Colton

Gordon

Gordon entered a 1-1 game to start the fourth and then went about retiring 15 of the 16 batters he faced in his first appearance since allowing one run in an inning on September 20. He ends his rookie season 6-4 with a 5.34 ERA and a 72/19 K/BB in 86 innings over 14 starts and six relief appearances. It should be good enough to keep him on the Astros’ 40-man roster this winter, but the team would probably rather have him in Triple-A than in the major league rotation to open 2026.

Javier would have been on four days’ rest Tuesday, so this will give him the extra day after he threw a season-high 87 pitches last week in his sixth start back from Tommy John. This would seem to take Colton Gordon out of the mix to start; he could have pitched Wednesday after throwing 60 pitches in relief Friday, but it’s doubtful he’d be a candidate to go long on three days’ rest on Tuesday. Whether the Astros go with a bullpen game or call up someone could depend on how tonight’s game goes.

Murray gave up one hit, walked one and struck out one. The 28-year-old suddenly has 5 1/3 scoreless innings to start his major league career. The Astros were up 2-0 when he left the game and would ultimately win 11-3. Colton Gordon pitched the last four innings of the game and earned the save. Murray threw just 40 pitches and is likely to remain in a bullpen role.

Gordon was just optioned to Triple-A on Saturday but he’ll return to join the Astros’ bullpen with Lance McCullers Jr. (hand) hitting the injured list on Friday night. The 26-year-old southpaw holds a 5.67 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and a 64/15 K/BB ratio over 73 innings with the Astros this season. He will be available out of the team’s bullpen for Friday night’s showdown against the Braves.

The 26-year-old southpaw made a spot start on Friday night, allowing four runs over 4 1/3 innings in a no-decision against the Rangers. He’ll continue to function as extra rotation depth for the Astros at the Triple-A level.

Gordon gave up five hits, walked two and struck out two. The Astros are trying the 26-year-old in the rotation again and once again his starts just aren’t good enough. Gordon has a 5.67 ERA this year and isn’t a recommended fantasy option if he continues to pitch out of the rotation.

The 26-year-old southpaw has already appeared in 15 games (13 starts) for the Astros on the season, compiling a 5.64 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and a 62/13 K/BB ratio across 68 2/3 innings. He’ll take the place of the injured Kaleb Ort (elbow) on the team’s active roster and will start on Friday night against the Rangers in Arlington.

Gordon worked two ineffective innings in the blowout loss to the Red Sox on Tuesday while allowing five runs; four of those earned. Jordan Weems will take his spot in the bullpen.

Just one day after Gordon was bumped from the Astros’ rotation and optioned to Triple-A, he returns to provide a fresh arm with Josh Hader (shoulder) landing on the injured list. It’s unclear if the plan is for him to serve as a long man in the bullpen or if he’ll be deployed in a traditional role to neutralize left-handers.

With Cristian Javier returning from the injured list to join the Astros’ rotation on Monday, there was no longer a spot available for Gordon. The 26-year-old southpaw posted a 5.27 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and a 60/12 K/BB ratio over 66 2/3 innings in 14 appearances (13 starts) with the Astros. He’ll continue to serve as extra rotation depth at the Triple-A level.