CRISTIAN JAVIER NEWS

Locked in for Thursday's start The Astros will recall Javier from their alternate site to start Thursday's series opener versus the Angels in Houston, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Impact Houston sent Javier back to the alternate site April 10, but that was a byproduct of the team's light schedule over the past two weeks rather than the result of any dissatisfaction with the right-hander's performance through his first two starts of the season. With Houston's next off day not coming until May 3, the club will transition back to a five-man rotation featuring Javier, Zack Greinke, Jake Odorizzi, Lance McCullers and Jose Urquidy.

APRIL 21, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Sent to alternate site for work Javier was optioned to the alternate training site after Saturday's loss to the A's, Julia Morales of AT&T SportsNet Southwest reports.

Impact The right-hander delivered five scoreless frames in his second start of the season Thursday, but he'll head to the alternate site since Houston has three scheduled days off in the next nine days. Javier will remain built up as a starter and should rejoin the rotation when the Astros next need a fifth starter during the series against the Angels, which begins April 22.

APRIL 11, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Dominates in win Javier (1-0) shut out the Athletics, allowing three hits while striking out seven and walking two over seven innings in Thursday's victory.

Impact The righty was much sharper than he was in his debut, throwing 57 of his 88 pitches for strikes. The 24-year-old recorded a 3.48 ERA in his rookie campaign as he looks to build on it in 2021. His next opportunity to start comes on Tuesday against the Tigers.

APRIL 9, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Astros remain hot in home opener with 6-2 win over Athletics

Carlos Correa, Yordan Alvarez and Jose Altuve homered as the Houston Astros kept up their hot start by treating their home crowd to a 6-2 win over the Oakland Athletics

APRIL 9, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

LEADING OFF: Blue Jays play home opener in new Florida nest

The Toronto Blue Jays are set to become the first team in Major League Baseball history to play home openers in three different cities over three consecutive seasons

APRIL 8, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Carlos Correa's 9th-inning homer puts Astros past Angels 4-2

Carlos Correa hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer in the ninth inning and the Houston Astros split a short series against the AL West rival Los Angeles Angels with a 4-2 victory

APRIL 6, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Cruises until the fourth Javier allowed two runs on three hits while striking out four over 3.2 innings in Friday's 9-5 win over the Athletics.

Impact Javier cruised through the first three innings on just 39 pitches but needed 38 in the fourth to get two outs before manager Dusty Baker pulled him. In 2020, Oakland carved up the young right-hander, who earned third place in Rookie of the Year voting, plating seven runs in eight innings against Javier. He had a 2.72 ERA against all other teams. Javier missed time during spring training due to COVID-19 protocols, so his stamina early in the season may not be that of other starters that were able to make a normal spring progression.

APRIL 3, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Bregman homers for 2nd straight day, Astros beat A's again

Alex Bregman hit a three-run homer for his second longball in two games, and the Houston Astros slugged past the Oakland Athletics 9-5

APRIL 3, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Javier expected to start for Astros at Athletics

The Houston Astros visit the Oakland Athletics

APRIL 2, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Greinke, Astros shut down rival A's to win opener 8-1

Zack Greinke pitched six shutout innings, Michael Brantley and Alex Bregman homered back-to-back in the eighth, and the Houston Astros hushed an unwelcoming crowd in beating the re...

APRIL 2, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Throws 'B' game Sunday Javier threw 70 pitches over 5.1 innings in a "B" game against the Marlins on Sunday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Impact Javier, who missed a week of preparation during spring training due to health and safety protocols, is preparing to start the second game of the regular season. He's behind other starters, but Sunday's outing puts Javier in range to throw five-plus innings against the Athletics on Friday, which potentially qualifies him for a win.

MARCH 29, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Will start second game Javier will start the second game of the regular season, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Impact Astros manager Dusty Baker named the first four starters of the regular season and has Javier following Opening Day starter Zack Greinke. Javier's start will likely involve heavy bullpen management, as the right-hander's preseason buildup was impacted by a week-long absence due to issues related to COVID-19. He's thrown just three innings during Grapefruit League play, which means someone like Brandon Bielak or Bryan Abreu could be asked to pitch multiple innings that day.

MARCH 27, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Reappears in game action Javier allowed one walk over a scoreless inning in Sunday's spring game against the Nationals.

Impact This was the first game action since March 3 for Javier, who was away from camp on health and safety protocols. He's expected to be part of the starting rotation and feels there's enough time to get ready for the regular season, per Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. With 17 days remaining before Opening Day, Javier could get three more outings to build pitch counts and innings.

MARCH 15, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Returns to camp Javier (COVID-19 health and safety protocols) returned to the Astros' spring-training complex Thursday and completed a bullpen session, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle repor...

Impact Javier was one of several Houston players that was forced to self-isolate last week due to COVID-19 protocols, but only reliever Pedro Baez is believed to have tested positive for the virus. With the right-hander now back in camp less than a week after entering the protocol, he should still be on track to clinch a spot in Houston's Opening Day rotation. Javier may find himself a few days behind his fellow starters in the build-up process, however.

MARCH 11, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Odorizzi excited to play alongside Greinke with Astros

Jake Odorizzi has long looked up to fellow right-hander Zack Greinke

MARCH 9, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Astros minus 8 pitchers because of coronavirus protocols

The Houston Astros are minus eight pitchers because of COVID-19 protocols, but general manager James Click says there were no plans to pause activity at the team’s spring training...

MARCH 5, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Out due to protocols Manager Dusty Baker said Friday that Javier is out due to health and safety protocols, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Impact Javier is on track to break camp with a spot in the Astros' rotation, but his preparation will be thrown off at least to some degree until he is cleared to resume team activities.

MARCH 5, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Astros pitcher Framber Valdéz breaks finger in spring debut

Houston Astros left-hander Framber Valdéz has a fractured left ring finger, an injury that could deal another blow to the team’s banged-up starting rotation

MARCH 3, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Fires two scoreless innings Javier allowed one hit and one walk while striking out two over two scoreless innings in Tuesday's spring game against the Mets.

Impact Javier followed starter Framber Valdez in the game, but he's expected to be a rotation member in 2021. The advanced metrics indicate the right-hander may have overachieved as a rookie in 2020 -- he finished third in Rookie of the Year balloting -- but he's earned the shot to be a starter this year. Javier's main challenge may be to increase last year's workload of 54.1 innings -- he's never thrown more than 113.2 frames in a season.

MARCH 3, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Twins newcomer Happ back on mound after positive virus test

Eager for a fresh start with a new team, J

MARCH 2, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

AL West teams at the start of spring training

A team-by-team look at the American League West entering spring training, including key players each club acquired and lost, and dates of the first workout for pitchers and catcher...

FEBRUARY 11, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Brewers' Williams, Mariners CF Lewis win Rookie of the Year

Seattle Mariners center fielder Kyle Lewis is the unanimous winner of the AL Rookie of the Year award, and Milwaukee Brewers reliever Devin Williams has won the NL honor

NOVEMBER 9, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Javier named AL Rookie of the Year finalist A season-ending injury to Astros ace Justin Verlander turned into the opportunity of a lifetime for Cristian Javier. Javier, the Astros’ Min...

NOVEMBER 3, 2020 • MLB.COM

Mookie Betts, Jacob deGrom in the mix for historic NL awards

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts could become the second player to win the MVP award in each league, and New York Mets ace Jacob deGrom is in the running for his third c...

NOVEMBER 3, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Fading Rays: Tampa Bay on brink of ALCS collapse vs Astros

The Tampa Bay Rays are on the brink of an extremely regrettable bit of baseball history with three consecutive losses in the AL Championship Series

OCTOBER 17, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS