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.

The Astros announced Wednesday that Javier and fellow forward Jose Urquidy will both undergo right elbow surgery and miss the remainder of the 2024 season. The team did not say whether the surgery involved Tommy John.

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 had not been made public.

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

Javier struggled returning from his first IL stint

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. Prior to this stint on the IL, Javier was dominant in four starts. In 23 1/3 innings that included two shutouts, Javier posted a 1.54 ERA with 18 strikeouts.

He allowed seven earned runs in 2 1/3 innings against 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 rotation since debuting with the team in 2020. He started six innings of a combined no-hitter against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 4 of the 2022 World Series. 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, allowing just one earned run in two starts and one relief appearance.

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

More trouble for the Houston rotation

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.