Report: Astros starter Cristian Javier to undergo Tommy John surgery in another blow to Houston’s rotation

Houston Astros starting pitcher Cristian Javier is scheduled to undergo Tommy John surgery on Thursday, The Athletic’s Chandler Rome reports.

Neither the Astros nor Javier have confirmed the report. The reported procedure will end his season and deliver another blow to an already ailing Astros rotation.

The Astros placed Javier on the injured list on May 27 with forearm discomfort. He hasn’t pitched since. Manager Joe Espada told reporters on Monday that Javier was waiting to hear back from a doctor regarding a second opinion. Espada previously told reporters that Javier had been scheduled to undergo imaging, the results of which were not subsequently made public.

Per Rome, orthopedic surgeon Dr. Keith Meister recommended that Javier undergo Tommy John surgery.

Javier’s placement on the injured list in May was his second of the season. Houston previously scratched him from a scheduled April 21 start and placed him on the 15-day IL. Javier was dominant in four starts prior to his initial IL stint. In 23.1 innings that included to shutouts, Javier posted a 1.54 ERA with 18 strikeouts.

He allowed seven earned runs in 2.1 innings to the Detroit Tigers in his May 11 return from the IL. He then pitched six shutout innings in a start against the Oakland A‘s before allowing four earned runs in four innings in a May 21 start against the Los Angeles Angels. He was placed on the IL for a second time six days later and hasn’t pitched since.

Javier has developed into a key member of Houston’s rotations since joining MLB with the Astros in 2020. He started six innings of a combined no-hitter of the Philadelphia in Game 4 of the 2022 World Series en route to 4-2 series win. He also pitched 5 1/3 shutout inning in a 1-0 ALCS win over the New York Yankees in 2022. Javier finished that postseason with a 0.71 ERA while allowing a single earned run in two starts and a relief appearance.

In seven starts this season, Javier has a 3.89 ERA with 27 strikeouts and 19 walks allowed in 34 2/3 innings pitched.

This is a developing story that will be updated.