The Houston Astros received a significant blow Sunday, placing ace Hunter Brown on the 15-day injured list with a right shoulder strain.
The move is retroactive to April 2, the day after Brown’s last outing—six strong innings with eight strikeouts in Tuesday’s victory over the Boston Red Sox. Through two starts, Brown was 1-0 with a 0.84 ERA, looking every bit the ace the Astros needed him to be after Framber Valdez’s departure in the offseason.
The Astros did not disclose a timetable beyond the minimum 15-day stint. Right-hander Christian Roa was recalled from Triple-A Sugar Land in the corresponding roster move.
The timing could hardly be worse. Houston already opened the season without closer Josh Hader, who remains on the IL with left biceps tendinitis. Reliever Enyel De Los Santos is also working his way back from a right knee strain, and the Astros are preparing to navigate a 13-game stretch without an off-day beginning April 10.
Brown emerged as one of the best pitchers in the American League last season, posting a 2.43 ERA with 206 strikeouts over 185.1 innings and finishing third in AL Cy Young Award voting. He entered 2026 as the unquestioned leader of a rotation that has already leaned heavily on him.
The Astros had not announced a replacement starter at the time of this writing.
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