The Astros lost one top-of-the-rotation arm in free agency.
They’ve now lost another one, at least temporarily, to a concerning injury.
Hunter Brown will not throw “for a few weeks” with a Grade 2 right shoulder strain, the Astros revealed Tuesday afternoon.
Houston Astros starting pitcher Hunter Brown reacts after giving up a single to Los Angeles Angels’ Jorge Soler during the fifth inning of an opening-day baseball game Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Houston. AP Apart from that, it’s not clear when the team’s ace — who was already on the 15-day injured list — will return to action.
Brown, 27, excelled in his first two starts of the season with a 0.84 ERA and 17 strikeouts across 10 2/3 innings.
This injury stint marks the first time the right-hander has landed on the IL in his big league career.
He had a breakout 2025, getting named to the American League All-Star team before finishing the season with a 2.43 ERA and logging career-bests in strikeouts (206) and innings (185 1/3).
After Framber Valdez left Houston for a three-year, $115 million contract with the Tigers, Brown was expected to be the No. 1 hurler in the Astros’ rotation.
Manager Joe Espada told reporters Tuesday that Brown felt the issue come up during a throwing session on Friday.
“It didn’t feel right and then he stopped throwing,” Espada said, according to MLB.com. “We proceeded to get him to see the doctors. He got imaging done here, and once we got those, we sent him home.
Houston Astros starting pitcher Hunter Brown reacts after striking out Boston Red Sox’s Roman Anthony during the third inning of a baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. AP “He’s never been injured and this is new for all of us,” Espada said. “He didn’t sound concerned, which is good, but it’s new. We’re going to let the doctors evaluate him and we’ll see where we go from there.”
According to multiple reports, the Astros will likely slide to a six-man starting rotation in Brown’s absence.
Houston has started off the season 6-5 and is tied atop the AL West with the Angels.
