The Houston Astros are monitoring pitcher Tatsuya Imai, who is experiencing “right arm fatigue.” As the team prepares for a game against the Mariners, Imai will return to Houston for a medical evaluation. This season, Imai has struggled with a 7.27 ERA over his first 8 2/3 innings, with only one solid outing against the Athletics. He has faced challenges adjusting to MLB conditions, particularly the cooler Seattle weather and the different mound dynamics compared to Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
Imai, who signed a three-year, $54 million contract last offseason, has not yet adapted to the major league schedule of pitching every five days, coming from a routine of once a week. The arm fatigue raises concerns about his readiness, especially as the Astros already face rotation challenges with Hunter Brown and Cristian Javier on the injured list.
As the Astros navigate these challenges during a stretch of 13 straight games, they may need to rely on other pitchers in their roster, including recent call-ups and bullpen options, while awaiting updates on Imai’s condition.
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