Trending Now - Astros Pitcher Tatsuya Imai Returns to Houston Amid Struggles
WHO:
MLB.com - Tatsuya Imai is a rookie right-hander for the Houston Astros.
MLB.com - Hunter Brown and Cristian Javier are also pitchers for the Astros who are currently on the injured list.
WHAT:
ESPN - Imai is being examined for right arm fatigue after expressing some discomfort following his performance on April 10th, 2026.
ESPN - Imai has a 7.27 ERA through his first three starts, with 11 walks and 13 strikeouts in 8 2/3 innings pitched.
MLB.com - The Astros have placed Hunter Brown on the 15-day injured list due to a right shoulder strain as of April 9th, 2026, and Cristian Javier was placed on the injured list on April 11th, 2026, for a similar ailment.
MLB.com - Tatsuya Imai recorded only one out in a game against the Seattle Mariners on April 10th, 2026, leading to a 9-6 loss for the Astros.
MLB.com - Imai faced eight hitters, walking four, hitting one, allowing one hit, and giving up three runs during the game.
MLB.com - Imai has a 54 percent strike percentage through three starts and threw only 17 of 37 pitches for strikes in the game against Seattle.
MLB.com - The Astros signed Imai to a three-year, $54 million contract in January 2026.
MLB.com - The Astros' pitching staff has a 6.32 ERA, with relievers having a 7.08 ERA and starters a 5.55 ERA.
WHERE:
MLB.com - The game against the Seattle Mariners took place at T-Mobile Park in Seattle.
MLB.com - Imai traveled back to Houston for examination by team doctors.
WHEN:
MLB.com - Imai's rough outing occurred on April 10th, 2026.
MLB.com - Imai was sent back to Houston on April 11th, 2026.
MLB.com - The Astros have played 14 games in the 2026 season as of April 11th, 2026.
WHY:
MLB.com - Imai struggled with his performance, citing the hard mound at T-Mobile Park and cooler weather as factors affecting his pitching.
HOW:
ESPN - Astros manager Joe Espada stated, "He expressed some arm fatigue, so once we heard that we decided to just send him home to be seen by our doctors."
MLB.com - Imai's pitching issues included a low strike percentage and difficulty adjusting to Major League conditions, as he mentioned he was still adjusting to the ball and mound in the Major Leagues.
(UPDATED April 12, 2026 01:19 UTC)
Imai is currently being examined for right arm fatigue after reporting discomfort following his performance on Friday, where he recorded a 7.27 ERA through his first three starts, with 11 walks and 13 strikeouts in just 8 and two-thirds innings pitched. Meanwhile, the Astros have placed Hunter Brown on the 15-day injured list due to a right shoulder strain as of on Thursday, and Cristian Javier was also placed on the injured list on Saturday for a similar issue. Astros manager Joe Espada noted that after Imai expressed some arm fatigue, the team decided to send him home to be evaluated by their doctors.
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(UPDATED April 11, 2026 23:06 UTC)
Tatsuya Imai, a rookie right-hander for the Houston Astros, had a challenging outing against the Seattle Mariners on Friday, where he recorded only one out, leading to a 9-6 loss for the team. During the game, Imai faced eight hitters, walking four, hitting one, and allowing three runs on just one hit, while his strike percentage stood at a low 54 percent through three starts. Following his rough performance, Imai traveled back to Houston for an examination by team doctors, as he cited the hard mound and cooler weather at T-Mobile Park as factors affecting his pitching.