The Houston Astros are trending in the wrong direction as the 2025 MLB All-Star break approaches. Although leading the AL West with a 55-39 record is fine and dandy, the fact that the Astros are on a four-game losing streak following Friday's 7-3 loss to the Texas Rangers has left fans concerned about the club's outlook heading down the stretch.
Pitching has been one of the Astros' biggest struggles amid their skid, as they've been outscored 28-16 on aggregate in the last four outings. In fact, Houston has had issues on the mound all season, especially as it hasn't gotten the best performances from its starters outside of Hunter Brown and Framber Valdez.
Although the Astros could look to add another veteran arm before the July 31 trade deadline, it looks like reinforcements could be on the way in the form of an in-house option.
Injured Astros SP Cristian Javier Sent to FCL to Begin Rehab
Right-handed starting pitcher Cristian Javier is one player whom Astros fans haven't seen on the field yet this season. The 28-year-old hurler underwent Tommy John surgery last June and has since left the Houston fan base to wonder when he'll return to manager Joe Espada's rotation.
Well, fans received an encouraging update regarding Javier's situation on Saturday. According to Major League Baseball's transaction log, the Dominican starter was sent to the Florida Complex League to begin his rehab stint, which is a terrific sign for his eventual return to play.
With how volatile certain members of Houston's rotation have been this season, Astros fans would welcome Javier back with open arms.
"El Reptil" has provided a steady presence on the mound since debuting with the club in 2020, going 33-18 with a 3.59 ERA and 564 strikeouts across 501 innings in 116 regular-season appearances (82 starts). That's without mentioning the two combined no-hitters he was the starting pitcher for.
Every player's rehab is different, leaving time to tell how many FCL and minor-league appearances Javier will need before he's confident enough to return to the Astros. Still, the fact that he's set to return to the mound soon suggests that there is a shot he'll be playing meaningful games in Houston before the 2025 season is over.