HOUSTON — The Astros’ nonexistent rotation depth continues to dwindle.
Right-hander J.P. France is dealing with a shoulder injury that will sideline him for “a while,” a person familiar with his situation said on Tuesday, leaving Houston with five experienced starters on its 40-man roster.
A shoulder issue delayed France’s buildup during spring training, but he recovered in time to make the team’s Opening Day roster. At the time, general manager Dana Brown described France’s injury as “shoulder inflammation.”
France posted a 7.46 ERA across five major-league starts before Houston optioned him to Triple-A Sugar Land on April 25. He walked four batters and surrendered three earned runs across 3 2/3 innings during his only start for the Space Cowboys.
Manager Joe Espada called it a “very tough” decision to jettison France and expressed optimism the 29-year-old right-hander would return to aid the Astros’ rotation during a grueling May schedule.
Tuesday’s series opener against the New York Yankees begins a stretch of 29 games in 30 days, during which the team plans to utilize a six-man rotation. Beginning the day with five major-league-caliber starters on the 40-man roster complicates matters.
On Sunday, Brown said the team expects Cristian Javier to return from a neck injury as early as this weekend in Detroit. José Urquidy is scheduled to throw another live batting practice session on Tuesday at Minute Maid Park as he continues his recovery from a forearm strain.
Provided that goes well, Urquidy is expected to need at least two or three minor-league rehab starts before he is ready for a return to the major-league rotation — a process that could take another three weeks or so.
Activating Javier this weekend would give Houston enough bodies to construct a six-man rotation, but still leaves the club no insurance in case of another injury or continued ineffectiveness from either Hunter Brown or Spencer Arrighetti.
France’s injury should offer more security for both Brown and Arrighetti, each of whom appeared expendable if and when Houston’s rotation expanded to six.
Brown has allowed a major-league-high 27 earned runs across his first seven starts, five of which ended before he could complete five innings. Arrighetti, who entered the season as Houston’s top pitching prospect, has an 8.27 ERA across his first four major-league starts. His fifth will come on Wednesday at Yankee Stadium.
Arrighetti represented the last line of Houston’s depth in the upper minor leagues. Blair Henley remains on the team’s 40-man roster, but recorded just one out during his major-league debut in a spot start last month.
A.J. Blubaugh, a lanky right-hander who was a non-roster invitee to major-league spring training, has opened eyes after his recent promotion to Triple A, striking out 24 batters across his first 22 1/3 innings.
(Photo: Logan Riely / Getty Images)
