Sources – Astros acquire left-hander Yusei Kikuchi from Blue Jays

The Houston Astros acquired left-hander Yusei Kikuchi from the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday night, sources told ESPN, adding a much-needed starter to their injury-ravaged pitching staff as they battle Seattle and try to hold off Texas in the American League West.

Kikuchi, 33, has a 4.75 ERA that’s been inflated by bad luck with balls in play this season, but Houston is counting on his 130 strikeouts and 30 walks in 115⅔ innings to predict better performances.

The Blue Jays will receive right-hander Jake Bloss, who moved from High-A to the major leagues this season, in exchange for Kikuchi.

A pending free agent, Kikuchi is the top player the Blue Jays have traded so far, including reliever Yimi Garcia, catcher Danny Jansen, infielder Justin Turner and reliever Nate Pearson. He is Houston’s first acquisition before the 6 p.m. deadline on Tuesday and will replace Bloss in the team’s rotation, joining Framber Valdez, Hunter Brown, Ronel Blanco and Spencer Arrighetti.

Injuries have nearly torpedoed the Astros’ season. Their starters currently on the injured list include Cristian Javier, Lance McCullers Jr., Luis Garcia, Jose Urquidy and Justin Verlander, the last of whom is expected to return in August. Despite a rocky start, the Astros have rallied to catch the Mariners and entered Monday’s games tied for first place in the American League West.

Kikuchi signed a three-year, $36 million contract with Toronto after spending his first three seasons with the Seattle Mariners. In 156 career appearances, he has a 4.72 ERA and has struck out 761 batters while allowing 268 walks in 749⅔ innings.

Bloss, 23, was selected in the third round of last year’s draft out of Georgetown and has had one of the fastest rises in the class. Houston promoted him after four starts in High-A, did the same after eight starts in Double-A and gave him just one start in Triple-A before calling him up to the major leagues.

With the Astros, Bloss has a 6.94 ERA in 11 1/2 innings and has allowed five home runs in three starts, including four in his last start against Oakland. He was scheduled to start Monday but was left out before the game after Houston and Toronto reached agreement.