Astros' Hunter Brown: Issues persist against Guardians
Rotowire
Brown didn't factor into the decision Tuesday, allowing six runs on five hits and two walks across 5.1 innings against Cleveland. He struck out seven.
Brown gave up at least five runs for the third time in his last five starts and walked multiple batters for the fifth time this season. He was tagged for a three-run home run in the first inning by Josh Naylor and a two-run home run in the sixth by Andres Gimenez. Through six appearances, Brown is 0-3 with a 9.78 ERA and a 2.22 WHIP over 23.0 innings. He's lined up for a start against the Mariners on Sunday.
Brown (0-4) allowed three runs on four hits and two walks over four innings to take the loss Sunday against the Nationals. He struck out six.
Brown needed 34 pitches to get through the first inning, allowing three runs in the process. However, he was much better in the next three frames, facing just one more batter than the minimum, including striking out the side in the second. That's now 12 first-inning earned runs allowed by Brown through five starts this season. Despite the so-so outing, Brown saw his ERA drop from 10.54 to 9.68 and his WHIP fall from an abysmal 2.78 to a slightly less abysmal 2.49. Brown's next start is tentatively slated to take place next weekend, when the Astros travel to the high altitude of Denver to take on the Rockies.
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Astros' Hunter Brown: Starting Sunday
Rotowire
Brown is being moved up in the rotation to start Sunday against the Nationals, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
The right-hander was penciled in to start Tuesday against the Cubs but will instead face the Nationals since Cristian Javier was scratched due to neck discomfort. Brown delivered a quality start last Tuesday versus Atlanta, so he'll be on the typical four days rest and shouldn't have any limitations.
Brown (0-3) took the loss Tuesday, allowing two runs on five hits and three walks with three strikeouts over six innings against Atlanta.
Despite ending up in the loss column, Brown turned in a quality start against one of baseball's best offenses. The outing was the definition of a rebound for Brown, who allowed a combined 14 runs over 3.2 innings during his previous two starts. However, the right-hander was hung out to dry by the Astros' offense, which didn't get on the scoreboard until the bottom of the ninth. Excluding the pair of ugly showings, Brown has allowed three runs (two earned) and recorded eight strikeouts over the 10 innings covering his other two starts. He'll look for his first win of 2024 in a tentative matchup with the Cubs next Tuesday.
Brown (0-2) took the loss against the Royals on Thursday, allowing nine runs on 11 hits and a walk in just two-thirds of an inning.
Brown could only record two outs Thursday while the Royals nearly batted around twice en route to a nine-run opening frame. The 25-year-old right-hander hasn't missed many bats to start the season -- he's now allowed 14 runs on 19 hits over just 3.2 innings in his last two starts, pushing his ERA up to 16.43. Brown is currently in line for another tough matchup next week versus Atlanta, though a trip to the minors could be in order if he can't right the ship.
Brown (0-1) allowed five runs on eight hits and four walks over three innings Friday, striking out three and taking a loss against Texas.
Brown worked around a bases-loaded situation in the first inning but then coughed up five runs in the second. Only 45 of his 80 pitches went for strikes, and he managed to force just five whiffs. Through two outings, Brown has thrown seven innings with a subpar 8:6 K:BB. He's projected to take the mound in Kansas City next week.
Brown took a no-decision Saturday, permitting one unearned run over four innings against the Yankees.
The only damage the Yankees managed against Brown came when they scored on a Jose Abreu fielding error. They made him work, though, as Brown wasn't able to go beyond four innings because he threw 88 pitches. The right-hander fanned five batters on the day, picking up eight whiffs. Brown had issues in the second half last season, particularly with the home run ball as he served up a whopping 17 in 61.2 frames after the break. Keeping the ball in the park as he did Saturday could certainly lead to more consistency in 2024.
