Houston Astros’ high-priced Japanese right-hander Imai faces mounting injury concerns following a brief and brutal relief stint against the Seattle Mariners. Officials diagnose right arm fatigue as the culprit behind his struggles, with an ERA now ballooning to 7.36.
Imai’s Nightmarish Mound Exit
In the April 11 (KST) road game versus Seattle, Imai entered in relief but managed just one out across eight batters faced. He surrendered three runs on five hard-hit balls, including four extra-base connections, before managers yanked him after 37 pitches—only 17 strikes.
Seattle’s hitters capitalized on 13 swings, including one massive center-field blast. Post-game, Imai reflected, “This season, the way I’ve been gripping and throwing the ball hasn’t felt right. Even the mound felt unsteady.”
Rotation Thinned by Injuries and Struggles
The Astros now grapple with a depleted starting rotation. Among five primary starters, three have landed on the injured list (IL) recently, including Hunter Brown and Ryan Weiss.
Brown exited early versus the Colorado Rockies on April 7 after 2 2/3 innings: eight hits, one home run, two walks, four strikeouts, seven runs (six earned). Weiss, a long reliever transitioning to starts, logged short outings in four recent games—all capped at two innings. His April 11 Seattle appearance: 2 1/3 innings, four hits, one homer, two walks, four strikeouts, two runs.
Weiss debuted in the majors on March 28 against the Los Angeles Angels, yielding big runs immediately after.
No Immediate Fixes, Call-Ups Loom
MLB.com indicates Houston has not altered its rotation since Lance McCullers Jr.’s absence. Triple-A prospect Spencer Arrighetti eyes a call-up next week, while others like James shift to bullpen roles amid the crisis.
With a demanding 13-game stretch underway opposite Seattle, Imai’s fatigue clouds his next projected start. Recovery and command tweaks remain critical for the Astros’ pitching stability.
