SEATTLE — Houston Astros right-hander Tatsuya Imai returned to Houston on Saturday ahead of the team to be evaluated due to “right arm fatigue,” the Astros said.
Imai is the third Astros starter sent home on this road trip. Hunter Brown and Cristian Javier were placed on the injured list this week, each due to a Grade 2 shoulder strain.
The Astros did not place Imai on the injured list Saturday. They did option right-hander J.P. France back to Triple-A Sugar Land and call up Jayden Murray for a fresh bullpen arm before their game in Seattle.
Imai struggled in a start Friday against the Mariners, recording one out and throwing 37 pitches before being removed in the first inning. Imai walked four of seven batters he faced and hit another.
Afterward, Imai said through an interpreter that “the mound was really hard” at T-Mobile Park and it is “not usual” to pitch in cooler weather in Japan like that he experienced on Friday in Seattle, comments that reflected his transition from NPB to MLB.
Imai did not mention any injury concerns following Friday’s game, his third start with the Astros. He has posted a 7.27 ERA in 8 ⅔ innings across those three starts.