Brown (6-4) took the loss Friday against the A's after allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits and four walks while striking out four over 5.1 innings.
Brown carried a 1-0 lead into the sixth inning, but a fielding error by Jose Altuve sparked the Athletics' comeback. He departed after a sacrifice bunt put runners at second and third with one out, and Bennett Sousa immediately surrendered a two-run single to Michael Stefanic, with the inherited runners giving Brown his two runs allowed. The right-hander otherwise held the Athletics to two hits, but his four walks raised his pitch count and kept him from working deeper into the game. Even though this outing didn't end as Brown or the Astros would've wanted, the right-hander ended the regular season on a strong note, allowing two or fewer earned runs in seven of his last eight starts, and just two over his last 15.1 frames. He ends the regular season with a 3.19 ERA in 20 starts and 107.1 innings, making it the third straight season in which he posted a regular-season ERA below 3.50.
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Astros' Hunter Brown: Punches out 10 in gem
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Brown took a no-decision Sunday against Atlanta, striking out 10 while allowing three hits and two walks in five scoreless innings.
Brown had Atlanta out of sorts, generating 18 whiffs en route to fanning double-digit hitters for a second consecutive start. The right-hander has now worked at least five innings while conceding fewer than three runs in six of his last nine outings since the beginning of August. He's set to wrap up his regular season against the division-rival Athletics in hitter-friendly Sacramento, where he'll bring a steady 3.26 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 120:51 K:BB over 102 innings.
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Astros' Hunter Brown: Fans 10 in win
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Brown (6-3) earned the win after allowing one run on two hits and three walks over five innings against the Royals on Tuesday. He struck out 10.
Brown bounced back from his rocky start against Philadelphia on Wednesday by allowing just one run against Kansas City. The right-hander struck out 10 batters, tying a season high that he set Aug. 28 against the Mets. The 28-year-old owns a 3.43 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 110:49 K:BB over 97 innings this season. Brown is scheduled to make his next start Sunday against Atlanta.
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Astros' Hunter Brown: Stumbles in no-decision
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Brown took a no-decision against the Phillies on Wednesday, allowing five runs (four earned) on seven hits and no walks in five innings. He struck out seven.
After Houston scored four runs in the third inning, the Phillies responded with four runs of their own against Brown in the bottom of the frame. The right-hander gave up his most runs since July 4 versus Tampa Bay, also breaking up a four-start streak with at least five innings and two runs or fewer allowed. He'll try to bounce back when he brings a 3.52 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 100:46 K:BB over 92 innings into his next scheduled appearance against the Royals.
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Astros' Hunter Brown: Strikes out 10 in win
Rotowire
Brown (4-3) earned the win against the Mets on Friday, allowing one run on five hits and one walk with 10 strikeouts over 6.2 innings.
Brown delivered his first double-digit strikeout performance of the campaign, generating 14 whiffs on 102 pitches and working into the seventh inning for the second time in 15 starts. It also broke a streak of five straight outings in which the 28-year-old allowed a home run, and he'll end August with a solid 3.18 ERA over 28.1 innings. He owns a 3.33 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 86:44 K:BB across 81 frames this season and lines up for a home matchup with the White Sox next week.
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Astros' Hunter Brown: Fires 5.2 strong innings
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Brown took a no-decision against the Athletics on Saturday, allowing one run on seven hits and three walks in 5.2 innings. He struck out four.
Brown fared mostly well at keeping the ball down, inducing seven groundouts, but a Donovan Walton solo home run did leave a blemish on the hurler's line. The right-hander has been very consistent of late, pitching at least five innings in six consecutive starts while giving up three runs or fewer each time out during that period. Brown is set to take a 3.51 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 76:43 K:BB over 74.1 innings into a road matchup against a hot Mets lineup.
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Astros' Hunter Brown: Control issues continue in loss
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Brown (1-1) took the loss against the Orioles on Sunday, allowing four runs on three hits and six walks with four strikeouts over 4.2 innings.
Brown allowed runs in the third and fifth frames and struggled overall, throwing just 45 of 92 pitches for strikes while issuing a season-high six walks and hitting two batters. The 27-year-old has posted a 7.98 ERA while handing out 15 free passes compared to 13 hits through three July outings. He owns a 4.05 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 43:28 K:BB across 40 innings this season and will try to get back on track in a road matchup with the White Sox next weekend.
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Astros' Hunter Brown: Lasts six frames in no-decision
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Brown didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 7-3 loss to the Rangers, allowing three earned runs on four hits and five walks while striking out four batters in six innings.
The 27-year-old righty struggled to find his command on the mound throughout his start Friday, which began with a five-pitch walk of Joc Pederson to lead off a two-run first inning for the Rangers. Brown went on to issue four more free passes across the next three frames before serving up a solo homer to Pederson to lead off the fifth. Brown will carry a 3.57 ERA and 1.39 WHIP into the intermission, though he now owns a 4.74 ERA and 1.54 WHIP across 24.2 innings in five starts since returning from the injured list in mid-June.
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Astros' Hunter Brown: Fans four in quality start
Rotowire
Brown took a no-decision Sunday against the Tigers, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits and two walks in six innings. He struck out four.
A fielding error by Raynel Delgado in the fifth inning allowed an unearned run to come across for Detroit, but Brown still logged his second quality start of the year. The 27-year-old right-hander put forth his longest outing since coming off the injured list due to a shoulder strain in mid-June, also throwing a season-high 103 pitches Sunday. Brown has given up multiple runs just one time this year, holding a 1.78 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 32:13 K:BB across his first 25.1 innings.
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Astros' Hunter Brown: Making another rehab start
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Brown (shoulder) will make his next start at Triple-A Sugar Land on Wednesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Manager Joe Espada said Friday that the Astros were debating whether to have Brown make another start in the minors, and they've officially decided to keep the right-hander in Triple-A for one more tuneup outing before activating him. Starting Wednesday would line him up to return from the 60-day IL on June 15 to face the Tigers at home.
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Astros' Hunter Brown: Nearing IL reinstatement?
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Astros manager Joe Espada told reporters Friday that the team is weighing its options on whether Brown (shoulder) will need one more rehab assignment before being reinstated from the 60-day injured list, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Brown made his third rehab start Thursday with Triple-A Sugar Land, when he tossed 57 pitches (38 strikes) and allowed one run on three hits and one walk while striking out four across 4.1 innings. Espada relayed that he felt good about Brown's latest rehab outing, and a decision about whether the 27-year-old right-hander will make his next start in the majors should be made within the next couple of days. Brown is nearly fully recovered from a Grade 2 right shoulder strain that was severe enough for him to be placed on the IL in early April.
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Astros' Hunter Brown: Next rehab start set
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Brown (shoulder) will make his next rehab start with Triple-A Sugar Land on Thursday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Brown made the second start of his rehab assignment with Sugar Land this past Friday, allowing one run on one hit and no walks while striking out five over three innings. The right-hander continues working his way back from a shoulder strain and will likely require at least one more minor-league start after Thursday before being ready to rejoin the big-league rotation.
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Astros' Hunter Brown: Shifting rehab to Triple-A
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Brown (shoulder) will make his next rehab start this weekend at Triple-A Sugar Land, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Brown opened his rehab assignment Sunday with Double-A Corpus Christie, when he struck out five batters while allowing one hit across two scoreless innings. He'll make his next rehab start in Triple-A and is aiming to be activated from the 60-day injured list in mid-June, per McTaggart. Brown is in the final stages of his recovery from a Grade 2 right shoulder strain that landed him on the IL in early April.
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Astros' Hunter Brown: Nearing rehab assignment
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GM Dana Brown said Brown (shoulder) will throw live batting practice Tuesday before potentially beginning a rehab assignment, with the Astros targeting mid-June to activate him from the injured list, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
The right-hander continues to work his way back from a shoulder strain, and facing live batters appears to be the final hurdle before being cleared for game action. Brown's rehab assignment is expected to be a lengthy one with at least four starts in the minor leagues.
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Astros' Hunter Brown: Began throwing program Tuesday
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Brown (shoulder) began a throwing program Tuesday, playing catching from 75 feet, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
It's a significant step in Brown's rehab from a shoulder strain. Sidelined since throwing six innings of one-run ball with eight strikeouts against the Red Sox on March 31, Brown is expected to be sidelined through late May, according to GM Dana Brown. Once he builds his arm back up, Brown will likely require a multi-start rehab assignment.
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Astros' Hunter Brown: Out through late May
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Astros general manager Dana Brown said Sunday that Brown (shoulder) isn't expected to return from the 15-day injured list until late May or early June, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. "Hopefully it could be a little sooner."
Cristian Javier is facing a similar timeline for a return after both he and Brown sustained Grade 2 right shoulder strains within less than a week of one another. Shortly after Brown was diagnosed with the injury April 5, the Astros indicated that the right-hander would be shut down from throwing for two weeks before being re-evaluated, so he could be cleared to start playing light catch at some point in the coming days. Even so, Brown will be in line for a lengthy buildup, and a more definitive target date for his return won't become clear until he's ready to head out on what will likely be a multi-start minor-league rehab assignment.
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Astros' Hunter Brown: Has Grade 2 shoulder strain
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Brown has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 right shoulder strain and will be shut down from throwing "for a few weeks."
Brown will have to get built back up following the shutdown period, so he is looking at a lengthy absence even if he doesn't encounter any setbacks. The right-hander had gotten off to an excellent start this season before getting hurt, yielding just one run with a 17:6 K:BB over 10.2 innings covering two outings.
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Astros' Hunter Brown: Strikes out eight in win Tuesday
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Brown (1-0) earned the win against the Red Sox on Tuesday, allowing one run on one hit and two walks while striking out eight across six innings.
After throwing 102 pitches across 4.2 innings Thursday against the Angels, Brown made quick work of the Boston lineup Tuesday and was pulled after 78 pitches with a 6-1 lead. Brown looks like he's ready to take another step forward in his fourth full season at the big-league level. Through two starts and 10.2 innings, Brown has 17 strikeouts and a 0.84 ERA. Brown is next scheduled to take the mound Monday against the Rockies at Coors Field.
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Astros' Hunter Brown: Logs another quality start
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Brown (12-7) earned the win against Atlanta on Saturday, allowing two runs on four hits and one walk while striking out two across 6.2 innings.
Brown started out strongly by retiring nine of the first 10 batters he faced and was supplied a six-run cushion by his offense. He punched out a season-low two batter but came away with his seventh quality start in eight games, and his 20 quality starts this season is tied for second most in the majors behind Cristopher Sanchez (21). Brown also ranks third among qualified starters with a 2.27 ERA (across 174.1 innings), and his 192 strikeouts are tied with Sanchez for eighth most. Brown is lined up to face the Mariners at home next weekend.
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Astros' Hunter Brown: No support in loss
Rotowire
Brown (10-7) took the loss Sunday against the Angels, allowing one run on three hits and three walks across six innings. He struck out five.
Brown notched a fourth straight quality start -- a streak that includes a six-run (two earned) outing against the Rockies in Houston -- but the Astros offense failed to scrape across a run, leaving him with the loss. Brown has been excellent lately, boasting a 1.71 ERA and a 38:13 K:BB in 42.2 innings across his last seven starts. He's tentatively scheduled to face the Rangers in his next start.
