Astros Shake Up Roster: Cristian Javier Moved to 60-Day IL, Team Acquires Reliever Nick Robertson

The Houston Astros made a significant roster move on Tuesday, transferring starting pitcher Cristian Javier to the 60-day injured list as he continues to recover from Tommy John surgery. While the move was expected, it serves as a reminder of what the Astros are missing in their rotation. To clear a roster spot, Houston traded pitching prospect Edinson Batista to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for reliever Nick Robertson.

Javier, a crucial part of Houston’s pitching staff in recent years, underwent elbow surgery last June and isn’t expected to return until at least July. Before his injury, the 28-year-old posted a 3-1 record with a 3.89 ERA over seven starts. He played a vital role in the Astros’ 2022 World Series-winning season, finishing with an 11-9 record, a 2.54 ERA, and a 3.6 bWAR across 30 games (25 starts). Javier shined in the postseason, surrendering only one run while striking out 16 batters in 12.2 innings.

However, his 2023 season was inconsistent, as his ERA rose to 4.56 despite making 31 starts for the AL West champions. Unfortunately, his year ended on a sour note when he failed to make it out of the first inning in Game 7 of the ALCS against the Texas Rangers. Since debuting in 2020, Javier has compiled a 33-18 record with a 3.59 ERA across 116 games (82 starts).

In return for Batista, Houston receives Nick Robertson, a right-handed reliever who made his MLB debut in 2023. Robertson has struggled at the big-league level, posting a 5.30 ERA across 27 games for four different teams. However, the Astros hope he can contribute to their bullpen as they work through their pitching challenges in Javier’s absence.