The Houston Astros lost another member of their starting rotation when they placed right-hander Cristian Javier (right shoulder strain) on the 15-day injured list on Friday before opening a three-game series in Seattle.
In addition, the Astros placed outfielder Jake Meyers (oblique strain) on the 10-day IL.
Earlier this week, Houston ace right-hander Hunter Brown was shut down from throwing and placed on the 15-day IL with a right shoulder strain. That move was retroactive to April 2.
To replace Javier and Meyers, the Astros recalled right-hander J.P. France and outfielder Taylor Trammell from Triple-A Sugar Land. Righty Ronel Blanco was transferred to the 60-day injured list.
Javier, a seven-year member of the Astros, was removed after one inning with shoulder tightness on Wednesday in Colorado. He has allowed 13 earned runs in 9 1/3 innings this season (12.54 ERA) while walking nine batters and fanning four.
The Dominican Republic native was a breakout star for Houston’s 2022 World Series champions. He posting a 2.54 ERA in 25 regular-season starts, then went 2-0 with a 0.71 ERA in three postseason appearances. He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2024 and has only appeared in 18 games since.
Meyers was removed in the middle of an at-bat in the top of the second inning in the same game on Wednesday due to lower back tightness. He was hitting .243 with a home run and four RBIs in 12 games. Meyers is in his sixth year with the club and hit a career-high .292 with 16 stolen bases in 2025.
France was an important part of the Astros’ rotation in 2023, when he started 23 games and posted an 11-6 record and 3.83 ERA. After needing shoulder surgery in 2024, France returned last season and pitched in two games out of the bullpen.
Trammell debuted with Seattle in 2021 and has played with the Mariners (2021-23), Los Angeles Dodgers (2024) and New York Yankees (2024). He came to Houston in 2025 and hit .197 in a career-high 52 games.
