Astros Activate Hunter Brown for Tuesday Start Against Tigers

The Houston Astros will activate right-hander Hunter Brown for Tuesday’s start against the Detroit Tigers, marking his return to the rotation after a two-month absence due to a Grade 2 shoulder strain. Brown, who finished third in the American League Cy Young voting in 2023, will face former teammate Framber Valdez in what could be a pivotal matchup for both teams.

Brown’s injury came just two starts into the 2024 season. Through 10 2/3 innings, he allowed only one run while striking out 17 batters. Though he felt no pain during his starts, discomfort during a between-starts throwing session led to an MRI that revealed the shoulder strain. Houston has been without his dominant presence since, and the rotation has taken a hit as a result.

The 27-year-old right-hander established himself as a top-of-the-rotation starter in 2023, posting a 2.43 ERA across 185 1/3 innings. He ranked eighth in the majors with 206 strikeouts and tied for fourth with 21 quality starts. Since returning to action on May 24, Brown has made four rehab starts, including a five-inning, 78-pitch outing in Triple-A on Wednesday.

Starting pitching has been a concern for the Astros all season. In addition to Brown’s absence, top arm Cristian Javier has also been sidelined since late April with a shoulder issue. Javier is currently on a rehab assignment and is expected to return in the next week or two. Meanwhile, Tatsuya Imai and Mike Burrows, both high-profile offseason signings, have underperformed, failing to provide the stability the rotation needed.

Kai-Wei Teng has held a rotation spot for the past six weeks, but his recent outings have been shaky. After strong performances in mid-May, Teng struggled against Pittsburgh and Los Angeles, allowing multiple runs in each. Teng will start the series opener on Monday against the Tigers.

To make room for Brown on the active and 40-man rosters, the Astros must make a move. Options are limited in the bullpen, with Bryan King, Alimber Santa, and AJ Blubaugh being the only eligible pitchers. King is unlikely to be optioned, and Santa and Blubaugh have both pitched well. If they keep the current bullpen, Teng could be sent down postgame, maintaining a five-man rotation.

For the 40-man roster, the Astros could transfer Lance McCullers Jr. or LaMonte Wade Jr. to the 60-day injured list. Either move would be necessary to officially activate Brown from the IL.

Brown’s return gives the Astros a much-needed boost as they continue their season-long campaign for another playoff run. The Tigers, meanwhile, will look to capitalize on Houston’s recent pitching struggles. The series gets underway Monday with Teng on the mound, followed by Brown and Valdez in Game 2 on Tuesday.