Just when it seemed like the injury bug couldn’t bite the Houston Astros any harder, it struck again — and this time, it hit the heart of their already-thin starting rotation.
In a crushing blow to the team’s playoff hopes, the Astros announced late Friday that veteran starter Jack Flaherty — acquired at the trade deadline as a key rental piece — has suffered a significant forearm strain that could end his season.
“It’s a tough one,” manager Joe Espada said somberly. “Jack came in and gave us a spark, exactly what we needed. Now, it’s another obstacle.”
Flaherty, who had been one of Houston’s few consistent arms since arriving from the Tigers in July, left Thursday night’s game against the Yankees after grimacing during his warmup pitches in the fifth inning. Initial tests suggested tightness, but an MRI revealed a Grade 2 strain in his pitching forearm — often a precursor to more serious elbow issues.
He is expected to be shut down indefinitely, and the team has not ruled out the possibility of Tommy John surgery depending on how he responds to further evaluation.
This marks the third major injury to the Astros’ starting rotation this season, with Framber Valdez battling shoulder fatigue and Cristian Javier already lost for the year following elbow surgery. The front office had hoped Flaherty could help steady the rotation and eat innings down the stretch, especially with the AL West race tightening by the day.
“We brought Jack in to be a difference-maker in October,” said GM Dana Brown. “Losing him right now is just a brutal hit, no other way to say it.”
In his brief stint with the Astros, Flaherty posted a 2.96 ERA with 34 strikeouts in five starts — showing flashes of the ace-level form he displayed early in his career with St. Louis.
With Flaherty now sidelined, the Astros will likely lean more heavily on young arms like Hunter Brown and Spencer Arrighetti, while potentially exploring emergency trade options or minor league reinforcements.
Astros fans are understandably frustrated, as the team continues to absorb blow after blow to its pitching depth — a core strength that has defined their recent postseason success.
As the playoff race heats up, Houston’s path just got a lot more complicated.
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