Astros Recall Hoyt, Place Gustave on DL

The Houston Astros have placed Jandel Gustave on the 10-day disabled list for right forearm tightness, retroactive to April 19th. Gustave has struggled mightily out of the gate to this (extremely early) point in the 2017 season. With obligatory small sample size caveats, his struggles to find the strike zone (an abysmal 12.60 BB/9 and a withering 0.29 K/BB ratio) and his struggles with run prevention as a direct result (5.40 ERA, 6.32 FIP, 8.54 xFIP) have frustrated many Astros fans thus far.

This move could be explanatory (perhaps his forearm discomfort has lingered for a while and affected his mechanics, leading to such ugly numbers) or it could be reactionary (Sam Dyson-itis, in current parlance)...no one outside of the organization and the medical team is sure. Either way, it clears the way for James Hoyt and his split-fingered pitch to rejoin the team ahead of today’s 1:10 CT get away day game against the Angels.

Hoyt made his MLB debut as a 29 year old rookie on August 3rd of last season against the Blue Jays with a scoreless inning of relief and two strikeouts. All told, he pitched 22 innings in 22 appearances with a K/9 of 11.45, a BB/9 of 3.68, a probably-unlucky 33.3% HR/FB ratio, a strangely-low BABIP against of .229. As far as run prevention, he posted a 4.50 ERA and a 4.92 FIP, but those were accompanied by a 3.10 xFIP. He actually held left-handed batters to a lower wOBA (.291) than he did with right-handed batters (.306) but his stuff is pretty difficult to pick up for everyone when he’s at his best.

Astros fans will hope that Hoyt, who was arugably the best reliever in the Pacific Coast League in 2016 for the Grizzlies, will bring his A-game in his return to the Houston bullpen, and surely everyone wishes Jandel Gustave a speedy recovery as well.