Blubaugh allowed a hit and four walks while striking out two over four scoreless innings in a no-decision versus the Angels on Saturday.
Blubaugh threw just 35 of 70 pitches for strikes, but the Angels weren't able to take advantage. He kept runs off the board in his last eight appearances, spanning 19 innings in which he had a 20:8 K:BB. The 25-year-old posted a 1.69 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 35:11 K:BB over 42 innings across 11 appearances (three starts) in his first taste of major-league action, which is much more impressive than his 5.27 ERA and 101:58 K:BB over 99 innings with Triple-A Sugar Land this year.
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Astros' AJ Blubaugh: Returning to starting role Saturday
Rotowire
Blubaugh is slated to start Saturday's game against the Angels in Anaheim, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
The rookie right-hander has handled a versatile role for the Astros down the stretch, as he'll be making his second start in September after having yet to yield a run while striking out 17 and scattering five hits and four walks across 14 innings. Though he'll be taking the hill Saturday on six days' rest, Blubaugh may not be stretched out enough to reach the five innings he would need to qualify for a win. Most likely, the Astros will plan for an abbreviated start for Blubaugh before turning to a slew of higher-leverage bullpen arms to close out the contest as Houston looks to remain alive in the AL wild-card race.
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Astros' AJ Blubaugh: Racks up sevens Ks in short start
Rotowire
Blubaugh struck out seven and scattered two hits and one walk over three scoreless innings in his start during Tuesday's 6-5 win over the Rangers. He didn't factor into the decision in the victory.
Called upon to make his second start of the season in what was essentially a bullpen game for the Astros, Blubaugh was electric out of the gate, striking out the first four batters he faced on his way to racking up an eye-popping 21 called or swinging strikes on only 50 pitches before giving way to Colton Gordon. Blubaugh has been outstanding in September, working 11 consecutive scoreless innings with 16 strikeouts and four walks. The rookie carries a 2.16 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 32:7 K:BB across 25 innings this season. He'll likely shift back to the bullpen temporarily but could be called upon when the Astros next require a fifth starter during the final series of the regular season versus the Angels.
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Astros' AJ Blubaugh: Slated to start Tuesday
Rotowire
Blubaugh will start Tuesday's game against the Rangers in Houston, Julia Morales of AT&T SportsNet Southwest reports.
Blubaugh will be taking the hill on three days' rest, but because he tossed just one inning and 19 pitches in his relief appearance in Friday's 11-3 win over Atlanta, he should be relatively fresh. Prior to that appearance, Blubaugh covered 3.1 frames in a Sept. 9 relief outing in Toronto, so he should be able to provide some length in his upcoming start. He's made four appearances for Houston through the first few weeks of September, firing eight scoreless innings while striking out nine and walking three.
The Astros recalled Blubaugh from Triple-A Sugar Land on Tuesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Blubaugh has made one start and two relief appearances for the Astros this season, yielding 11 runs (six earned) with a 15:3 K:BB over 13 innings. He will pitch out of the bullpen.
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Astros' AJ Blubaugh: Sent back to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Astros optioned Blubaugh to Triple-A Sugar Land on Sunday.
Blubaugh's latest stint with the big club lasted just one day, as the right-hander was put to work in long relief in Saturday's 9-8 win over the Orioles and was unlikely to be available for at least the next few days. The Astros recalled John Rooney from Triple-A to join the bullpen as a replacement for Blubaugh, who struck out four and gave up two earned runs on three hits and one walk over four innings during Saturday's appearance en route to picking up his second win.
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Astros' AJ Blubaugh: Summoned back to majors
Rotowire
Houston recalled Blubaugh from Triple-A Sugar Land on Saturday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Blubaugh has made two big-league appearances (one of which was a start) totaling nine innings so far in his debut MLB campaign, giving up four runs on eight hits with an 11:2 K:BB. His numbers haven't been great at Sugar Land, as he's registered a 5.27 ERA, 1.57 WHIP and 101: 58 K:BB across 99 frames, but the Astros will look to the right-hander for some pitching depth while he's up with the team. The Astros don't have an immediate opening in their rotation, and Luis Garcia (elbow) is nearing a return from the injured list, so Blubaugh figures to work as a long reliever with the big-league club.
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Astros' AJ Blubaugh: Sent down after first win
Rotowire
The Astros optioned Blubaugh to Triple-A Sugar Land on Wednesday.
The transaction comes one day after Blubaugh picked up his first major-league victory, allowing two runs over five frames against the Marlins in a bulk-relief appearance. Blubaugh will rejoin the rotation at Sugar Land and could get another opportunity in the big leagues later this season if the Astros need a starter.
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Astros' AJ Blubaugh: Earns win Tuesday
Rotowire
Blubaugh (1-1) allowed two runs on three hits and a walk over five innings Tuesday, striking out five and earning a win over Miami.
Blubaugh entered the game in the third inning after Steven Okert and Kaleb Ort combined to allow one run in the first two frames. It was Blubaugh's second career MLB appearance and first since April 30. He coughed up a pair of solo homers to Jakob Marsee and Eric Wagaman but otherwise looked solid. With Spencer Arrighetti (thumb) and Cristian Javier (elbow) both potentially back within the next week, it's unclear if Blubaugh will see more action with the big club or head back to Triple-A Sugar Land. He's produced a 4.00 ERA and an 11:2 K:BB over nine MLB innings.
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Astros' AJ Blubaugh: Called up, could pitch Tuesday
Rotowire
The Astros recalled Blubaugh from Triple-A Sugar Land, and he could pitch behind opener Steven Okert against the Marlins on Tuesday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
The right-hander joined the Astros as a member of the taxi squad Monday and has now joined the 26-man roster. Blubaugh's lone MLB appearance this year was a start in late April, and he gave up seven runs (two earned) on five hits with one walk and six strikeouts over four innings.
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Astros' AJ Blubaugh: Joins taxi squad
Rotowire
Blubaugh has joined the Astros' taxi squad in Miami and could be recalled from Triple-A Sugar Land, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
The Astros don't have starting pitchers listed for Tuesday's or Wednesday's games versus the Marlins, although Spencer Arrighetti (thumb) will be activated from the 60-day injured list to start one of those contests. Blubaugh is an option to start the other game, or he could be bullpen protection for Arrighetti, who will be making his first start in the majors since April. In one spot start with Houston earlier this season, Blubaugh allowed two runs with six strikeouts over four frames.
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Astros' AJ Blubaugh: Dispatched to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Astros optioned Blubaugh to Triple-A Sugar Land on Thursday.
With the Astros opting to skip Hayden Wesneski's turn through the rotation this week, Blubaugh was summoned from Triple-A on Wednesday to make a spot start in his MLB debut. The 24-year-old was the pitcher of record in Houston's 7-4 loss to Detroit, covering four innings and allowing seven runs (two earned) on five hits and one walk while striking out six. Wesneski is expected to return to action next week and Lance McCullers (forearm) is slated to come off the injured list and start Sunday against the White Sox, so the Astros didn't have room for Blubaugh in the rotation beyond Wednesday.
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Astros' AJ Blubaugh: Lasts four frames in MLB debut
Rotowire
Blubaugh (0-1) was charged with the loss Wednesday against the Tigers after giving up seven runs (two earned) on five hits and a walk over four innings. He struck out six.
The right-hander gave up a single run in each of the first two innings, and an error from shortstop Jeremy Pena preceded five unearned runs in the third, though that's a fortunate fact for Blubaugh given that he surrendered a grand slam. Besides the unearned runs, the 24-year-old's final line actually looks decent, though it won't help him stick in the majors since Lance McCullers (forearm) is coming off the injured list this weekend. According to Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 Houston, Blubaugh is expected to be optioned back to Triple-A Sugar Land ahead of Friday's series opener versus the White Sox.
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Astros' AJ Blubaugh: Called up for MLB debut
Rotowire
The Astros selected Blubaugh's contract from Triple-A Sugar Land ahead of his scheduled start Wednesday against the Tigers in Houston.
Blubaugh will be making his MLB debut Wednesday, but with Lance McCullers (forearm) seemingly on track to return from the 15-day injured list next week, the 24-year-old is likely headed back to Sugar Land regardless of how he performs versus Detroit. The young right-hander has struck out 28 batters and has allowed just one home run over 21 innings in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League this season, but walks have been an issue (10.8 BB%).
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Astros' AJ Blubaugh: Confirmed for Wednesday start
Rotowire
Blubaugh will start Wednesday's game against the Tigers, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Blubaugh was added to Houston's taxi squad Tuesday while the team debated on relying on its bullpen or a spot starter Wednesday to give Hayden Wesneski a couple of extra days to rest. The Astros opted for the latter, creating an opportunity for the 24-year-old righty to make his MLB debut. Blubaugh has turned in a 3.86 ERA and 1.38 WHIP across 21 innings at Triple-A Sugar Land this season, and he'll be welcomed to the majors by the American League's fourth-highest scoring offense.
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Astros' AJ Blubaugh: Candidate to start Wednesday
Rotowire
Blubaugh is with the Astros as a member of the taxi squad and is a candidate to start Wednesday against the Tigers, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Hayden Wesneski is being pushed back in the rotation a couple days to provide him some extra rest, so Houston is in need of a spot starter. However, Blubaugh isn't guaranteed to start since the Astros have a team day off Thursday, so a bullpen day could be employed if the unit is in good shape after Tuesday's contest. The right-hander has a 3.86 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 28:10 K:BB across 21 innings so far this season with Triple-A Sugar Land.
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Astros' A.J. Blubaugh: Hot start to 2024
Rotowire
Blubaugh has allowed one earned run across 11.1 innings with Triple-A Sugar Land.
Blubaugh began the 2024 season with Double-A Corpus Christi but was promoted to Sugar Land after just one start. Since reaching the highest level of the minors, he's prevented runs effectively while also posting an impressive 14:3 K:BB. Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports that Blubaugh has caught the attention of the organization due to his improved control and 1.5-mph uptick in velocity. Blubaugh hasn't gotten much attention as a prospect, but he could be a candidate for his big-league debut in 2024 if a need emerges in the Houston rotation.
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