Javier Slated for Whataburger Field Rehab Start Saturday at 3:05 PM

CORPUS CHRISTI - Houston right-hander Cristian Javier is slated to throw 60-65 pitches in a rehab start at Whataburger Field Saturday, Astros manager Joe Espada announced this afternoon. Javier has been out of action since being scratched from a start at Nationals Park on April 21 with neck discomfort. The 2022 World Series Champion stands 2-0 with a 1.54 ERA in 4 starts this season, scattering 15 hits across 23.1 innings for a .183 opponent batting average.

Javier’s most recent outing was April 14 at Minute Maid Park when he fired 7.0 frames of 2-run ball vs. the Rangers. The 27-year-old right-hander from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic stands 32-17 with a 3.47 ERA in 116 games (79 starts) over parts of five Major League seasons, averaging 10.2 strikeouts and 3.6 walks per 9 innings pitched.

Javier is famous for starting two combined no-hitters in 2022. They came on June 25 at Yankee Stadium when he logged 7.0 frames, and in Game 4 of the 2022 World Series at Philadelphia, a stunning 6.0-inning performance that occurred with the Astros down in the series, 2-1, with the Phillies launching 5 home runs in a 7-0 Houston setback the night before.

Saturday will mark the first appearance for Javier in a Corpus Christi uniform since 2019 when he was named Hooks Pitcher of the Year. In 17 games (11 starts) for CC, he went 6-3 with a sparkling 2.07 ERA (17 ER in 74.0 IP) with 114 strikeouts, a .124 opponents' average, a 0.95 WHIP and was 3-for-3 in save chances. Javier never allowed more than four hits in any of his appearances. Over his final 7 games (3 starts) with the Hooks, Javier was 2-0 with a 1.03 ERA (3 ER in 26.1 IP) with a 53-to-14 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Whataburger Field gates open at 1:35 PM Saturday with the first 2,000 fans taking home a Hooks Pirate Hawaiian Shirt, presented by Coastal Bend Chevy Dealers. The Hooks will take the field in special Rodeo Western themed jerseys, giving fans the opportunity to bid on player-worn jerseys at cchooks.com/auction. Proceeds benefit Equine Sharing Program, Inc.