Ken Rosenthal, Caitlin McGrath, Chandler Rome
Houston — Astros They bolstered an injury-plagued starting rotation with one of the best rental starting pitchers available on the trade market.
Houston acquires left-hander Yusei Kikuchi from Toronto Blue JaysAccording to a league source Athletic It brought stability to the team on Monday evening in an area where there was nothing to say.
It’s unclear which Blue Jays’ exact returning players will be included, but they are expected to include some promising pitching prospects. Jake Broshe was removed from the start of the match. Pittsburgh Pirates The list is also expected to include two other top prospects, league sources said.
Kikuchi is ranked 33rd overall and 7th among starting pitchers. Athletic Top 50 Trade Deadline Big BoardHe is in the final year of a three-year, $36 million contract he signed with the Blue Jays ahead of the 2022 season, and is owed $10 million in salary before he becomes a free agent at season’s end, temporarily putting the Astros over the second luxury tax threshold.
The 33-year-old Kikuchi had an up-and-down tenure with the Blue Jays, even missing a spot in the starting rotation in 2022. But he has developed into a solid starter this season, starting a league-high 22 games.
Entering Monday’s game, he has a 4.75 ERA, but his 10.1 strikeouts per nine innings ranks in the top 10 in the American League. His FIP is 3.64 and his batting average is .344, so bad luck appears to be playing a role in his elevated ERA.
Kikuchi is not a first-tier starter and isn’t expected to be one with the Astros. He has thrown at least 155 innings in two of the past three seasons, more than most of Houston’s current starting staff has ever done.
Two of the team’s most consistent starters. Ronell Blanco and Hunter BrownGeneral manager Dana Brown and manager Joe Espada both wanted to go with a six-man rotation to give the team some breathing room, but with six starting pitchers on the disabled list, they don’t have the personnel to make that happen.
Kikuchi will immediately slot into the middle of the rotation behind Blanco, Braun and Framber Valdez, and with his experience coming out of the bullpen, he could be a valuable pitcher in key games late in the innings. Justin Verlander and Luis Garcia Returning from injured list.
This story will be updated.
(Top photo of Yusei Kikuchi by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
