The Houston Astros have placed Cristian Javier on injured reserve with a neck problem, manager Joe Espada told reporters Sunday morning, adding to the avalanche of injuries that have ravaged the team’s rotation. It was going to drag on.
Javier will be the sixth Houston starter to play on the IL this season, joining four members of the team’s rotation who are currently sidelined.
Ace Justin Verlander returned from the IL on Friday and pitched six innings of two-run ball in his season debut against the Washington Nationals.
Javier was scheduled to start Sunday’s series finale at Nationals Park, but suffered what the Astros described as “neck discomfort.” Hunter Brown, who was on regular rest, started in Javier’s place.
Speaking on the team’s radio network before Sunday’s game, general manager Dana Brown downplayed the severity of Javier’s injury.
“We just want to be careful here,” Brown said. “It’s a fast season. It’s my second year as a starting pitcher. This is a grind, and I have to treat it like a grind. I have to treat it like a marathon.”
Javier emerged as one of Houston’s most consistent starters during an otherwise terrible April. He started his first four games, recording 4 earned runs with 18 strikeouts in 23 1/3 innings.
Javier will now join Lance McCullers Jr., Luis Garcia, Jose Urquidy and Framber Valdez on the IL. The team is optimistic that Valdez can return to the rotation during this eight-game road trip, but has not provided details about his pitching plans beyond Sunday’s start for Brown.
Neither McCullers nor Garcia are expected to return until near the All-Star break. Urquidy strained his forearm in spring training, but hasn’t progressed to throwing on the mound yet.
Espada told reporters that the team will recall top pitching prospect Spencer Arrigetti to replace Javier on the active roster. Earlier this month, Arrigetti started two games in his first stint in the major leagues. He allowed nine earned runs in seven innings.
Brown said Arrigetti will be in the team’s rotation in Javier’s absence.
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(Photo: Tim Warner/Getty Images)
