Astros hit with bad news as two starters exit loss to Rockies

Houston Astros starting pitcher Cristian Javier (53) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Injury-plagued Astros hit with more bad news as two starters exit loss to Rockies

By Eric Smithling | Last updated Apr 8, 2026 7:30 PM ET

The hits keep coming to the Houston Astros.

On Wednesday, the team capped a miserable trip to the Colorado Rockies by being swept in a 9-1 loss, Houston's first in a three-game series or longer at Coors Field since 2012, per Stathead. But that wasn't the worst of it.

The Astros also lost two starters due to injury, one day after announcing ace Hunter Brown won't throw for a "few weeks" as he recovers from a shoulder injury.

Injuries are already piling up for the Astros

Pitcher Cristian Javier, who started Wednesday's loss, only pitched one inning before exiting with a shoulder injury. He took the mound for the bottom of the second but was pulled after making a warm-up pitch, ending his outing, allowing one earned run and three hits, which actually lowered his ERA to 12.54 through two starts.

And now, after going out to warm up for the second inning, Cristian Javier comes out of the game. The last thing the Astros' rotation needs right now ...
— Manny Randhawa (@MannyOnMLB) April 8, 2026

Meyers, who has started 10 games at centerfield and is slashing .243/.326/.378 this season, left with a lower back ailment before taking his first at-bat, and the Astros turned to young prospect Brice Matthews, making just his 23rd MLB appearance after debuting last July.

Jake Meyers left today's game due to lower back tightness.

Cristian Javier left today's game due to right shoulder tightness.
— Houston Astros (@astros) April 8, 2026

Injuries were a common occurrence last season as Houston missed the postseason for the first time since 2016, and they're quickly becoming an issue once again.

Pitching is the most immediate concern. While Javier's early struggles won't be missed, the team's depth will be tested with both him and Brown potentially unavailable for multiple starts. Fellow starters Ronel Blanco (elbow) and Hayden Wesneski (elbow) remain on the injured list, leaving the team without any established arms to plug in their place.

The bullpen is also absent closer Josh Hader, who hasn't pitched since August 8, 2025, and is currently out with biceps tendinitis. He was one of several losses that contributed to last year's disappointing ending. Through the first two weeks of the 2026 season, it's more of the same for Houston. Until it rids itself of its nasty injury bug, the Astros won't reach their full potential.

Eric Smithling

Eric Smithling is a writer based in New Orleans, LA, whose byline also appears on Athlon Sports. He has been with Yardbarker since September 2022, primarily covering the NFL and college football, but also the NBA, WNBA, men’s and women’s college basketball, NHL, tennis and golf. He holds a film studies degree from the University of New Orleans

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