Houston Astros shut down young starter due to shoulder issues

Just when the Houston Astros thought they were starting to get back to a healthy rotation, they face another potential loss.

Houston manager Joe Espada told Sports Talk 790-AM Tuesday that right-hander JP France was shut down with a shoulder issue and will undergo further testing to determine the extent of the injury. issue.

Earlier on Tuesday, The Athletic reported that France could be out for “a while.”

The Astros shifted to Triple-A Sugar Land on April 26 after a slow start. He was 0-3 with a 7.46 ERA in five starts, with 22 strikeouts and 12 walks. Batters were hitting .290 against him.

He made one start with Sugar Land on April 30, in which he allowed three runs and four hits in 3.2 innings. He struck out three and walked four.

The Space Cowboys placed him on injured reserve Tuesday.

The 29-year-old Frenchman made his Major League debut last season and was a solid starter in the backfield for Houston, going 11-6 with a 3.83 ERA in 24 games (23 starts). He struck out 101 and walked 47 in 136.1 innings.

The Astros selected France in the 14th round of the 2018 MLB Draft out of Mississippi State. He made steady progress in the minors, but had his breakthrough in 2021 when he went 9-3 with a 3.79 ERA in 25 games (18 starts).

Houston is currently working with five healthy starting pitchers. The Astros will get a boost this weekend when Cristian Javier joins the rotation against the Detroit Tigers.

But Houston has José Urquidy (right forearm sprain) on the 15-day injured list, while Lance McCullers Jr. (right forearm surgery) and Luis Garcia (Tommy John surgery) are on the 60-day injured list.