Astros' Cristian Javier: Four innings in return from WBC
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Javier allowed three earned runs on five hits and one walk while striking out five across four innings in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Marlins.
Javier's line wasn't that impressive in his first official outing since returning from the World Baseball Classic. However, he managed to throw 76 total pitches, 51 of which went for strikes. Framber Valdez is likely to serve as the Astros' Opening Day starter, but Javier looks to be ready when he takes the mound for the first time during the 2023 regular season.
Javier signed a five-year, $64 million extension with the Astros on Friday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
This could be the first of many long-term deals under new Astros general manager Dana Brown, who has seemingly convinced owner Jim Crane that it's worth locking up certain key contributors. Javier flourished with a 2.54 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 194:52 K:BB in 148.2 regular-season innings in 2022. The 25-year-old then allowed just one earned run and racked up 16 strikeouts across 12.2 postseason frames. His contract now runs through the 2027 campaign, securing all of Javier's arbitration-eligible seasons and what would have been his first two years of free agency.
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Astros' Cristian Javier: Stellar Game 4 performance
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Javier pitched six scoreless innings and earned the victory during Wednesday's 5-0 win over the Phillies in Game 4 of the World Series, allowing zero hits and two walks while striking out nine.
Javier delivered the best postseason performance of his young career in Game 3, keeping the Phillies hitless through six outstanding innings. Javier was removed after 97 total pitches, but the Houston bullpen would go on to complete the combined no-hitter, which was just the second no-no in World Series history. The only flaw on the night for the 25-year-old was that both walks he allowed resulted in steals of second base, although both runners were stranded at the keystone. Factoring in Wednesday's blanking, Javier now has a 0.74 ERA with 16 Ks over 12.2 innings this postseason.
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Astros' Cristian Javier: Starting Game 4 despite rainout
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Javier will start Game 4 of the World Series against Philadelphia on Wednesday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
There were initial conversations that Javier wasn't a sure thing to start Game 4 if Monday's Game 3 were to be rained out, but after MLB confirmed Monday's postponement, the Astros were quick to confirm that Javier would toe the rubber Wednesday night in Game 4. He's set to face off against Aaron Nola in Philadelphia.
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Astros' Cristian Javier: Game 4 start in doubt
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Javier isn't guaranteed to start Game 4 on Wednesday if a Monday rainout pushes Game 3 back to Tuesday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Those delays would line up Justin Verlander on regular rest for Wednesday's Game 4. Of course, Javier excelled against the Yankees in the ALCS and Manager Dusty Baker said he's "undecided" about who'd start. If Monday's Game 3 is played, Javier appears locked in to start Game 4 on Tuesday.
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Astros' Cristian Javier: Shuts down New York in Game 3
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Javier pitched 5.1 scoreless innings and got the win during Saturday's 5-0 victory over the Yankees in Game 3 of the ALCS, allowing one hit and three walks while striking out five.
Javier had only made one appearance in the 2022 postseason -- a 1.1-inning relief effort in the ALDS -- but he was tasked with the start in Yankee Stadium for Game 3 and excelled on the road. The 25-year-old came into the postseason with four consecutive scoreless starts of at least five innings, and he added another by limiting the powerful Yankees lineup to just one hit in 5.1 frames. Javier produced the best season of his three-year career with a 2.54 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 194:52 K:BB across 148.2 innings this year, and he's now continuing that success in the playoffs.
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Astros' Cristian Javier: Starting Game 3
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Javier will start Game 3 of the ALCS against the Yankees on Saturday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Lance McCullers appeared to be lined up to start Game 3 in New York, but he'll instead pitch Game 4 on Sunday. It will be the first start of the postseason for Javier, who allowed one run over 1.1 innings out of the bullpen in his lone appearance during the ALDS against the Mariners. The right-hander didn't allow a run over his final four starts of the regular season, though he figures to have a reduced workload Saturday while making his first start since Oct. 1.
Javier (11-9) earned the win Saturday over the Rays, allowing two hits and two walks while striking out seven across six scoreless innings.
Javier was hot in the second half of September, and he kept it going into October with his fourth straight scoreless start. In that span, he's pitched 23 innings, allowing just six hits and six walks while striking out 29 in an absolutely dominant stretch that should solidify his spot in the Astros' playoff rotation. This was likely his last start of the regular season, and the 25-year-old ended the campaign with a 2.54 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 194:52 K:BB over 148.2 innings across 30 appearances (25 starts).
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Astros' Cristian Javier: Fires six shutout frames
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Javier allowed one hit over six scoreless innings against Baltimore on Sunday. He struck out eight and did not factor in the decision.
Javier retired the first 13 batters he faced and gave up just one single in the dominant outing. Unfortunately for him, the Astros didn't secure the win until the 11th inning, preventing him from improving to 11-9. Javier has now turned in three straight scoreless outings; he's produced a 22:4 K:BB through 17 innings and lowered his season ERA to 2.65 during that span. The 25-year-old righty is projected to make his final start of the regular season next weekend at home against the Rays.
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Astros' Cristian Javier: Fans six in five scoreless
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Javier (10-9) earned the win Tuesday in Tampa Bay, striking out six in five shutout innings while allowing a hit and four walks.
Javier held the Rays hitless through the first 4.2 innings, scattering three walks. He was removed after the fifth inning having thrown 90 pitches -- 54 strikes. It was his second straight scoreless outing and the 11th consecutive start in which he allowed three earned runs or fewer. He has a 1.86 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and 58:15 K:BB in 49.1 innings since the beginning of August. His next start will likely be in the middle of next week against Arizona.
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Astros' Cristian Javier: Shuts down Tigers
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Javier (9-9) allowed two hits and no walks while striking out eight across six shutout innings to earn the win Wednesday against the Tigers.
Javier dominated the Tigers throughout the start, racking up 14 swinging strikes across 90 total pitches. In 43.1 innings since Aug. 2, Javier has a 2.08 ERA with a 56:11 K:BB. Javier has surpassed his highest workload by over 30 frames, so the Astros could continue to look for a way to limit his pitches prior to the postseason. However, when on the mound, Javier has maintained an excellent 2.87 ERA and 173:46 K:BB across 131.2 innings for the campaign.
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Astros' Cristian Javier: Fans eight in no-decision
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Javier allowed three runs (one earned) on four hits and two walks while striking out eight over 5.1 innings in a no-decision versus the Rangers on Wednesday.
Javier allowed a solo home run to Nathaniel Lowe in the first inning and got tagged for two more runs after a Jeremy Pena error in the third. Despite the early struggles, he still pitched into the sixth inning. Javier has been sharp throughout the year with a 3.01 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 165:46 K:BB through 125.2 innings across 26 appearances (21 starts). The right-hander lines up for a road start in Detroit next week.
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Astros' Cristian Javier: Starting Wednesday
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Javier will start Wednesday's game against the Rangers, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Though Javier moved to the bullpen for last weekend's series with the Orioles, it was always expected to be a short-term arrangement while the Astros had two open dates in the schedule this week. Because Justin Verlander (calf) was placed on the 15-day injured list Tuesday, Javier's return to the rotation will come even earlier than anticipated, as he'll take the hill Wednesday for his 20th start of the season. The righty allowed two runs across three innings in his only relief appearance last weekend, yet he still boasts an impressive 2.97 ERA for the season.
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Astros' Cristian Javier: Briefly moving to bullpen
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Javier won't make his scheduled turn through the rotation this weekend against the Orioles and will be available out of the bullpen, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports.
The Astros have two scheduled days off Monday and Thursday next week, and Javier will be the odd man out of the six-man rotation. The 25-year-old has a 2.88 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 146:40 K:BB across 112.1 innings this year, and he should be back in Houston's rotation before too long. Lance McCullers, Jose Urquidy and Justin Verlander will start this weekend versus Baltimore.
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Astros' Cristian Javier: Strong in no-decision
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Javier allowed a run on two hits and a walk with eight strikeouts over six innings in a no-decision versus Atlanta on Saturday.
Javier's lone mistake was a solo home run to Vaughn Grissom in the fifth inning, which tied the game at 1-1. This was Javier's fourth straight quality start, but he's picked up just one win to go with two losses in that span despite allowing only four runs across 24 innings. The right-hander continues to pitch well with a 2.88 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 146:40 K:BB through 112.1 innings across 23 outings (19 starts) this year. He's projected for a home start versus the Orioles next weekend. Considering Javier's strong pitching of late, he appears to be safe as a starter even if the Astros opt to go down to a five-man rotation later in the year.
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Astros' Cristian Javier: Strikes out six batters
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Javier (7-8) earned the win against Oakland on Sunday, allowing no runs on one hit while striking out six and walking three over six innings.
Javier was lights out in the contest, throwing 63 of 97 pitches for strikes across six frames and only allowing one hit. After reaching six or more innings four times in 16 starts prior to this month, Javier now has three such games in August alone. All three games, including Sunday's, have resulted in quality starts. The stellar outing improved Javier's ERA to 2.96, which he will take into his next appearance.
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Astros' Cristian Javier: Charged with unlucky loss
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Javier (6-8) allowed a run on six hits and no walks while striking out four in six innings to take the loss during Sunday's game against the Guardians.
Javier was effective during Sunday's outing, and the only run he gave up came via a solo homer in the bottom of the fifth inning. Although he picked up his second consecutive quality start, he was charged with the loss against Cleveland since the Astros' offense mustered just two hits. The right-hander has posted a 3.18 ERA in 17 innings over his last three outings but has been charged with a loss in each of those starts. He tentatively lines up to make his next start at home against the Athletics next Sunday.
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Astros' Cristian Javier: Submits quality start in loss
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Javier (6-7) took the loss during Tuesday's 2-1 defeat at the hands of the Red Sox, allowing two runs on four hits and one walk with seven strikeouts in six innings.
Javier struck out the side in the first inning and faced the minimum through three frames, but was done in by Rafael Devers thereafter as Boston's third baseman knocked an RBI double in the fourth and connected on a solo shot in the sixth to saddle the 25-year-old with his second straight loss. Despite the 0-2 record, Javier has pitched to a solid 3.38 ERA in 16 innings across his last three starts and was able to induce an impressive 15 swinging strikes Tuesday. He tentatively lines up to take the hill again this week Sunday in Cleveland.
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Astros' Cristian Javier: Gives up three runs in loss
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Javier (6-6) gave up three earned runs on five hits and one walk while striking out six over five innings to take the loss in a 4-2 defeat to the Athletics on Wednesday.
Stephen Vogt and Stephen Piscotty took Javier deep on back-to-back solo shots in the second. Javier gave up another run in the fifth, as the Astros offense was unable to take him off the hook. Despite having a bit of trouble keeping the ball in the yard against the Athletics, the 25-year-old right-hander only allowed six baserunners and garnered 14 swinging strikes. Javier is putting together the best season of his young career and boasts an excellent 12.3 K/9 to go along with a 2.63 xERA. He is tentatively expected to make his next start Tuesday against the Red Sox.
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Astros' Cristian Javier: Walks four in no-decision
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Javier allowed one earned run on two hits and four walks while striking out three across five innings in the first game of Thursday's doubleheader against the Yankees. He did not factor into the decision.
Javier wasn't sharp, as only 57 of his 99 pitches went for strikes. He's now walked at least three batters in each of his last three starts, during which he's allowed nine earned runs across 13.2 frames. Despite the tough stretch, Javier still owns an excellent 3.13 ERA and 115:34 K:BB across 83.1 innings for the campaign.
