The Houston Astros have made significant changes to their pitching staff following recent trade acquisitions. Left-handed pitchers Yusei Kikuchi and Caleb Ferguson have joined the team, prompting the departure of right-handers Rafael Montero and Seth Martinez. These adjustments were evident in the Astros’ recent 5-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday.
After a day off on Thursday, the Astros are set to begin a three-game home series against the Tampa Bay Rays starting Friday. The new-look bullpen will feature Ferguson, acquired from the New York Yankees, while Martinez has been sent to Triple-A Sugar Land, and Montero has been designated for assignment. Montero, who signed a three-year, $34.5 million contract before the last season, was a key player for the Astros during their 2022 World Series run. However, his performance has declined, with a 4-5 record and a 4.94 ERA over his last 109 appearances.
Astros general manager Dana Brown acknowledged Montero’s struggles and expressed a need to strengthen the bullpen. “We’re really trying to lock down our bullpen,” Brown said. “Our guys have been grinding through the whole year, so we wanted to bring in some reinforcements.”
Kikuchi, with a season record of 4-9 and a 4.75 ERA, is set to make his debut for the Astros on Friday. He was traded from the Toronto Blue Jays, where he notched 130 strikeouts over 115 2/3 innings. His strikeout rate of 10.1 per nine innings is the second-best of his career. Kikuchi’s performance has been mixed this season, with a strong start (2-4, 3.25 ERA) followed by a more challenging stretch (2-5, 6.42 ERA).
Kikuchi has a solid track record against the Rays, with a 5-2 record and a 3.72 ERA over ten appearances. He faced the Rays earlier this season, allowing three runs over 4 1/3 innings in a 5-1 loss on March 30.
The Rays will counter with right-hander Shane Baz, who has a 0-1 record and a 3.66 ERA. Baz’s last outing was a no-decision against the Cincinnati Reds, where he allowed two runs over six innings with seven strikeouts. This was Baz’s second quality start of the season. He returned this season after missing the entire 2023 season due to Tommy John surgery. Baz, a Houston native, will make his first career start against the Astros.
The Rays have also made impactful additions at the trade deadline. Christopher Morel, acquired from the Chicago Cubs, has already made his presence felt with home runs in consecutive games. Morel joined the Rays alongside Ty Johnson and Hunter Bigge in exchange for All-Star third baseman Isaac Paredes. Morel’s power was evident during his time with the Cubs, where he recorded a .228/.303/.439 slash line with 60 home runs and 168 RBIs over 323 games.
Rays manager Kevin Cash praised Morel’s talent and athleticism, noting his immediate impact with two home runs in two games. “You can see how talented he is, how athletic he is,” Cash said. “Two homers in two days; you’re not going to do much better than that.”
As the Astros and Rays prepare to face off, both teams will showcase their recent acquisitions and revamped rosters, aiming to strengthen their standings as the season progresses.
