Cristian Javier entered the 2024 season with a strong desire to make a statement, aiming to show that his struggles from the previous season were firmly behind him. His performance against the Yankees on Friday suggested progress, as he effectively limited his opponents to four hits and a walk over six innings while striking out six. This outing marked one of Javier’s most impressive displays on the mound in nearly a year.
Notably, Javier made a tactical adjustment in this start by altering his pitch selection. Traditionally relying on his four-seam fastball and slider, Javier introduced a more consistent use of his changeup, throwing it 28% of the time compared to 36% for his four-seam fastball and 31% for his slider against the Yankees. This added variety helped keep the Yankees’ hitters off balance throughout the early innings.
Although Javier had indicated during Spring Training his intention to integrate the changeup more prominently, its effectiveness as a staple in his repertoire remains to be seen after just one start. However, it’s a development worth monitoring going forward, as the addition of a reliable third pitch has long been seen as a potential improvement for Javier.
On the offensive side, the Astros struggled to generate much beyond Alex Bregman’s solo home run in the first inning. Despite a close contest for the first seven innings, the Astros’ bullpen faltered late, surrendering several runs and allowing the Yankees to pull away for a decisive victory.
With concerns arising about the bullpen’s depth and the lineup’s inconsistency, the Astros will look to regroup for the next game, hoping for a turnaround led by pitcher Hunter Brown and a more productive showing from their batting lineup.
