Houston Astros starting pitcher Cristian Javier will undergo Tommy John surgery on Thursday, The Athletic’s Chandler Rome reports.
Neither the Astros nor Javier have confirmed the report. The reported procedure will end his season and deal another blow to the already ailing Astros rotation.
The Astros placed Javier on the injured list on May 27 with forearm discomfort. He hasn’t pitched since. Manager Joe Espada told reporters on Monday that Javier was waiting to hear from a doctor about a second opinion. Espada previously told reporters that Javier would undergo imaging, the results of which were subsequently not made public.
Per Rome, orthopedic surgeon Dr. Keith Meister indicated that Javier would undergo Tommy John surgery.
Javier’s placement on the injured list in May was his second of the season. Houston previously scratched him from a scheduled April 21 start and placed him on the 15-day IL. Javier was dominant in four starts prior to his first IL stint. In 23.1 innings, including shutouts, Javier posted a 1.54 ERA with 18 strikeouts.
He allowed seven earned runs in 2.1 innings against the Detroit Tigers in his May 11 return from the IL. He then pitched six shutout innings in a start against the Oakland A’s before allowing four earned runs in four innings in a May 21 start against the Los Angeles Angels. He was placed on the IL for a second time six days later and has not pitched since.
Javier has developed into a key member of Houston’s rotations since joining the Astros in MLB in 2020. He started six innings of a combined Philadelphia no-hitter in Game 4 of the 2022 World Series en route to a 4-2 series victory. He also pitched 5 1/3 shutout innings in a 1-0 ALCS win over the New York Yankees in 2022. Javier finished that postseason with a 0.71 ERA while allowing one earned run in two starts and a relief performance.
In seven starts this season, Javier has a 3.89 ERA with 27 strikeouts and 19 walks allowed in 34 2/3 innings pitched.
News of Javier’s ongoing procedure comes a day after ESPN reported that Astros starter Jose Urquidy is expected to need Tommy John surgery. Urquidy has not pitched for Houston this season after suffering a forearm strain in spring training.
Starter Lance McCullers Jr. hasn’t pitched since undergoing surgery last June to remove bone spurs and repair the flexor tendon in his throwing arm. It is not yet clear when he can return.
The Astros entered Tuesday at 27-34, seven games behind the Seattle Mariners in the AL West.
