Astros' Hunter Brown: Quality start in Tuesday's loss
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Brown (5-3) took the loss Tuesday, giving up three runs on three hits and three walks over six innings as the Astros fell 5-1 to the Blue Jays. He struck out five.
Long balls by George Springer and Daulton Varsho accounted for all the damage off Brown, and the rookie right-hander had little margin for error on a night when Kevin Gausman was dominant for Toronto. The quality start was Brown's third in his last four starts and sixth of the season, and he'll take a 3.69 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 79:23 K:BB through 68.1 innings into his next outing, likely to come at home next week against the Nationals.
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Astros' Hunter Brown: Strikes out 10 in win
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Brown (5-1) allowed two runs on four hits and a walk while striking out 10 over seven innings to earn the win over the Athletics on Friday.
The 10 strikeouts were a season high for Brown, who also completed seven innings for the fourth time in 10 starts. The one downside was that he allowed his fourth home run in as many outings. Brown trimmed his ERA to 3.12 with a 1.20 WHIP and 66:18 K:BB through 57.2 innings. He's lined up for a home start versus the Twins next week.
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Astros' Hunter Brown: Fans nine in no-decision
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Brown tossed six innings against Oakland on Saturday, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits and no walks. He struck out nine and did not factor in the decision.
Brown gave up just one extra-base hit in the outing and demonstrated excellent control, throwing 62 of 97 pitches for a strike and issuing no free passes for the first time this season. The rookie also racked up 15 whiffs while setting a season high with nine punchouts. This was one of his finest outings of the campaign, but he had to settle for a no-decision since Houston's offense managed only two runs while he was in the game. Brown how holds a solid 3.20 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 56:17 K:BB over 50.2 innings on the campaign. His next start is tentatively lined up to be a rematch with the Athletics in Oakland.
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Astros' Hunter Brown: Doesn't complete five innings
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Brown allowed four runs on nine hits and one walk while striking out three batters over 4.1 innings in a no-decision against the Angels on Monday.
Brown allowed at least one baserunner in each of the five innings in which he appeared, and he left with one out in the fifth after issuing a pair of doubles and a hit-by-pitch. The right-hander at least demonstrated better control after issuing five free passes his last time out, but he also gave up a season-high nine hits, including his first homer (a solo shot by Hunter Renfroe) of the campaign. Brown still sports a strong 3.23 ERA, but he's failed to complete five innings in three of his past four starts.
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Astros' Hunter Brown: Struggles with command
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Brown (3-1) took the loss Tuesday, allowing two runs on four hits and five walks over 4.1 innings against the Giants. He struck out four.
Brown set a career high in walks, as he failed to locate in the zone all game. The Giants managed to push across just two runs, helping Brown's ERA stay at 2.60 for the season. The rookie has failed to get out of the fifth inning three times in his six starts this season, as his pitch count has surpassed 90 in all three of those outings. Despite the walks and short starts, Brown has produced with his excellent ERA and 36 strikeouts in 34.2 innings.
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Astros' Hunter Brown: Coughs up four runs
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Brown yielded four runs on seven hits and two walks over 4.2 innings during Friday's win over Atlanta. He struck out seven and did not factor in the decision.
Atlanta immediately jumped on Brown in the first inning, plating four runs, including three with two outs. He settled in to prevent a disastrous outing but failed to complete five innings for the first time since his season debut April 3. Brown forced 14 whiffs (30 percent) including seven with the slider. He's registered a 29:9 K:BB and a 3.09 ERA through 25 frames.
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Astros' Hunter Brown: Strikes out career-high seven
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Brown (1-0) earned the win during Sunday's 5-1 victory over Minnesota, allowing one run on two hits and two walks over seven innings. He struck out seven.
After a shaky first start, Brown was lights out and struck out a career-high seven en route to his first win of the season. The hard-throwing right-hander is bound to have some hiccups during his first full MLB season, but his upside was on full display Sunday. His next start is tentatively scheduled to come versus the Rangers, which should be a good test for Brown.
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Astros' Hunter Brown: Coughs up four runs
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Brown yielded four runs on six hits and three walks over 4.2 innings during Monday's loss to Detroit. He struck out five and did not factor in the decision.
Brown gave up two runs through four frames before running into trouble in the fifth. After striking out the first two batters of the inning, he put the next four Tigers on base, including three walks. His fastball topped out at 98.5 mph and he forced eight swinging strikes. Brown will look for better command and results in his next outing, which is currently scheduled for this weekend in Minnesota.
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Astros' Hunter Brown: Won't get more than five innings
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Astros manager Dusty Baker told reporters that the team is hoping Brown will be able to throw between 85 and 90 pitches and/or go five innings for Monday's start against the Tigers, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Brown was shut down this spring with lower-back tightness and is making his first start of the season, so it's not a surprise that he'll be limited in Monday's start. Even with the restrictions he has a chance to be a solid contributor against a Detroit lineup with plenty of holes that was overmatched against the Tampa Bay staff over the weekend.
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Astros' Hunter Brown: To start Monday vs. DET
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Brown (back) will start for the Astros on Monday against the Tigers, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Brown came down with some lower-back tightness toward the end of spring training, but he got through a simulated outing Wednesday without issue and is ready to take his place in Houston's season-opening rotation. The 24-year-old posted a 0.89 ERA and 1.08 WHIP over 20.1 frames during his first taset of the big leagues last year, and he skyrocketed up fantasy draft boards all March.
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Astros' Hunter Brown: On track for start of season
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Brown is on track to be part of the Astros' season-opening starting rotation, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Brown was scratched from a Grapefruit League start last week after experiencing lower-back tightness while doing some agility drills in camp, but he made it through a bullpen session Sunday without issue and is scheduled to throw a simulated game Wednesday. The 24-year-old right-hander posted a 0.89 ERA with 22 strikeouts over his first 20.1 major-league innings last year, working mostly in relief. He holds considerable fantasy upside in 2023 with a relatively locked-in starting role for the defending World Series champs.
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Astros' Hunter Brown: Completes bullpen session
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Brown (back) felt good after throwing a 25-pitch bullpen session Sunday and is expected to throw a simulated game this week, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Assuming everything goes well during the simulated game this week, the 24-year-old should be good to go for Houston's first turn through the starting rotation. Brown could line up to start the Astros' home opener versus the Tigers on April 3.
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Astros' Hunter Brown: Will throw bullpen Sunday
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Brown (back) will throw a bullpen prior to Sunday's Grapefruit League finale, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Brown is recovering from lower-back tightness, but he has been able to play catch on flat ground and now will get a chance to throw off the mound Sunday. The right-hander could open the season on the injured list, but there's some positive momentum that suggests he can begin the year as a member of the Houston rotation.
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Astros' Hunter Brown: Plays catch without issue Friday
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Brown (back) played catch without issue Friday in Astros camp, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Astros manager Dusty Baker said after the flat-ground workout that Brown is "feeling a lot better" as he recovers from a bout of lower-back tightness. It sounds like the 24-year-old right-hander might be able to open the 2023 regular season as the No. 5 starter for Houston, but he does have some more hurdles to clear before camp breaks.
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Astros' Hunter Brown: Scratched as precaution
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Brown (back) was scratched from his Grapefruit League start Wednesday against the Mets as a precaution, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Brown experienced some lower-back tightness while doing agility drills Tuesday in Astros camp and the team didn't want to risk an aggravation. The talented 24-year-old right-hander could perhaps fit in one final exhibition outing as he prepares to open the 2023 season as the No. 5 starter in Houston. There doesn't seem to be any current worry about an IL stint.
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Astros' Hunter Brown: Settles in for solid outing
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Brown threw three shutout innings without allowing a baserunner while striking out three across three innings in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Marlins.
Brown had been roughed up in his first two spring training appearances, allowing four earned runs across two innings while also walking five. He settled in Sunday, however, throwing 26 of 34 pitches for a strike while sitting between 93 and 96 mph with his fastball, per Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle. Brown also delivered his longest outing of the exhibition season as he ramps up to occupy the fifth rotation spot once the regular season begins.
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Astros' Hunter Brown: Headed for Opening Day rotation
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Brown appears on track to begin the season as the Astros' fifth starter after Lance McCullers (forearm) acknowledged Wednesday that he won't be ready to go for Opening Day, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
In a show of faith to Brown and as a testament to the organization's starting pitching depth as a whole, the Astros didn't sign any replacements this offseason for staff ace and reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander, who bolted for the Mets in free agency. The Astros could still look to add another veteran arm on a low-cost MLB or minor-league deal, but at least for the time being, McCullers' absence to begin the campaign clears the way for the 24-year-old Brown to break camp as a member of the rotation. After dazzling at Triple-A Sugar Land for the first five months of the past season, Brown joined Houston as a September call-up and provided a glimpse of his immense potential, logging a 0.89 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 22:7 K:BB across 20.1 innings over seven appearances (two starts). Expect Houston to be somewhat conservative with Brown's workload this season, but even if his innings are capped and he doesn't hold a full-time rotation spot when/if the Astros pitching staff is at full strength, the elite strikeout rates he's posted in the minors and in his limited sample in the majors give him a chance at making a major splash in fantasy.
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Astros' Hunter Brown: Three strong innings in relief
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Brown allowed two hits while striking out three and walking one across three scoreless innings out of the bullpen to earn a hold Monday against the Rays.
Brown appeared out of the bullpen for the first time since being promoted to the majors but had no problem with his shift in role. He entered the game in the sixth inning with a four-run lead and threw 47 pitches to maintain the advantage. While Brown won't get back into the Houston rotation barring an injury prior to the close of the season, he could be used in a valuable multi-inning role that will allow him to pile up strikeouts and potentially wins.
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Astros' Hunter Brown: Another strong outing in win
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Brown (2-0) earned the victory Tuesday in Detroit, striking out six in six innings while allowing two runs on five hits and two walks.
Brown followed his stellar big-league debut with another strong start, inducing two double-play groundballs and retiring 10 of the last 11 batters he faced on the way to his second victory. After making just four starts of six innings or more in his 14 minor-league starts, he's tossed six innings in each of his first two big-league outings. With Justin Verlander (calf) hoping to return to the rotation this weekend, Brown's next appearance may come in relief.
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Astros' Hunter Brown: Getting another start
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Brown is scheduled to start Tuesday's game at Detroit.
The rookie right-hander will pick up a second turn through Houston's rotation coming off a dazzling MLB debut against the Rangers on Sept. 5, when he struck out five over six scoreless frames. Though Brown looks to be an attractive streaming option against a hapless Detroit offense, he could be moved to the bullpen following Tuesday's outing. Justin Verlander (calf) appears to be trending toward a return from the 15-day injured list during the upcoming weekend, making Brown the most logical candidate to move out of the six-man rotation to clear a spot.
