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The Houston Astros are having their pitching depth tested this season.
The season began with Justin Verlander having an injury that delayed him several weeks. Then Jose Urquidy got hurt and was ruled out for the season.
That's not to mention both Luis Garcia and Lance McCullers Jr. who both had major surgery in the offseason. The latest victim of the injury bug happens to be Cristian Javier.
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Cristian Javier Injury Update for Fantasy Baseball
Javier was placed on the 60-day IL in late May and hasn't pitched since. It was recommended that he have full reconstructive elbow surgery (Tommy John) and Javier had the surgery done just last week.
Houston Astros pitchers Cristian Javier and José Urquidy both underwent Tommy John surgery this week, the team disclosed Friday. https://t.co/KbDKuuPCmF
— Spectrum News 1 Texas (@SpectrumNews1TX) June 8, 2024
The recovery from TJ surgery is a little over one full year, if everything goes just right and rehab is successful. That means the earliest we would see Javier back on the bump for the Astros would be in the second half of the 2025 baseball season.
Cristian Javier Fantasy Baseball Outlook
Javier had a breakout season in 2022, but last year posted some pretty bad numbers overall. So far in 2024, he has made seven starts and posted a 3.89 ERA but with low strikeout and high walk numbers. He was not pitching well when he went on the IL, but the loss of another talented young pitcher will still be felt by the Houston franchise.
Javier can be dropped in all redraft leagues this season and will be someone who isn't likely drafted next year either since his return date will be up in the air and likely deep into the season.
He will be 28 years old when he returns from this injury and three years removed from his last good season, so managers in dynasty formats may want to cut ties, too, though it's not unheard of for pitchers to come back as good or better after TJ surgery.
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