WASHINGTON (AP) — The Houston Astros optioned right-hander Mike Burrows to Triple-A Sugar Land on Tuesday, a day after he allowed a career-high 10 runs in a 12-11 loss to the Washington Nationals.
Burrows, who is 4-9 with a 5.99 ERA, shares the major league lead in losses and is tied for third in home runs allowed with 21. He gave up two homers on Monday while becoming the first Astro to give up 10 runs since J.P. France against Boston on Aug. 24, 2023.
The 26-year-old has pitched a team-high 94 2/3 innings this season. He was acquired from Pittsburgh in December as part of a three-team deal that included Tampa Bay.
“Trying to create some swing and miss,” Houston manager Joe Espada said. “Something has to change with how he approaches some of these hitters, trying to avoid some of that solid contact. He’s shown he’s capable of doing that, but we need to help him through this.”
Burrows was briefly moved to the bullpen last month, and allowed a run on two hits in six innings at Toronto on June 24 in his return to the rotation. He gave up four runs in five innings six days later against Minnesota before struggling Monday.
“He throws a lot of strikes, so the strike-throwing capability is there,” Espada said. “It’s where can he go with his stuff and get quicker outs?”
Espada said Houston has not finalized its starting pitching plans for this weekend’s series at Texas. The Astros are off Thursday, so it’s possible they won’t replace Burrows in the rotation until after the All-Star break.
Houston recalled right-hander Alimber Santa from Sugar Land to take Burrows’ roster spot. Santa is 0-1 with an 0.71 ERA in eight games with the Astros, including handling the final two innings of a combined no-hitter with Tatsuya Imai and Steven Okert in his major league debut May 25 at Texas.
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Houston Astros starting pitcher Mike Burrows throws against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, June 30, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Houston Astros starting pitcher Mike Burrows throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Monday, July 6, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Jacob Misiorowski struck out 11 in seven strong innings, Christian Yelich drove in a pair of runs and the Milwaukee Brewers rallied to beat the St. Louis Cardinals 4-3 in the first game of a split doubleheader on Tuesday.
Misiorowski (10-4) allowed three hits, including a pair of homers, and didn't walk a batter. The 24-year-old right-hander threw 57 of his 103 pitches at 100 mph or more. It's the third time this season he has thrown at least 57 pitches 100 mph or more.
Aaron Ashby pitched a scoreless eighth and Abner Uribe earned his sixth save in eight opportunities as the Brewers won their third straight.
Jordan Walker hit a two-run homer in the first inning for the Cardinals, and Iván Herrera added a solo shot in the third.
Joey Ortiz’s double got the Brewers on the board and Yelich followed with an RBI single to tie it at 2 in the third inning. Garrett Mitchell’s RBI single pulled the Brewers even at 3-all in the sixth. Yelich’s RBI double off JoJo Romero broke a 3-all tie in the seventh.
Walker’s 21st homer of the season left his bat at 105.6 mph, according to Statcast. Herrera is hitting .333 (4 for 12) with a pair of homers in his career against Misiorowski.
Matt Svanson served as the opener for the Cardinals, pitching a scoreless first. Bruce Zimmermann, who was selected from Triple-A Memphis before the game, allowed three runs on six hits in five innings, striking out two and walking one.
Ryne Stanek (2-2) took the loss, allowing both batters he faced to reach before exiting the game when he rolled his ankle after getting tangled with Ortiz in an awkward play at first in the seventh, setting up Yelich’s double.
The Cardinals have lost three straight games.
Brewers LHP Robert Gasser (1-3, 4.54 ERA) starts Tuesday's nightcap against Cardinals RHP Hunter Dobbins (1-0, 3.63), who was appointed as the Cardinals' 27th man for the doubleheader.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Milwaukee Brewers' Joey Ortiz (3) scores past St. Louis Cardinals catcher Jimmy Crooks during the third inning in the first game of a baseball doubleheader Tuesday, July 7, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
St. Louis Cardinals' Iván Herrera is congratulated by teammates after hitting a solo home run during the third inning in the first game of a baseball doubleheader against the Milwaukee Brewers Tuesday, July 7, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Milwaukee Brewers' Joey Ortiz is safe at first for a single as he collides with St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Bryan Torres (39) and pitcher Ryne Stanek (55) as they cover first base during the seventh inning in the first game of a baseball doubleheader Tuesday, July 7, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Milwaukee Brewers' Christian Yelich watches his RBI double during the seventh inning in the first game of a baseball doubleheader against the St. Louis Cardinals Tuesday, July 7, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Jacob Misiorowski throws during the first inning in the first game of a baseball doubleheader against the St. Louis Cardinals Tuesday, July 7, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
