GM hoping for late July return
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Astros general manager Dana Brown said Thursday that Javier (elbow) is projected to return in late July of next season, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
It's an ambitious timeline considering Javier underwent Tommy John surgery in June. Any projected timetable at this stage of rehab is approximate, but it does appear Brown expects Javier to have a good shot to contribute shortly after the All-Star break next season.
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Astros' Cristian Javier: Moved to 60-day IL
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The Astros transferred Javier (elbow) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Sunday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
The move was merely a procedural one to free up a 40-man spot. Javier underwent Tommy John surgery earlier this month and will miss extended time, including perhaps all of the 2025 season. Right-handed reliever Luis Contreras was called up from Triple-A Sugar Land and will take Javier's spot on the 40-man roster.
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Astros' Cristian Javier: Tommy John surgery scheduled
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Javier (forearm) is scheduled to undergo Tommy John surgery Thursday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
The right-hander landed on the injured list in late May due to right forearm discomfort and is now set to miss the rest of the 2024 campaign. Javier will also be sidelined until at least the second half of 2025 as he rehabs from the surgery. It's been a rough week for Houston pitchers, as Jose Urquidy (elbow) is also in danger of needing the procedure.
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Astros' Cristian Javier: Goes on IL for right forearm
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The Astros placed Javier on the 15-day injured list Monday, retroactive to May 24, due to right forearm discomfort.
Javier was scheduled for a bullpen session Sunday, but he was pulled after experiencing discomfort in his right forearm. He'll be sent for imaging Tuesday to determine the extent of the injury, per Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. With Javier on the IL, Hunter Brown will start Tuesday against the Mariners, while Justin Verlander and Spencer Arrighetti take the mound Wednesday and Thursday, respectively, per Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle. The Astros recalled right-hander Alex Speas from Triple-A Sugar Land in a corresponding move.
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Astros' Cristian Javier: Dealing with forearm discomfort
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Javier is dealing with forearm discomfort and didn't throw his scheduled bullpen session Sunday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Manager Joe Espada said Javier is day-to-day, but the right-hander would appear to be at significant risk of missing his next turn through the rotation Tuesday in Seattle. Chandler Rome of The Athletic speculates Hunter Brown could start Tuesday on four days' rest, with Eric Lauer a possibility to be called up from Triple-A Sugar Land to fill Javier's turn in the rotation Wednesday.
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Astros' Cristian Javier: Shaky results in no-decision
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Javier did not factor into the decision in Tuesday's win over the Angels, allowing four runs on eight hits and three walks while striking out one over four innings.
Javier's night got started off on the wrong foot after surrendering a two-run blast to Luis Rengifo in the opening frame. The Angels then got to him for two more runs in the fourth on a trio of hits, which included an RBI-double from Zach Neto. It was a very discouraging performance after Javier put together his best start of the season his previous outing against the A's. After the game, he cited his struggles due to poor mechanics, though he's now given up 11 runs on 13 hits and seven walks while striking out just one batter in 5.1 innings in his two starts surrounding his gem against Oakland. The 27-year-old now owns a 3.89 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 27:19 K:BB in 34.2 innings and lines up to face Seattle next week.
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Astros' Cristian Javier: Dominant in win
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Javier (3-1) earned the win over the Athletics on Wednesday, pitching six shutout innings while allowing two hits and one walk. He struck out eight.
Javier came out firing Thursday, striking out five of the first eight batters he faced before finishing with a season-high eight punchouts on the night. The right-hander threw first-pitch strikes to only nine of the 21 batters he faced, but he also produced 15 whiffs as he cruised to his third win of the season. It was a nice return to form for Javier, who was shelled for seven runs in his first start after returning from the injured list a week ago. The quality start was his third of the campaign, while it also marked the second time this season he's allowed two or fewer hits in an outing.
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Astros' Cristian Javier: Shelled in return
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Javier (neck) dropped to 2-1 on the season in Saturday's 8-2 loss to the Tigers after allowing seven runs on five hits and four walks with no strikeouts over 1.1 innings.
Javier was activated off the 15-day injured list Saturday to make his first start for the Astros since April 14, but the right-hander didn't look quite right in his return from a neck injury. In addition to getting knocked around for seven runs and throwing only 21 of 50 pitches for strikes, Javier's final two fastballs clocked in at 89.7 miles per hour and 90.2 miles per, well below his typical velocity. It's unclear whether his struggles Saturday are an indication that Javier isn't fully recovered from the neck issue or if he was simply rusty, but he's currently penciled in to make his next start at home against Oakland next Thursday.
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Astros' Cristian Javier: Activated from IL
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The Astros reinstated Javier (neck) from the 15-day injured list Saturday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Javier landed on the IL on April 21 due to neck discomfort. He made one rehab start with Double-A Corpus Christi on May 4, throwing 68 pitches while allowing three runs on three hits and two walks over 3.1 innings. To make room on the 40-man roster for Javier, Houston designated right-hander Brandon Bielak for assignment. Javier will start Saturday against the Tigers, though the Astros could limit his workload to ease the right-hander back into the rotation.
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Astros' Cristian Javier: Set to return Saturday
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Javier (neck) will return from the 15-day injured list to start Saturday in Detroit, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Javier will have gone nearly a month in between starts for the Astros when he toes the rubber Saturday, having been sidelined with a neck problem. He's ready to roll now, following one rehab start with Double-A Corpus Christi in which he allowed three runs over 3.1 frames. Javier threw just 68 pitches in the outing, so he could be somewhat limited from a workload perspective against the Tigers.
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Astros' Cristian Javier: Returning this weekend
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Astros manager Joe Espada said Tuesday that Javier (neck) will return from the injured list this weekend to start against the Tigers, Julia Morales of AT&T SportsNet Southwest reports.
Javier will return this weekend after missing just under a month due to the neck issue, though it's unclear exactly which day he'll take the mound in Detroit. The 27-year-old threw 68 pitches over 3.1 frames in his lone rehab outing and may face some minor workload limitations in his first outing back with the Astros.
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Astros' Cristian Javier: Could be back by next weekend
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Astros general manager Dana Brown said Sunday that Javier (neck) is expected to return from the 15-day injured list "by at least the Detroit series," which begins Friday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
The right-hander threw 68 pitches over 3.1 innings during his rehab start with Double-A Corpus Christi on Saturday, allowing three runs on three hits with three strikeouts and two walks. The Astros have already listed their probable starters for the three-game set against the Yankees this week, which sets up Javier to potentially pitch next weekend in Detroit.
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Astros' Cristian Javier: Throws 68 pitches in rehab outing
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Javier (neck) allowed three runs on three hits and two walks while striking out three across 3.1 innings in a rehab outing with Double-A Corpus Christi on Saturday, MLB.com reports.
The results weren't overly impressive, but it was otherwise a successful outing for Javier, as he was slated to throw roughly 65 pitches in the outing and met that goal (68 pitches). Assuming no news of a setback emerges, he could rejoin the Astros' rotation at some point in the upcoming week.
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Astros' Cristian Javier: Could join rotation next week
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Javier (neck) will throw four innings or roughly 60 pitches Saturday for Double-A Corpus Christi before potentially rejoining the big-league rotation, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Manager Joe Espada said the hope is that Javier can rejoin Houston's rotation after this first rehab start, which would line him up to return for a road start either Thursday against the Yankees or Friday versus the Tigers. He has been out since April 14 with neck discomfort.
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Astros' Cristian Javier: Could be back for weekend series
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Javier (neck) could be activated from the 15-day injured list to make a start during Houston's weekend series against Seattle, MLB.com reports.
Javier threw a bullpen session Sunday and is expected to throw again either Wednesday or Thursday. How Javier fares in his upcoming throwing session will likely determine his status for the weekend, though it appears that Javier will be able to avoid a rehab stint even if his absence extends later into May.
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Astros' Cristian Javier: Throws bullpen session
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Javier (neck) threw a bullpen session Sunday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
The right-hander landed on the injured list last Sunday with neck discomfort, but it's encouraging he's back on the mound a week later. Javier will be eligible to be activated during next weekend's three game series versus the Mariners, though it remains to be seen if he's game-ready at that point.
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Astros' Cristian Javier: Scratched with neck discomfort
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Javier was scratched from Sunday's start against the Nationals due to neck discomfort, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
It's unclear when the injury first surfaced for Javier, but he won't be able to start Sunday as scheduled. Hunter Brown will be bumped up to start the series finale in Washington. The Astros have scheduled off days Monday and Friday this week, so the team can get by with four starters until May 4 versus the Mariners, if need be.
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Astros' Cristian Javier: Continues strong start
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Javier (2-0) allowed two runs on five hits and two walks to earn the win Sunday over the Rangers. He struck out five.
Javier needed just 89 pitches to complete seven innings, throwing 62 for strikes to earn the win in his longest outing of the season. Javier's command had been a bit shaky going into Sunday's outing, walking eight batters over 10.1 innings during his previous two starts. However, he's provided a much-needed boost to the short-handed Astros rotation, allowing just four earned runs for a 1.54 ERA over his first four starts spanning 23.1 innings. He'll have a chance to improve upon those numbers even further in his next start as he's tentatively slated for a weekend matchup against the Nationals in Washington.
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Astros' Cristian Javier: Pitches into sixth versus Royals
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Javier pitched 5.1 innings and allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits and three walks while striking out four batters in Tuesday's 4-3 extra-inning loss to the Royals.
Javier was able to extend his scoreless streak to 15 innings to open the 2024 campaign by blanking the Royals through four frames Tuesday. The right-hander ran into trouble in the bottom of the fifth inning, surrendering a two-out. two-run triple to Bobby Witt before another unearned run came around to score later in the frame. Through three starts, Javier has produced a 1.10 ERA and 1.16 WHIP with 13 strikeouts over 16.1 innings. He's tentatively set to return to the mound Sunday at home versus the Rangers.
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Astros' Cristian Javier: Lined up for regular season
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Javier will start the second game of the regular season against the Yankees, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Justin Verlander (shoulder) will begin the season on the injured list, forcing each of Houston's pitchers to move one slot up in the rotation. That leaves Framber Valdez in line to start Opening Day with Javier to follow one game later. Javier will be looking to bounce back from a subpar 2023 campaign during which he posted a 4.56 ERA and 1.27 WHIP across 162 innings.
