The Astros have activated right-hander Cristian Javier from the 15-day injured list, as Javier will get the start in today’s game against the Tigers. To make room for Javier on the active roster, right-hander Brandon Bielak has been designated for assignment.
Javier blasted out of the gates this season, posting a 1.54 ERA over his first 23 1/3 innings and four starts. While a 5.29 SIERA painted a much less favorable picture of Javier’s performance due to such factors as his .215 BABIP, 18.9% strikeout rate and 11.6% walk rate, the Astros can hardly argue with the results given how desperately the team has needed all the quality pitching it can get. Unfortunately, Javier joined several other Houston pitchers on the IL when he was sidelined just under a month ago due to neck discomfort.
With Javier, Justin Verlander, and Framber Valdez now all back from stints on the injured list, the rotation has slowly started to take on its intended form, even if Luis Garcia, Jose Urquidy, Lance McCullers Jr., and J.P. France are all still on the mend. The combination of the three healthy starters plus Ronel Blanco will be the top four starters in what could be a six-man rotation for the time being, since the Astros are in the midst of playing 29 games in a 30-day span. Neither Hunter Brown or Spencer Arrighetti has pitched well this season, but they could be penciled in as the fifth and sixth starters if Houston does decide to expand the rotation to give everyone more rest.
It doesn’t seem like Bielak will be involved in this plan, unless he clears DFA waivers and is quickly brought back to the 40-man roster after being outrighted. Bielak has thrown more than one inning in the majority of his 10 appearances this season, and 21 of his 70 overall MLB appearances have been as a starter, though the results have been spotty for the 28-year-old. Over his 191 2/3 career innings (all with Houston), Bielak has a 4.65 ERA, a modest 18.1% strikeout rate, and an 8.4% walk rate that is on the high side.
Bielak has been shuttled back and forth many times between Triple-A and the majors over the previous four years, though he is now out of minor league options. As a result, the Astros were forced to designate the righty for assignment in order to move him back to the minors, and it’s possible another team could claim Bielak away off waivers.
GO ASTROS!
Finally. Bielak is probably a nice guy, and he’s way better at baseball than I’ll ever be, but I’m really glad he’s gone. Not a good MLB pitcher.
Of course, someone’s gonna get injured soon and he’ll be back. Ugh.
Everyone needs bodies to throw out every once in a while, Bielak fits that situation.
Myself having Brown and Spencer both in Rotation stinks. Neither will ever be great pitchers. At least for Houston. Wish could get something for both but we are stuck with them for season. Bielak was odd man out. If Urquidy returns soon will one of those 2 fall off. Not sure which one is better. None of them have wins. Guess they giving us innings. How long JP will be out is not certain and will he be back come July. We do have McCullers and Garcia and they have to get built up. So Brown and Spencer until. . .
I think it is too soon to write off Arrighetti, but I agree with you on Brown. He should be in AAA.