HOUSTON (AP) — The Astros acquired left-hander Yusei Kikuchi from the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday for 23-year-old right-hander Jake Bloss, rookie outfielder Joey Loperfido and minor league first baseman Will Wagner.
The 33-year-old Kikuchi is 4-9 with a 4.75 ERA in 22 starts this season, striking out 130 and walking 30 in 115 2/3 innings. He is 0-4 with a 7.75 ERA in eight starts since winning at Milwaukee on June 11.
Kikuchi is 35-46 with a 4.72 ERA in six seasons with Seattle and the Blue Jays. He has a $10 million salary in the final season of a $36 million, three-year contract and can become a free agent after the World Series.
“His stuff has always been really good,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “I’m excited to get him with our pitching department so we can make some adjustments to how he pitches, how he can be more efficient, but the stuff is really good.”
Kikuchi joins a rotation that includes Ronel Blanco, Hunter Brown, Framber Valdez and Spencer Arrighetti. Houston's rotation is missing Justin Verlander (neck stiffness), Cristian Javier and José Urquidy (both Tommy John surgery).
Toronto manager John Schneider said it was tough to say goodbye to Kikuchi and Justin Turner, who got traded to the Mariners in a separate deal.
“We wish him and (Turner) the best,” Schneider said. “I know they’re two American League teams, but you look at the people over the player, and they’re two of the most well-respected players in the big leagues.”
Bloss was scratched from his scheduled start against Pittsburgh on Monday.
He was selected from Georgetown with the 99th pick in the third round of the 2023 amateur draft and signed for a $497,500 bonus. Bloss made his major league debut on June 23 and is 0-1 with a 6.94 ERA in three starts. He went on the injured list with right shoulder inflammation a day after his big league debut and was activated July 11.
Bloss had 13 starts at three minor league levels this year and went 4-2 with a 1.64 ERA. Wagner is the son of former Astros closer Billy Wagner.
“A lot of these guys have high price tags,” Astros GM Dana Brown said. “Getting a major league starter with that type of arm, you’re going to have to give up some pretty good players. It’s pretty difficult to give up young talent, but at the end of the day, we’re trying to stabilize our rotation so that we can get back to the postseason and potentially get deep into the postseason.”
Toronto began the season with a $244 million luxury tax payroll, $7 million over the tax threshold. As the deadline approached, the Blue Jays also dealt third baseman Justin Turner to Seattle, catcher Danny Jansen to Boston, right-hander Nate Pearson to the Chicago Cubs and right-hander Yimi García to Seattle.
The 25-year-old Loperfido made his major league debut on April 30 and is hitting .236 with two homers and 16 RBIs.
Wagner, who turned 26 on Monday, was hitting .307 with five homers and 41 RBIs for Triple-A Sugar Land.
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Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher River Ryan celebrates after striking out Houston Astros' Joey Loperfido during the fifth inning of a baseball game Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)
Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Yusei Kikuchi (16) throws to a Detroit Tigers batter in the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Saturday, July 20, 2024. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)
TORONTO (AP) — Natalie Spooner scored her first two goals of the season and the Toronto Sceptres beat the PWHL-leading Montreal Victoire 4-1 on Thursday night.
The league MVP a year ago, Spooner has played six games since returning from a knee injury sustained in the playoffs. She scored both goals on power plays.
Allie Munroe and Maggie Connors also scored and Kristen Campbell made 25 saves to help Toronto beat Montreal for the first time in five games this season.
Marie-Philip Poulin scored for Montreal.
Victoire: Montreal remains six points ahead of second-place Toronto in the PWHL standings with one game in hand.
Sceptres: Toronto is 1-0-2-2 against Montreal this campaign after going undefeated in five games against the Victoire last season.
Nine seconds after Montreal’s Mikyla Grant-Mentis was sent to the penalty box for boarding, Julia Gosling sent a cross-ice pass in front to Spooner who missed at first but tapped in an airborne puck 5:48 into the first period for the opening goal.
Toronto was 2 for 4 on the power play.
The Victoire are at Boston on Saturday. The Sceptres host Minnesota on Sunday.
AP women’s hockey: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-hockey
Toronto Sceptres' Renata Fast (second left) celebrates scoring a goal against the Montreal Victoire with her teammates Daryl Watts (9), Hannah Miller (34) and Natalie Spooner (24) during the second period of PWHL hockey action in Toronto on Thursday, March 6, 2025. (Thomas Skrlj/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Sceptres' Maggie Connors (22) celebrates after scoring a goal against Montreal Victoire goalie Elaine Chuli (20) during the second period of PWHL hockey game action in Toronto, Thursday, March 6, 2025. (Thomas Skrlj/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Sceptres' Natalie Spooner (second right) celebrates scoring her first goal of the season against the Montreal Victoire during the first period of PWHL hockey action in Toronto on Thursday, March 6, 2025. (Thomas Skrlj/The Canadian Press via AP)
Montreal Victoire forward Laura Stacey (7) is stopped by Toronto Sceptres goaltender Kristen Campbell as Sceptres' Kali Flanagan defends during the first period of PWHL hockey action in Toronto on Thursday, March 6, 2025. (Thomas Skrlj/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Sceptres' Savannah Harmon (15) plays the puck as Sceptres defenders surround Montreal Victoire's Marie-Philip Poulin (29) during the first period of PWHL hockey action in Toronto on Thursday, March 6, 2025. (Thomas Skrlj/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Sceptres players celebrate a goal against the Montreal Victoire during the second period of PWHL hockey action in Toronto on Thursday, March 6, 2025. (Thomas Skrlj/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Sceptres' Maggie Connors (22) celebrates after scoring a goal against the Montreal Victoire with Megan Carter (23) during the second period of PWHL hockey game action in Toronto, Thursday, March 6, 2025. (Thomas Skrlj/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Sceptres Allie Munroe (12) celebrates after scoring a goal against the Montreal Victoire with teammates Renata Fast (14), Emma Maltais (27) and Hannah Miller (34) during the second period of PWHL hockey game action in Toronto, Thursday, March 6, 2025. (Thomas Skrlj/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Sceptres' Julia Gosling (88) congratulates Natalie Spooner (24) on her first goal of the season against the Montreal Victoire during the first period of PWHL hockey action in Toronto on Thursday, March 6, 2025. (Thomas Skrlj/The Canadian Press via AP)
