Astros' Hayden Wesneski: Season-high six Ks in short outing
Rotowire
Wesneski (2-1) took the loss against the Mariners on Saturday, allowing five runs on seven hits and one walk in four innings. He struck out six.
Wesneski was never quite able to find his footing Saturday after coughing up four runs in the second inning, turning in his shortest outing of the campaign so far. The right-hander recorded a season high in punchouts, but he's yet to reach the 90-pitch mark in any of his four starts since returning from Tommy John surgery. Wesneski will be trying to further build up his pitch count against the lowly Athletics his next time out, carrying a 5.16 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 18:7 K:BB over 22.2 innings.
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Astros' Hayden Wesneski: Goes seven innings in no-decision
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Wesneski allowed three runs on five hits and two walks while striking out four over seven innings in a no-decision versus the Giants on Monday.
Wesneski gave up solo home runs to Jung Hoo Lee and Drew Gilbert, but the right-hander was still able to claim his second quality start in three outings this season. He's shown little rust coming off of May 2025 Tommy John surgery, allowing no more than three runs in any start so far. He's at a 3.86 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 12:6 K:BB through 18.2 innings. Wesneski is projected to make his next start at home versus the Mariners over the weekend.
Wesneski (2-0) earned the win Tuesday against the Blue Jays after tossing six innings of two-run ball, allowing four hits and two walks while striking out four. He also tossed a wild pitch.
Wesneski delivered a strong outing to strengthen his case for a spot in the rotation over the final two months of the regular season. With Spencer Arrighetti (foot) shipped to Toronto and Tatsuya Imai moving to the bullpen, all signs point to Wesneski remaining as a starter. Wesneski has made just two starts this season since returning from Tommy John surgery and the numbers are decent, as he's allowed five runs on 11 hits and four walks while striking out eight, tossing two wild pitches and hitting a batter. He has won both starts and owns a 3.86 ERA ahead of his next outing, which is tentatively scheduled for next week on the road against the Giants.
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Astros' Hayden Wesneski: Remaining in rotation
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Wesneski is slated to start Tuesday's game against the Blue Jays in Houston.
After completing his recovery from May 2025 Tommy John surgery and finishing up a five-start rehab assignment, Wesneski returned from the 60-day injured list last Wednesday and stepped into the Houston rotation. He picked up a win in his 2026 debut, limiting the Angels to three earned runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out four batters over 5.2 innings. With Houston dealing away Spencer Arrighetti (foot) on Monday and recently shifting Tatsuya Imai to the bullpen, Wesneski should have a fair amount of security in the rotation over the rest of the season if he performs capably.
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Astros' Hayden Wesneski: Starting Wednesday
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Wesneski (elbow) will return from the injured list to start Wednesday's game against the Angels, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
After spending the first several months of the season on the injured list while finishing up his recovery from May 2025 Tommy John surgery, Wesneski will officially make his season debut Wednesday and claim the spot in Houston's rotation vacated by Spencer Arrighetti (foot). Wesneski made five starts in the minor leagues after getting the green light to begin a rehab assignment June 30, during which he posted a 2.25 ERA and 1.00 WHIP in 20 innings split between rookie ball, Double-A and Triple-A. He built up to 80 pitches during his last outing at Triple-A Sugar Land, so the Astros may not place a limit on his pitch count during his start Wednesday.
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Astros' Hayden Wesneski: Hits four frames in rehab start
Rotowire
Wesneski (elbow) struck out three and allowed one earned run on two hits and one walk across four innings Sunday in a rehab start with Double-A Corpus Christi. He also hit a batter and threw two wild pitches.
After tossing three shutout innings in his first rehab start in the rookie-level Florida Complex League on June 30, Wesneski jumped up a few rungs on the minor-league ladder for his second outing. Wesneski -- who is on the comeback trail after undergoing Tommy John surgery last May -- built up to 46 pitches (29 strikes) in Sunday's appearance, generating seven whiffs along the way. The right-hander will likely need to make two or three more rehab starts before coming off the 60-day injured list, but he may not have a rotation spot with the big club waiting for him once he's activated.
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Astros' Hayden Wesneski: Tossing live batting practice
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Wesneski (elbow) has progressed to throwing live batting practice this week, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Both Wesneski and Ronel Blanco (elbow) are throwing live BP at the Astros' spring training complex in West Palm Beach. Wesneski underwent Tommy John surgery in May of last year and could be an option for activation at some point later this summer.
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Astros' Hayden Wesneski: Placed on 15-day injured list
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The Astros placed Wesneski (elbow) on the 15-day injured list Wednesday.
Wesneski still has lots of rehabbing to do following last May's Tommy John surgery. He could eventually shift to the 60-day IL when/if Houston needs the 40-man roster spot.
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Astros' Hayden Wesneski: Avoids arbitration
Rotowire
Wesneski (elbow) agreed to a one-year, $975,000 deal with the Astros on Thursday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
The two sides avoid arbitration, as Wesneski continues working his way back from Tommy John surgery in May 2025. He'll likely be sidelined until around midseason, but could provide rotation depth and bullpen help in the second half. The 28-year-old righty logged a 4.50 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 29:6 K:BB in six starts (32 innings) for the Astros in 2025 before the injury.
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Astros' Hayden Wesneski: Shifts off injured list
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Wesneski (elbow) was activated from the injured list Thursday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
This move was procedural as the Astros get their 40-man roster in order for the offseason. Wesneski will be sidelined until at least the middle of the 2026 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery.
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Astros' Hayden Wesneski: Requires Tommy John surgery
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Manager Joe Espada announced after Sunday's win over the Rangers that Wesneski (elbow) will undergo Tommy John surgery this week, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
The right-hander was dealing with some swelling after landing on the injured list May 9 due to elbow discomfort, and he's now headed for Tommy John surgery after being diagnosed with UCL damage. Wesneski will miss the rest of the year and will also be sidelined for at least the first half of the 2026 campaign since the procedure carries a typical recovery timeline of 14-to-18 months.
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Astros' Hayden Wesneski: Swelling still an issue
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Wesneski underwent an MRI on Saturday that showed inflammation in his elbow, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Wesneski was placed on the injured list Friday due to the inflammation, but the team is waiting for the swelling to subside to make an official diagnosis. Manager Joe Espada said he expects it will be a few more days before that occurs, so the right-hander remains without a clear return timeline.
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Astros' Hayden Wesneski: Getting extra rest
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Manager Joe Espada said Tuesday that Wesneski is healthy but won't make his scheduled turn through the rotation Wednesday against the Tigers in order to get him some extra rest, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
The right-hander labored in his last start Friday versus the Royals, as he issued three walks after handing out just one in his first four starts of the year. Wesneski has worked as a swingman in the majors prior to this year with 22 starts in 68 appearances, so it's not a huge surprise he'll require some extra rest here and there. The Astros haven't announced who will start instead Wednesday, but A.J. Blubaugh is a likely candidate and is on the taxi squad, per Rome. Wesneski now appears poised to take the mound Friday on the road versus the White Sox.
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Astros' Hayden Wesneski: Saddled with second loss
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Wesneski (1-2) took the loss Friday against the Royals, surrendering two earned runs on eight hits while striking out one batter over five-plus innings. He did not issue a walk.
Wesneski had 25 punchouts across 23 innings entering Friday's contest, but his third-inning strikeout of Jonathan India was the only one he was able to muster in five frames against Kansas City. Despite allowing consistent traffic on the bases, Wesneski didn't surrender a run until Kyle Isbel brought Drew Waters home on a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning. The right-hander then came back out for the sixth but was pulled after allowing hits to the first two batters he faced, one of which eventually came around to score. Houston's offense, on the other hand, wasn't able to get anything going against Seth Lugo, so Wesneski will take a 1-2 record as well as a 3.86 ERA into his next start at home against Detroit.
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Astros' Hayden Wesneski: Strikes out 10 in win
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Wesneski (1-1) allowed three runs on five hits over six innings Sunday, striking out 10 and earning a win over the Angels.
Wesneski picked up his first win as an Astro in a fairly unconventional way. He coughed up three solo home runs and generated only 11 swinging strikes despite the 10 punchouts. It was also his second straight quality start after taking a loss in his season debut. Wesneski is sporting a 4.00 ERA with a 21:3 K:BB through 18 innings. He's currently scheduled to face the Padres at home next weekend.
Wesneski didn't factor into the decision Monday against Seattle after allowing two runs on three hits and no walks in seven innings, striking out five.
Wesneski was excellent Monday, tossing four scoreless innings to open the game before Ryan Bliss tagged him for a two-run homer in the fifth inning. The right-hander then threw two more clean frames thereafter to cap off a strong outing. Although Wesneski has a 3.75 ERA through two starts this year, he holds a superb 0.67 WHIP and 11:3 K:BB over 12.0 innings and should carry plenty of streaming appeal at home against the Angels in his next projected start this weekend.
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Astros' Hayden Wesneski: Making final tune-up start
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Wesneski (foot) is starting Tuesday's exhibition game against Triple-A Sugar Land.
Wesneski needed X-rays after being struck on the left foot by a comebacker in an appearance in a minor-league game last week, but those tests were negative and he is fine. The right-hander will open the season as the Astros' fifth starter.
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Astros' Hayden Wesneski: Getting X-rays on foot
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Wesneski will undergo X-rays after being struck on the left foot by a comebacker in a minor-league game Thursday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
The X-rays seem to be precautionary, as Wesneski was spotted participating in drills Friday. Assuming testing doesn't uncover a more serious issue, the right-hander is slated to open the season as the Astros' fifth starter, an assignment that became more important when Luis Garcia was shut down Thursday after experiencing further soreness in his elbow.
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Astros' Hayden Wesneski: Making push for rotation
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Wesneski has allowed one earned run across 6.1 innings while maintaining an 11:3 K:BB in the Grapefruit League this spring.
Wesneski is a top candidate to begin the season in the Astros' rotation with both Luis Garcia (elbow) and Lance McCullers (forearm) set to begin the season on the injured list. According to Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle, Wesneski has prepped for the role by adding a curveball to his arsenal. The results this spring have been strong, highlighted by his outing Saturday when he struck out five and walked one across 2.1 frames.
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Astros' Hayden Wesneski: Goes to Houston in Tucker trade
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The Astros acquired Wesneski, Isaac Paredes and Cam Smith from the Cubs on Friday in exchange for Kyle Tucker, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Wesneski put up a 3.86 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 67:21 K:BB over 67.2 innings with the Cubs this past season, splitting time between the rotation and bullpen. The Houston native will be stretched out during spring training, but the right-hander's ultimate role next season could depend on what other moves Houston makes this winter, and how far Lance McCullers (forearm) and Luis Garcia (elbow) have progressed in their recoveries.
