Plan to promote Jake Bloss to start against the Orioles

CHICAGO — Needing rotation help, the Astros plan to call up potential pitcher Jake Bloss from Double-A Corpus Christi to start Friday’s series opener against the Orioles, a person with knowledge confirmed. knowledge at The Chronicle.

That marks a sharp jump for Bloss, a 6-foot-3 right-hander. Bloss has made just eight starts above A ball. He has a 1.61 ERA in 44 2/3 innings this season at Double-A Corpus Christi.

In his last outing on June 15, Bloss pitched the first 6 1/3 innings of a combined no-hitter. He allowed 19 hits in his 44 2/3 innings in Double-A.

The fact that Houston fast-tracked Bloss to his debut reflects its injury-depleted rotation. Justin Verlander’s placement on the 15-day IL with a neck illness Tuesday left the Astros with four active starters and just one other healthy starter on their 40-man rotation in the minors.

Bloss is not on the 40-man roster and Houston will have to make a corresponding 40-man move to add him.

Astros general manager Dana Brown pointed to Bloss as a potential depth candidate after the losses of Javier and Urquidy and said on the Astros’ flagship radio station last weekend that he “didn’t afraid to move guys quickly” through the system. The promotion of Bloss will be proof of this.

Bloss, a native of Greensboro, North Carolina, was named Big East Pitcher of the Year during his final season at Georgetown. The Astros used the No. 99 pick on him in last year’s draft.