​The Astros optioned Mike Burrows to Triple-A Sugar Land on Tuesday, a day after he was knocked around for a career-high 10 runs in the 12-11 loss to the Washington Nationals. Alimber Santa was recalled to take his spot on the roster. Here is a look at Burrows’ numbers, per ESPN: a 4-9 record with a 5.99 ERA across 94 2/3 innings, leading the majors in losses and tied for third in home runs allowed with 21. He became the first Astros pitcher to surrender 10 runs since J.P. France did so in August 2023.
Burrows had a brief stint in the bullpen last month before returning to the rotation on June 24 in Toronto, where he allowed one run over six innings and showed some promise. That positive outing was followed by a rough performance against Minnesota on June 30, when he yielded four runs in five innings. Then came Monday’s meltdown against Washington, a game in which he gave up a career-high 10 runs. The Astros cannot sustain this level of mound performance, and manager Joe Espada acknowledged the challenge of getting Burrows back on track while emphasizing the need for different approaches against hitters. Espada reiterated that the decision is not about writing off Burrows, but about providing him the space to work through his struggles and regain his footing. Burrows has demonstrated capability; he simply needs to rediscover his form.
To fill Burrows’ roster spot, the Astros brought up Alimber Santa from Triple-A Sugar Land. Santa has impressed in his limited major league action this season, posting a stellar 0.71 ERA over 12 2/3 innings. He also contributed to the team during the historic combined no-hitter on May 25 in his MLB debut, marking a memorable start to his big-league career. With Burrows moved to the minors, the Astros now feature a starting rotation comprised of Brown, Lambert, Arrighetti, and Imai. Burrows remains under team control and can be recalled in fewer than 20 days without consuming his final option year, so this relocation may not be permanent.
The looming trade deadline adds urgency to these roster moves, as the Astros seek depth and consistency in their pitching staff. With Burrows’ designation, the club is betting on reinforcements and a clearer path for Burrows to regain his form without jeopardizing the team’s immediate postseason aspirations. The situation underscores the need for a reliable rotation as the Astros push toward the critical stretch run, where every start counts and depth at the pitching position could prove pivotal in shaping their playoff chances.