Astros pitcher Cristian Javier posts strong rehab outing, poised for rotation return

Dominican right‑hander Cristian Javier, on the Houston Astros' injured list since April 9 with a Grade 2 right‑shoulder strain, threw six scoreless innings for Triple‑A Sugar Land against El Paso on June 28. He recorded four strikeouts, issued two walks and delivered 85 pitches, the closest to a major‑league workload in a rehab start.

The performance marks his fifth rehab appearance and signals that the Astros expect to activate him within the week. With several starters sidelined, Javier is likely to rejoin the rotation after a brief rest, providing needed depth for the club's upcoming series.