The Astros transferred Wesneski (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Tuesday.
The right-hander is undergoing Tommy John surgery this week, so the move to the 60-day IL is simply procedural. Wesneski will be sidelined for the rest of 2025 and at least the first half of the 2026 campaign.
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Astros' Hayden Wesneski: Requires Tommy John surgery
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Manager Joe Espada announced after Sunday's win over the Rangers that Wesneski (elbow) will undergo Tommy John surgery this week, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
The right-hander was dealing with some swelling after landing on the injured list May 9 due to elbow discomfort, and he's now headed for Tommy John surgery after being diagnosed with UCL damage. Wesneski will miss the rest of the year and will also be sidelined for at least the first half of the 2026 campaign since the procedure carries a typical recovery timeline of 14-to-18 months.
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Astros' Hayden Wesneski: Swelling still an issue
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Wesneski underwent an MRI on Saturday that showed inflammation in his elbow, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Wesneski was placed on the injured list Friday due to the inflammation, but the team is waiting for the swelling to subside to make an official diagnosis. Manager Joe Espada said he expects it will be a few more days before that occurs, so the right-hander remains without a clear return timeline.
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Astros' Hayden Wesneski: Won't start this week
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Wesneski isn't expected to make his next start until the Astros' three-game series in Milwaukee early next week, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Manager Joe Espada relayed Tuesday that Wesneski isn't dealing with an injury, but the Astros are eager to build in some extra rest for the right-hander after he lacked his usual efficiency in his most recent start Friday, when he recorded a season-low one strikeout and threw 51 of his 80 pitches for strikes in a 2-0 loss to the Royals. With Wesneski not scheduled to pitch this week, the Astros called up AJ Blubaugh from Triple-A Sugar Land to start Wednesday against the Tigers, and a sixth starter will be added to the mix against the White Sox on Sunday, when Lance McCullers (forearm) is scheduled to come off the 15-day injured list to make his 2025 debut with Houston.
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Astros' Hayden Wesneski: Getting extra rest
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Manager Joe Espada said Tuesday that Wesneski is healthy but won't make his scheduled turn through the rotation Wednesday against the Tigers in order to get him some extra rest, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
The right-hander labored in his last start Friday versus the Royals, as he issued three walks after handing out just one in his first four starts of the year. Wesneski has worked as a swingman in the majors prior to this year with 22 starts in 68 appearances, so it's not a huge surprise he'll require some extra rest here and there. The Astros haven't announced who will start instead Wednesday, but A.J. Blubaugh is a likely candidate and is on the taxi squad, per Rome. Wesneski now appears poised to take the mound Friday on the road versus the White Sox.
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Astros' Hayden Wesneski: Saddled with second loss
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Wesneski (1-2) took the loss Friday against the Royals, surrendering two earned runs on eight hits while striking out one batter over five-plus innings. He did not issue a walk.
Wesneski had 25 punchouts across 23 innings entering Friday's contest, but his third-inning strikeout of Jonathan India was the only one he was able to muster in five frames against Kansas City. Despite allowing consistent traffic on the bases, Wesneski didn't surrender a run until Kyle Isbel brought Drew Waters home on a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning. The right-hander then came back out for the sixth but was pulled after allowing hits to the first two batters he faced, one of which eventually came around to score. Houston's offense, on the other hand, wasn't able to get anything going against Seth Lugo, so Wesneski will take a 1-2 record as well as a 3.86 ERA into his next start at home against Detroit.
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Astros' Hayden Wesneski: Strikes out 10 in win
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Wesneski (1-1) allowed three runs on five hits over six innings Sunday, striking out 10 and earning a win over the Angels.
Wesneski picked up his first win as an Astro in a fairly unconventional way. He coughed up three solo home runs and generated only 11 swinging strikes despite the 10 punchouts. It was also his second straight quality start after taking a loss in his season debut. Wesneski is sporting a 4.00 ERA with a 21:3 K:BB through 18 innings. He's currently scheduled to face the Padres at home next weekend.
Wesneski didn't factor into the decision Monday against Seattle after allowing two runs on three hits and no walks in seven innings, striking out five.
Wesneski was excellent Monday, tossing four scoreless innings to open the game before Ryan Bliss tagged him for a two-run homer in the fifth inning. The right-hander then threw two more clean frames thereafter to cap off a strong outing. Although Wesneski has a 3.75 ERA through two starts this year, he holds a superb 0.67 WHIP and 11:3 K:BB over 12.0 innings and should carry plenty of streaming appeal at home against the Angels in his next projected start this weekend.
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Astros' Hayden Wesneski: Making final tune-up start
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Wesneski (foot) is starting Tuesday's exhibition game against Triple-A Sugar Land.
Wesneski needed X-rays after being struck on the left foot by a comebacker in an appearance in a minor-league game last week, but those tests were negative and he is fine. The right-hander will open the season as the Astros' fifth starter.
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Astros' Hayden Wesneski: Getting X-rays on foot
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Wesneski will undergo X-rays after being struck on the left foot by a comebacker in a minor-league game Thursday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
The X-rays seem to be precautionary, as Wesneski was spotted participating in drills Friday. Assuming testing doesn't uncover a more serious issue, the right-hander is slated to open the season as the Astros' fifth starter, an assignment that became more important when Luis Garcia was shut down Thursday after experiencing further soreness in his elbow.
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Astros' Hayden Wesneski: Making push for rotation
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Wesneski has allowed one earned run across 6.1 innings while maintaining an 11:3 K:BB in the Grapefruit League this spring.
Wesneski is a top candidate to begin the season in the Astros' rotation with both Luis Garcia (elbow) and Lance McCullers (forearm) set to begin the season on the injured list. According to Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle, Wesneski has prepped for the role by adding a curveball to his arsenal. The results this spring have been strong, highlighted by his outing Saturday when he struck out five and walked one across 2.1 frames.
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Astros' Hayden Wesneski: Goes to Houston in Tucker trade
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The Astros acquired Wesneski, Isaac Paredes and Cam Smith from the Cubs on Friday in exchange for Kyle Tucker, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Wesneski put up a 3.86 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 67:21 K:BB over 67.2 innings with the Cubs this past season, splitting time between the rotation and bullpen. The Houston native will be stretched out during spring training, but the right-hander's ultimate role next season could depend on what other moves Houston makes this winter, and how far Lance McCullers (forearm) and Luis Garcia (elbow) have progressed in their recoveries.
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Cubs' Hayden Wesneski: Activated from injured list
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The Cubs activated Wesneski (foreram) from the 15-day injured list Friday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Wesneski has been sidelined since late July with a right forearm strain but has been cleared to return after making four rehab appearances with Triple-A Iowa. He's pegged for a multi-inning relief role with the Cubs down the stretch.
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Cubs' Hayden Wesneski: Nearing activation
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Wesneski (forearm) began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Iowa on Sept. 6 and has given up three earned runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out seven across five innings over his four appearances.
After throwing two scoreless innings for Iowa on Tuesday, Wesneski could be on the cusp of activation from the 15-day injured list. According to Ryan Herrera of AllCHGO.com, Wesneski was spotted in the Cubs' clubhouse Wednesday, which suggests his rehab assignment has come to an end. Once he's formally reinstated, Wesneski will likely serve as a multi-inning option out of the bullpen.
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Cubs' Hayden Wesneski: Lands on injured list
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The Cubs placed Wesneski on the 15-day injured list Saturday with a right forearm strain, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Wesneski pitched 1.1 shutout innings out of the bullpen during Friday's loss to Arizona, though he appears to have come away from his latest appearance with an injury. He'll be held out of action until at least Aug. 4, and the Cubs will recall Hunter Bigge from Triple-A Iowa to fill the opening in their bullpen.
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Cubs' Hayden Wesneski: Crushed by Cards
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Wesneski (3-6) took the loss in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Cardinals, surrendering 11 runs (four earned) on 10 hits and a walk over four innings. He struck out four.
The right-hander's own errors during a nightmarish nine-run first inning prevented more damage to his ERA, but it was still a poor outing for Wesneski at the worst possible time, as it put extra pressure on the Cubs' bullpen ahead of the nightcap. In four starts since rejoining the rotation in late June, he's posted a 5.59 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 20:6 K:BB in 19.1 innings while serving up five homers, including a three-run blast by Alec Burleson on Saturday.
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Cubs' Hayden Wesneski: Fans seven in no-decision
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Wesneski did not factor into the decision in a loss to the Giants on Wednesday, allowing three runs on two hits and one walk over four innings while striking out seven.
Wesneski got off to a solid start, striking out four of the first six batters he faced before surrendering back-to-back home runs to Michael Conforto and David Villar in the second. The right-hander would go 1-2-3 through the next two innings before being relieved by Drew Smyly to open the fifth, though the former would still finish with his second-highest strikeout total of the season. It also marked Wesneski's longest outing since May 8 against the Padres when he went six innings.
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Cubs' Hayden Wesneski: Takes loss Friday
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Wesneski (2-4) allowed a solo home run in an inning of relief to take the loss Friday against the Cardinals.
Wesneski allowed the first run of the game in the eighth inning, a solo shot by Pedro Pages, then got saddled with the loss as the Cubs got blanked 3-0. Despite the hiccup, the 26-year-old has been solid this season as he's settled into a relief role for Chicago, posting a 2.84 ERA and 34 strikeouts across 38 innings.
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Cubs' Hayden Wesneski: Loses again Thursday
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Wesneski (2-3) allowed a run on one hit across 1.2 innings of relief to take the loss Thursday against Atlanta. He had no walks and struck out two.
Chicago starter Ben Brown tossed four scoreless innings but left with the game tied 0-0. Wesneski took over and promptly allowed a solo home run to Jarred Kelenic, which was enough to get saddled with the loss in what ended up as a 3-0 Atlanta victory. The righty started the season by earning wins in each of his first two appearances, but he's 0-3 across eight outings since then, though he does have a solid 2.55 ERA during that stretch.
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Cubs' Hayden Wesneski: Takes loss in relief Monday
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Wesneski (2-2) allowed two runs on three hits across three innings of relief to take the loss Monday against Atlanta. He walked one and struck out two.
Wesneski had worked as a starter over his last three appearances, compiling a strong 2.20 ERA in the process, but he returned to the bullpen Monday and took over for starter Shota Imanaga, who tossed five scoreless innings. The righty seemed to lose a little sharpness in the relief role as he suffered his second loss of the season. Wesneski may return to the rotation at some point, though he's slated to work as a long reliever for now, which limits his fantasy appeal.
