Jason

Alexander

The Astros will transition to a six-man rotation around mid-April when they hit a stretch of 13 consecutive games without an off-day. Hunter Brown and Tatsuya Imai are the only locks right now with Cristian Javier, Mike Burrows and Lance McCullers Jr. figuring to break camp in the rotation as well. The battle for the sixth spot in the rotation involves a combination of Spencer Arrighetti, AJ Blubaugh and Peter Lambert. The other option is to bring up someone like Jason Alexander or Colton Gordon a couple weeks into the year.

With an option remaining, Alexander was always a longshot to make the Astros’ Opening Day roster. He didn’t help his cause in Grapefruit League action though, registering a 6.35 ERA, 1.94 WHIP and a 3/3 K/BB ratio over 5 2/3 innings in his three starts. He’ll get an opportunity with the Astros at some point during the 2026 campaign.

Alexander helped keep the Astros in the playoff hunt down the stretch last year, going 4-2 with a 3.66 ERA in 13 starts and one relief appearance after arriving in late June, but he arrived in camp this year being viewed strictly as a fallback plan. He has an option year left, so he’s Triple-A bound unless an injury epidemic strikes.

Alexander struck out four batters on the night while issuing one base on balls. He served up a solo homer to Mike Trout in the fourth inning, then allowed an RBI double to Denzer Guzman before exiting in the fifth. He got seven swings and misses on 56 pitches on the night, posting a CSW of 27 percent. The 32-year-old hurler finishes the season with an underwhelming 4.77 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and a 65/26 K/BB ratio over 77 1/3 innings in 18 appearances (13 starts) between the Athletics and Astros.

Woof. Alexander also walked a batter while recording one strikeout in the rough outing. He kept the Mariners off the board in the first inning, then they erupted for seven runs in the second including a grand slam by J.P. Crawford and a two-run blast by Cal Raleigh. Alexander got six whiffs on 37 pitches on the night, posting a CSW of 27 percent. He’ll head into his final start of the season on Friday against the Angels in Los Angeles with a 4.83 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and a 61/25 K/BB ratio over 72 2/3 innings on the season.

The Rangers were scoreless through the fourth before a Jeremy Peña error to start the fifth. Alexander later gave up a 352-foot homer to Josh Jung and another run before being lifted. If not for the Peña error, he probably gets a win in a game in which the Astros prevailed 6-3. As is, he stays 4-1 with a 4.04 ERA. He’s due to make his next start against the Mariners on Sunday.

Serenity now! Alexander was excellent against a good Blue Jays lineup here. His process stats weren’t great, only forcing eight swings-and-misses and giving up more than a few hard line drives that just happened to find gloves, but he walked out unscathed nonetheless. He’s scheduled to face the Rangers in what will be a pivotal game for deciding playoff positioning next time out.

The 32-year-old right-hander struck out three batters on the night while allowing one base on balls. Dylan Beavers did all of the damage against him, with a solo shot in the second inning and then a fielder’s choice in the sixth that plated a run. Alexander got six whiffs on 91 pitches on the evening — five of them on his changeup — while registering a CSW of 31 percent. The expectation had been that Alexander would lose his spot in the team’s rotation once Lance McCullers Jr. was ready to return, but he has pitched so well over his last three starts that perhaps they’ll reconsider. He now holds a 4.41 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and a 38/19 K/BB ratio over 49 innings on the season.

McCullers has been out since late July working his way back from a blister on his right finger. His return bumps journeyman Jason Alexander from Houston’s rotation mix.

It’s another solid effort for Alexander, who has likely earned another start or two in the Houston rotation. He has allowed just a pair of runs in his last 12 innings, and he was able to strike out six without issuing a walk. There’s reason for skepticism, but Alexander is worth streaming consideration assuming he faces the Orioles again Thursday.