Fantasy News

• Astros' J.P. France: Being optioned

  Rotowire Apr 25, 2024

  The Astros are optioning France to Triple-A Sugar Land ahead of their trip to Mexico City on Saturday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports. France is being optioned to clear a spot for Framber Valdez, who will start Sunday. In France's last outing Tuesday, he took the loss while allowing five runs on five hits and four walks over five innings against the Cubs. The 29-year-old has now given up multiple home runs in consecutive starts. The move prompts questions about how the Astros rotation lines up going forward.

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• Astros' J.P. France: Away on paternity leave

  Rotowire Apr 2, 2024

  The Astros placed France on the paternity list Tuesday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports. France will be allowed to miss up to three days as he welcomes a new addition to his family. Dylan Coleman was recalled from Triple-A Sugar Land in a corresponding move.

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• Astros' J.P. France: Falls short of quality start

  Rotowire Mar 31, 2024

  France didn't factor into the decision Sunday against the Yankees, pitching 5.2 innings and allowing three runs on six hits and one walk. He struck out five. France came one out shy of notching a quality start in his 2024 debut and was pulled after retiring the first two batters he faced in the sixth at 94 pitches. While Sunday's performance was by no means a disappointment, the second-year big-leaguer will likely have to do more to stick in the Astros rotation once Justin Verlander (shoulder) and Jose Urquidy (forearm) are healthy. France's next start is tentatively scheduled to come during a road series against the Rangers.

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• Astros' J.P. France: Makes spring debut

  Rotowire Mar 17, 2024

  France (shoulder) struck out four and allowed one run on four hits and one walk over 2.1 innings Saturday in the Astros' 6-1 loss to the Mets in Grapefruit League play. France fell short of the three innings he had expected to cover in his spring debut, but he reached the 50-pitch mark and was able to generate 11 swings and misses on the day. Per Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle, France's delayed buildup during spring training while he battled shoulder inflammation isn't expected to derail his bid for the Opening Day rotation, especially after a spot opened up for him due to Justin Verlander (shoulder) being set to begin the campaign on the injured list. Kawahara notes that France has been working on adding a sinker to his arsenal in 2024 to provide another weapon to combat right-handed hitters. Though he held lefties to a .678 OPS over his 136.1 innings as a rookie in 2023, righties posted a .789 OPS while the right-handed France leaned mostly on a four-seam fastball, cutter and sweeping slider in those matchups versus same-handed hitters.

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• Astros' J.P. France: On track for Opening Day

  Rotowire Mar 5, 2024

  France (shoulder) will throw live batting practice Wednesday and is on track to begin the season in the Astros' rotation, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. France came into camp battling some right shoulder inflammation but has made steady progress since then. He should be cleared for games soon after if Wednesday's live BP session goes well, giving him time to ramp up for Opening Day.

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• Astros' J.P. France: Throws off mound

  Rotowire Feb 22, 2024

  France (shoulder) threw off a mound Wednesday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports. The right-hander reported to camp with some inflammation in his shoulder and was initially limited to throwing on flat ground. He has since progressed to mound work, and France said Thursday that all went well. While it may be a while before we see him in Grapefruit League games, France has a realistic shot to be ready for Opening Day, barring a setback.

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• Astros' J.P. France: Battling shoulder inflammation

  Rotowire Feb 14, 2024

  Astros general manager Dana Brown said Wednesday that France is dealing with shoulder inflammation, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports. While it's less than ideal that France is nursing an injury in the early stages of spring training, Brown didn't express much concern, noting that the right-hander hasn't been shut down from throwing and is still able to play catch. France is likely to gradually stretch out his throwing distance before advancing to mound work in the weeks to come, but the shoulder injury is still likely to delay his Grapefruit League debut. So long as France is fully stretched out by the end of camp, he could still head into Opening Day with a spot in Houston's rotation.

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• Astros' J.P. France: Available out of bullpen

  Rotowire Sep 30, 2023

  France (personal) is back with the Astros and is available out of the bullpen, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports. France was scratched from his scheduled start against Arizona on Friday due to a family emergency. While his absence lasted just one day, he won't get another chance to start.

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• Astros' J.P. France: Scratched due to family emergency

  Rotowire Sep 29, 2023

  France was scratched from his start Friday versus the Diamondbacks due to a family emergency. Jose Urquidy will get the start instead as the Astros open their final series of the regular season. Entering play Friday, they sit two games back of the Rangers for first place in the AL West and one game up on the Mariners for the third AL wild-card spot.

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• Astros' J.P. France: Scratched from start Friday

  Rotowire Sep 29, 2023

  France was scratched from his start Friday against the Diamondbacks for undisclosed reasons, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports. Given their position in the American League West and wild-card standings, Friday's game is pretty close to a must-win game for the Astros, so France must be dealing with some kind of physical issue. Look for an update on France's status to arrive later Friday. Jose Urquidy will pick up his first start since Aug. 23 in place of France.

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• Astros' J.P. France: Walks five in win

  Rotowire Sep 10, 2023

  France (11-5) yielded one run on four hits and five walks over six innings Sunday, striking out five and earning a win over the Padres. Despite his lackluster final line, France threw five shutout frames before Matt Carpenter's solo shot in the sixth inning. France has allowed nine homers in his last five appearances, posting a brutal 7.20 ERA during that span. However, he's given up two or fewer runs in eight of his last 10 outings with a 7-2 record across that stretch. France now owns a 3.61 ERA and a 96:42 K:BB through 127 innings. His next start is projected to be in Kansas City.

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• Astros' J.P. France: Surrenders five in no-decision

  Rotowire Sep 5, 2023

  France did not factor into the decision Monday, allowing five runs on six hits and three walks over five innings in Houston's 13-6 victory over the Rangers. He struck out five. France struggled early Monday, allowing two runs in the opening frame in an eventual no-decision. After posting a 2.75 ERA through his first 18 starts, France has now surrendered 17 runs in his last three outings (13 innings), pushing his ERA to 3.72 with a 1.31 WHIP and 91:37 K:BB across 121 innings this season. The 28-year-old rookie will look to get back on track in his next outing, currently scheduled for this weekend against the Padres.

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• Astros' J.P. France: Earns loss despite quality start

  Rotowire Aug 19, 2023

  France (9-4) took the loss Friday, allowing two runs on seven hits and one walk over six innings in a 2-0 loss against the Mariners. He struck out seven. France continues to pitch well in his first major-league season but was outmatched in a pitchers' duel by fellow rookie Bryce Miller. France has allowed three or fewer runs in each of his last 13 starts and has gone at least six innings in 11 of those 13 appearances. He's currently projected to face the Red Sox next week in the friendly confines of Minute Maid Park.

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• Astros' J.P. France: Cruises to ninth victory

  Rotowire Aug 13, 2023

  France (9-3) earned the win over the Angels on Saturday, allowing two runs on four hits and one walk while striking out five batters over seven innings. France was back in the rotation Saturday after a temporary move to the bullpen following his previous start. The right-hander continued to hum along, picking up his fifth win over his past five outings. Excluding an effective 3.1-inning relief appearance last Sunday against New York, France has picked up four straight quality starts, going exactly seven innings in each instance. He's given up more than three earned runs in an outing only twice over 17 appearances on the campaign, with his last such performance coming all the way back on May 29. The only knock on him from a fantasy perspective has been his below-average strikeout numbers, but France has still been a valuable rotation piece with nine victories, a 2.74 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP.

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• Astros' J.P. France: Back in rotation Saturday

  Rotowire Aug 9, 2023

  France is scheduled to start Saturday's game against the Angels in Houston, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports. After the Astros acquired Justin Verlander from the Mets and returned Jose Urquidy from the 60-day injured list last week, Houston elected to keep a five-man rotation intact, leaving France as the odd man out. With Urquidy turning in a short start Sunday against the Yankees in his first outing back from the IL, France ended up coming in relief and struck out four over 3.1 innings en route to nabbing the win. Just as manager Dusty Baker suggested was the case last week, France's move to the bullpen was short-lived, as Houston will move to a six-man rotation at least temporarily while the team is in the midst of a stretch of nine games in nine days. France will return to the hill Saturday looking to claim his seventh win in eight appearances.

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• Astros' J.P. France: Scoops up win in relief

  Rotowire Aug 7, 2023

  France (8-3) was the pitcher of record in Sunday's 9-7 win over the Yankees after giving up one unearned run on three hits and three walks while striking out four over 3.1 innings out of the bullpen. After serving as a starter in his first 15 appearances with Houston, France moved to the bullpen Sunday to clear a spot in the rotation for right-hander Jose Urquidy, who was activated from the 60-day injured list to make his first start since April 30. Urquidy was on a limited pitch count and labored through 3.1 innings before being pulled from the contest, paving the way for France to effectively piggyback him. France was able to come away with his fourth consecutive win and his sixth win in seven outings while lowering his ERA to 2.75 in the process. The rookie right-hander isn't expected to be in line for a permanent stay in the bullpen, but manager Dusty Baker has yet to reveal when France may make his next start.

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• Astros' J.P. France: Making temporary move to bullpen

  Rotowire Aug 4, 2023

  Astros manager Dusty Baker said Friday that France is being moved to the bullpen only temporarily, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports. France will be available in relief as a piggyback option Sunday behind Jose Urquidy (shoulder), who is returning from the 60-day injured list to start the Astros' series finale with the Yankees. Even though France will move to the bullpen this weekend, the Astros seem willing to roll with a six-man rotation for at least a portion of the stretch run. The 28-year-old France has delivered a sharp 2.85 ERA through 91.2 innings (15 starts) this season with Houston.

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• Astros' J.P. France: Allows just one unearned run

  Rotowire Jul 25, 2023

  France (6-3) earned the win Tuesday against the Rangers after he gave up one unearned run on five hits and two walks across seven innings. He struck out three. The rookie right-hander generated a mere four swinging strikes but allowed only five singles as Texas managed just a single unearned run against him. It's France's fourth victory in his past five starts, and he has a 1.72 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 16:6 K:BB over 31.1 frames in that span. The 28-year-old now has a 2.87 ERA through his first 14 major-league starts.

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• Astros' J.P. France: Turns in no-decision

  Rotowire Jul 15, 2023

  France did not factor into the decision Friday, allowing four runs on nine hits over 4.1 innings against the Angels. He struck out two and did not walk a batter. France had one of the more mediocre starts of his young career, failing to complete five innings for the first time since May 17. However, this could simply be a minor bump in the road for the right-hander as he's generally been good this year (3.31 ERA, 1.26 WHIP). France's next start is tentatively slated for next Thursday against the A's.

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• Astros' J.P. France: Allows three runs over six frames

  Rotowire Jul 5, 2023

  France (4-3) earned the win Wednesday, allowing three runs on six hits and one walk over six innings against the Rockies. He struck out four. France allowed the leadoff man to reach base in three of his first five innings of work and it finally cost him in the fifth, as he surrendered two runs on singles by Harold Castro and Jurickson Profar after walking Nolan Jones to open the frame. The right-hander would still make it through six innings for the seventh consecutive start, however, while going on to record his fourth win. France also has not allowed more than three runs in any game over that stretch and now holds a solid 3.26 ERA after Wednesday's outing.

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