Cristian Javier had allowed one run in three innings of his second start since returning from Tommy John surgery.

The Astros’ pitching rotation has been decimated by injuries all year, but they’ve begun to get healthy in the second half—most recently with Cristian Javier returning from Tommy John surgery and making his season debut this past Monday against the Boston Red Sox.

The Orioles led 1-0 when Javier left the game, plating their only run on a sacrifice fly by Gunnar Henderson in the third. Right-hander Shawn Dubin replaced him and proceeded to give up four earned runs in the fifth, including a three-run homer by Jordan Westburg that put Baltimore up 5-0.

Houston Astros starter Cristian Javier left Sunday's 12-0 loss to the Baltimore Orioles after three innings because of an illness, and he was replaced by Shawn Dubin in the fourth inning after the veteran allowed three hits and a run with two strikeouts.

Cristian Javier pitched five innings for a win in his first start in over a year after Tommy John surgery. He goes again against the Orioles.

BOTTOM LINE: The Detroit Tigers open a three-game series at home against the Houston Astros on Monday. Detroit has gone 39-24 at home and 73-53 overall. The Tigers have a 41-13 record in games when they did not allow a home run.

The Houston Astros optioned a starting pitcher to make room for the return of Cristian Javier from the 60-day injured list.

Before the middle contest Saturday of Houston's three-game series with the visiting Baltimore Orioles, Astros manager Joe Espada teased the potential return of slugger Yordan Alvarez, who has been sidelined since May 3 with a fracture in his right hand.

Astros pitcher Cristian Javier will make his 2025 season debut on Monday against the Red Sox as he returns from Tommy John surgery.

Plus notes on the team's pitching woes and Jesús Sánchez feeling "weird" during his slump since joining the team.