The Houston Astros had to make a last-minute change to their lineup on Monday night against the Texas Rangers. All-Star pitcher Framber Valdez was scratched due to soreness in his left elbow, a real bummer for the team. Manager Joe Espada explained that Valdez felt the soreness after playing catch on Sunday. To be safe, the Astros sent him back to Houston for more checks. However, Espada did mention before the game that not putting Valdez on the injured list is a positive sign, suggesting the team doesn't think it's a serious issue.
To fill Valdez's shoes, the Astros called up Blair Henley from Triple-A Sugar Land. This was a big moment for Henley, as he was set to make his major league debut, right in front of his hometown crowd in Fort Worth. The 26-year-old right-hander must have been pumped for this opportunity.
Valdez, on the other hand, didn't get off to the start he wanted this season, with no wins in his first two starts, despite some solid pitching. He gave up three runs over 12⅓ innings, with six walks and 10 strikeouts. But hey, this is a guy who shined in the All-Star game last year and had a great 2023 season with a 3.45 ERA. In 2022, he was on fire, winning 17 games.
Henley's journey to the majors has been a little different. After pitching three seasons for the Texas Longhorns, the Astros drafted him in the seventh round in 2019. He's had a taste of Triple-A this season, making one start for Sugar Land, but nothing compares to stepping onto the big league field.
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