The Houston Astros have reversed a minor league demotion after discovering their right-handed starter is dealing with an injury.
Mike Burrows, who was sent down to Triple-A Sugar Land last Tuesday, has been placed on the 15-day IL with right elbow neuritis, according to The Athletic’s Chandler Rome.
The Astros aren’t providing a timeline for his return or specifics about the injury. But neuritis typically involves inflammation or compression of the ulnar nerve, which can be pretty uncomfortable for pitchers.
It’s been a tough year for Burrows after coming over in that three-team trade with Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay. In 18 outings this season, including 17 starts, he’s posted a 5.99 ERA while surrendering 21 home runs in 94.2 innings.
Those numbers explain why Houston was ready to send him down in the first place.
What makes this situation feel familiar is that it’s the second time this has happened to the Astros recently. Kai-Wei Teng, another offseason acquisition, had his Triple-A option nullified last month after suffering a right knee sprain.
“Teng, like Burrows, seemed on pace to shatter his career high in innings pitched,” Rome wrote. “Manager Joe Espada said the team demoted Teng, in part, to conserve his innings.”
There’s a pattern here that’s worth noting. Both pitchers were approaching career-high innings totals, which might’ve played a role in these injuries surfacing.
When Burrows does recover, he’ll likely head back to Sugar Land to work on his command issues. But his struggles this season could push the Astros to be more aggressive at the trade deadline.
They’re already in win-now mode, and having two projected starters dealing with injuries and performance issues means they might need to look outside the organization for rotation help.
