Report: Astros starter Cristian Javier to undergo Tommy John surgery, another blow to Houston rotation

Houston Astros starting pitcher Cristian Javier is expected to undergo Tommy John surgery on Thursday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Neither the Astros nor Javier have confirmed the information. The reported procedure will end his season and deal another blow to an already struggling Astros rotation.

The Astros placed Javier on injured reserve on May 27 due to forearm discomfort. He hasn’t pitched since. Manager Joe Espada told reporters Monday that Javier was waiting to hear back from a doctor regarding a second opinion. Espada previously told reporters that Javier was scheduled to undergo imaging, the results of which were not subsequently made public.

According to Rome, orthopedic surgeon Dr. Keith Meister recommended that Javier undergo Tommy John surgery.

Javier’s placement on injured reserve in May was his second of the season. Houston previously scratched him from a scheduled April 21 start and placed him on the 15-day IL. Javier was dominant in four starts before his first stint on the IL. In 23.1 innings including shutouts, Javier posted a 1.54 ERA with 18 strikeouts.

He allowed seven earned runs in 2.1 innings to the Detroit Tigers upon his return from the IL on May 11. He then pitched six shutout innings in a start against the Oakland A’s before allowing four earned runs in four innings in a May 21 start against the Los Angeles Angels. He was placed on the IL for the second time six days later and has not pitched since.

Javier has become a key member of Houston’s rotations since joining MLB with the Astros in 2020. He started six innings of Philadelphia’s combined no-hitter in Game 4 of the 2022 World Series on the road to a 4-2 series victory. He also pitched 5 1/3 shutouts in a 1-0 ALCS win over the New York Yankees in 2022. Javier finished that postseason with a 0.71 ERA while allowing just one run earned in two starts and one relief appearance.

In seven starts this season, Javier has a 3.89 ERA with 27 strikeouts and 19 walks allowed in 34 2/3 innings pitched.

News of Javier’s pending procedure comes a day after ESPN reported that Astros starter Jose Urquidy is expected to require Tommy John surgery. Urquidy did not pitch for Houston this season after suffering a forearm strain in spring training.

Starter Lance McCullers Jr. has not pitched since undergoing surgery last June to remove bone spurs and repair the flexor tendon in his throwing arm. We don’t yet know when he will be able to return.

The Astros entered Tuesday at 27-34, seven games behind the Seattle Mariners in the AL West.