Journeyman right-hander Jason Alexander produced on Sunday what the Houston Astros hope is among the final fill-in starts this season for the team.
Alexander limited the New York Yankees to one hit over six shutout innings in a 7-1 victory in the rubber match of that three-game series.
The Astros capped a nine-game road trip at 4-5, a stretch that featured the return of All-Star infielder Carlos Correa via trade and right-hander Spencer Arrighetti (fractured thumb) from a four-month stint on the injured list.
Houston will open a six-game homestand on Monday against the Boston Red Sox with not only Correa and Arrighetti back in the fold but also right-hander Cristian Javier, who will make his season debut Monday after missing nearly 15 months following Tommy John surgery.
Houston enters the series with a half-game lead over the Seattle Mariners in the American League West. The Astros’ avalanche of injuries has made their current place in the standings something akin to miraculous, but with Arrighetti back and Javier returning, better health is on the horizon.
The additions of Jesus Sanchez, Ramon Urias and Correa at the trade deadline should boost an offense that has staggered with Yordan Alvarez (hand) and Jake Meyers (calf) sidelined. The series victory over the Yankees offered a glimpse of what might unfold during the stretch run.
“I feel like, since I’ve been up here the last three weeks, our hitters have been on it,” Alexander said. “Sometimes we’re not getting that big hit, and that’s where we’re having to fight through games, but I think we’re playing some great baseball.”
Javier will make his first start for the Astros since May 21, 2024, when he allowed four runs on eight hits and three walks with one strikeout over four innings in the Astros’ 6-5 win over the Los Angeles Angels. He made five rehab starts ahead of his anticipated return to the active roster.
Javier is 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA in five career appearances (three starts) against the Red Sox.
Left-hander Garrett Crochet (13-4, 2.24 ERA) has the starting assignment for Boston. He leads the majors in wins and innings (148 1/3) and paces the AL in ERA.
Crochet is unbeaten over his past 11 starts and has recorded a winning decision in six consecutive outings, posting a 2.77 ERA with 48 strikeouts across 39 innings in that span.
He is 0-2 with a 4.35 ERA in three career appearances (two starts) against the Astros. He faced Houston twice last season while pitching for the Chicago White Sox and did not factor into the decision of a 5-4 win on Aug. 16 after allowing one run on four hits with nine strikeouts over four innings.
The Red Sox, who fell 6-2 to the San Diego Padres on Sunday, have dropped three of four games following a seven-game winning streak that included a three-game series sweep of the Astros last weekend in Boston.
Not only will Correa be playing at home for the Astros for the first time since his acquisition, but Red Sox third baseman Alex Bregman will play in Houston for the first time since leaving the team as a free agent last offseason. Bregman was part of two World Series title teams in his nine seasons in Houston.
“It’s going to be great,” Bregman said. “It’s going to be cool to be back in Houston playing against a really good ballclub. I look forward to going out there and competing with the guys and trying to get some wins.”
–Field Level Media
