The Houston Astros’ starting rotation has been decimated by injuries in recent weeks. As a result, the team is digging into its organizational depth for help.
Right-hander Jake Bloss is being called up from Double-A Corpus Christi to pitch Friday against the Baltimore Orioles. Bloss, who turns 23 on Sunday, was Houston’s third-round selection in last year’s MLB Draft out of Georgetown and has made 12 starts between Single-A and Double-A this season.
In eight starts with Corpus Christi, Bloss had a 1.61 ERA and a 3-1 record with 35 strikeouts in 44 2/3 innings. He also started four games with Asheville to start the season, compiling a 2.60 ERA with 25 strikeouts in 17 1/3 innings.
“His stuff is really, really good. A 90-plus-year-old hitting pitcher can spin the ball,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. confirming the promotion of Bloss with Casey Drottar of MLB.com. “All the things we hear about his makeup, he checks all the boxes… We hope he goes out there tomorrow and competes and does well.”
Facing the Orioles in his MLB debut could certainly be a “welcome to the big leagues” moment for Bloss and his five-pitch arsenal. (He throws a cutter, a curveball, a slider, a changeup and a fastball that reaches 98 mph, according to Atlético.) Baltimore leads the American League with a .765 team OPS and leads the majors with 117 home runs.
The Astros need fresh arms for their rotation with elbow injuries to Jose Urquidy and Cristian Javier, who underwent Tommy John reconstructive surgery earlier this month. Houston also placed Justin Verlander on the injured list this week with neck discomfort. Lance McCullers Jr. and Luis Garcia are also on the IL and hope to return to the team after the All-Star break.
Ronel Blanco (2.43 ERA) and Framber Valdez (3.91 ERA) lead a now-thin starting lineup including Hunter Brown and Spencer Arrighetti. (Blanco threw a no-hitter in April and threw seven hitless innings last week.) Bloss occupies the fifth spot in the rotation on Friday and hopes to continue pitching well.
