Oh boy, the Houston Astros sure had a mixed bag of news this Sunday morning. Let’s dive in, shall we? First off, the not-so-great news: José Urquidy’s elbow is causing a bit of a stir. The team’s got him under the MRI scanner, fingers crossed and all (
). Poor Urquidy, only 28, and his stats last season? Well, they’ve seen better days – a 5.29 ERA and 1.43 WHIP over just 63 innings. That shoulder of his was quite the troublemaker. And now, elbow pain? Pulled himself out of a game on Saturday, he did. It’s a bit of a rollercoaster for him, promise mixed with setbacks.
But hey, not all’s gloomy in Astros land. Here comes the sunshine: Justin Verlander, that veteran arm, is easing back into the groove. Threw a “light” bullpen session on Sunday (
). Next up? Maybe facing live batters. At 41, he’s shaking off a shoulder issue but seems just a hop, skip, and a jump away from rejoining the fray. Sure, he’s starting off on the injured list, but the vibe? It’s hopeful. A month or so, and he could be back in action.
With Verlander and Urquidy on the mend, the Astros’ rotation looks a bit like a jigsaw puzzle missing a couple of pieces. But, not to worry. Framber Valdez, Cristian Javier, and Hunter Brown are holding the fort. J.P. France and Ronel Blanco? They’re likely stepping in for a bit. And let’s not forget, Verlander and Urquidy are expected to make their grand re-entrances. Plus, Lance McCullers Jr. and Luis García are on their own paths to recovery. By the year’s end, this rotation could be something special. For now, though, it’s a bit of a patchwork.
Oh, and in case you missed it, the Astros had a pretty decent run last year. After clinching the World Series in 2022, they bagged the AL West title with a 90-72 record. But then, the ALCS Game 7 happened, and well, the Rangers happened. Life’s full of twists, turns, and the occasional curveball, right?
