Fantasy News

• Astros' Hunter Brown: Limits damage against Mariners

  Rotowire May 5, 2024

  Brown didn't factor into the decision Sunday against Seattle, allowing two runs on five hits with four walks over 4.1 innings. He struck out five. Despite tying his season high in walks, Brown allowed only a pair of runners to score and held the Mariners to just one extra-base hit. Brown has lasted less than five innings in five of his seven starts this season and owns an ugly 8.89 ERA through 27.1 innings. With Cristian Javier (neck) set to return in the next week or so, Brown's time in the rotation could be coming to a close. However, Houston could drop rookie Spencer Arrighetti instead. As it stands, Brown is tentatively scheduled for a start against the Tigers on Saturday.

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• Astros' Hunter Brown: Issues persist against Guardians

  Rotowire May 1, 2024

  Brown didn't factor into the decision Tuesday, allowing six runs on five hits and two walks across 5.1 innings against Cleveland. He struck out seven. Brown gave up at least five runs for the third time in his last five starts and walked multiple batters for the fifth time this season. He was tagged for a three-run home run in the first inning by Josh Naylor and a two-run home run in the sixth by Andres Gimenez. Through six appearances, Brown is 0-3 with a 9.78 ERA and a 2.22 WHIP over 23.0 innings. He's lined up for a start against the Mariners on Sunday.

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• Astros' Hunter Brown: First-inning struggles continue

  Rotowire Apr 21, 2024

  Brown (0-4) allowed three runs on four hits and two walks over four innings to take the loss Sunday against the Nationals. He struck out six. Brown needed 34 pitches to get through the first inning, allowing three runs in the process. However, he was much better in the next three frames, facing just one more batter than the minimum, including striking out the side in the second. That's now 12 first-inning earned runs allowed by Brown through five starts this season. Despite the so-so outing, Brown saw his ERA drop from 10.54 to 9.68 and his WHIP fall from an abysmal 2.78 to a slightly less abysmal 2.49. Brown's next start is tentatively slated to take place next weekend, when the Astros travel to the high altitude of Denver to take on the Rockies.

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• Astros' Hunter Brown: Starting Sunday

  Rotowire Apr 21, 2024

  Brown is being moved up in the rotation to start Sunday against the Nationals, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports. The right-hander was penciled in to start Tuesday against the Cubs but will instead face the Nationals since Cristian Javier was scratched due to neck discomfort. Brown delivered a quality start last Tuesday versus Atlanta, so he'll be on the typical four days rest and shouldn't have any limitations.

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• Astros' Hunter Brown: Stuck with loss

  Rotowire Apr 16, 2024

  Brown (0-3) took the loss Tuesday, allowing two runs on five hits and three walks with three strikeouts over six innings against Atlanta. Despite ending up in the loss column, Brown turned in a quality start against one of baseball's best offenses. The outing was the definition of a rebound for Brown, who allowed a combined 14 runs over 3.2 innings during his previous two starts. However, the right-hander was hung out to dry by the Astros' offense, which didn't get on the scoreboard until the bottom of the ninth. Excluding the pair of ugly showings, Brown has allowed three runs (two earned) and recorded eight strikeouts over the 10 innings covering his other two starts. He'll look for his first win of 2024 in a tentative matchup with the Cubs next Tuesday.

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• Astros' Hunter Brown: Tagged with five runs

  Rotowire Apr 5, 2024

  Brown (0-1) allowed five runs on eight hits and four walks over three innings Friday, striking out three and taking a loss against Texas. Brown worked around a bases-loaded situation in the first inning but then coughed up five runs in the second. Only 45 of his 80 pitches went for strikes, and he managed to force just five whiffs. Through two outings, Brown has thrown seven innings with a subpar 8:6 K:BB. He's projected to take the mound in Kansas City next week.

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• Astros' Hunter Brown: Goes four in no-decision

  Rotowire Mar 30, 2024

  Brown took a no-decision Saturday, permitting one unearned run over four innings against the Yankees. The only damage the Yankees managed against Brown came when they scored on a Jose Abreu fielding error. They made him work, though, as Brown wasn't able to go beyond four innings because he threw 88 pitches. The right-hander fanned five batters on the day, picking up eight whiffs. Brown had issues in the second half last season, particularly with the home run ball as he served up a whopping 17 in 61.2 frames after the break. Keeping the ball in the park as he did Saturday could certainly lead to more consistency in 2024.

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• Astros' Hunter Brown: Starting third game

  Rotowire Mar 23, 2024

  Brown will start the third game of the regular season against the Yankees, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports. Brown will slot into the rotation behind Framber Valdez and Cristian Javier. He's worked on a traditional slider while also aiming to improve his stamina this spring and has posted an impressive 12:3 K:BB across 12.2 innings in the exhibition season.

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• Astros' Hunter Brown: Working on traditional slider

  Rotowire Feb 3, 2024

  Brown is adding a slider to his pitch mix this offseason, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. Brown had an excellent start to his rookie season in 2023 but faded down the stretch while posting a 6.57 ERA across the second half of the year. He attributed some of those struggles to fatigue, though he also served up 1.9 HR/9 to right-handed hitters. While he threw a cut-slider and also experimented with a sweeper, Brown is working on a traditional slider that projects to have more of a velocity gap compared to his fastball. If he incorporates that into his pitch mix effectively, he should have more success neutralizing right-handed bats.

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• Astros' Hunter Brown: Covers three scoreless

  Rotowire Oct 20, 2023

  Brown allowed two hits across three scoreless innings in Thursday's 10-3 victory over the Rangers in Game 3 of the ALCS. He struck out two. Brown was tasked with covering the bulk of the innings after Jose Urquidy lasted only 2.1 innings as the starter. He faced pressure in the fifth inning with two runners on, but he managed to be rescued by his defense when Corey Seager lined out and Marcus Semien was tagged out on the basepaths to end the inning. Brown has pitched to a 1.80 ERA and 1.00 WHIP with four strikeouts across five innings out of the bullpen this postseason.

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• Astros' Hunter Brown: Yields six runs in loss

  Rotowire Sep 24, 2023

  Brown (11-13) took the loss Sunday against the Royals, allowing six runs on six hits and one walk over three innings. He struck out four. Brown allowed a season-worst four home runs Sunday, marking the third time in his last four starts allowing six runs or more. He has gone 1-3 with a 9.67 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 21:7 K:BB over 17.2 innings in those four outings. The 25-year-old rookie appears to have worn down over the long season, as he sports a 6.67 ERA over 60.2 innings post-All-Star break. Brown will look to right the ship in his last start of the regular season, currently scheduled to be at Arizona.

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• Astros' Hunter Brown: Rocked by Orioles

  Rotowire Sep 20, 2023

  Brown (11-12) took the loss Tuesday, allowing seven runs on six hits and two walks over 5.1 innings against the Orioles. He struck out five. Brown served up a pair of long balls Tuesday, with one being a two-run shot by Ryan O'Hearn in the first and the other a three-run homer by Austin Hays in the third inning. The outing marked Brown's second time allowing at least six runs across his last three outings. However, between the disastrous starts, Brown fired off five scoreless frames against the A's. Since the beginning of August, Brown owns a 4-5 record with a 6.92 ERA and a 48:16 K:BB during 40.1 innings. He's lined up to make his next start against the Mariners in Seattle.

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• Astros' Hunter Brown: Rebounds with five hitless frames

  Rotowire Sep 14, 2023

  Brown (11-11) earned the win over Oakland on Wednesday, issuing two walks and striking out seven batters over five scoreless and hitless innings. Brown had been struggling coming into Wednesday, posting a 9.56 ERA and 2.06 WHIP over his previous four starts. The rookie bounced back in impressive fashion against the A's, holding them without a hit and racking up seven punchouts over five dominant frames. Brown's final pitch of the fifth was his 78th of the night, and there was no chance he'd be allowed to push for a complete game or a no-hitter (especially since he's already thrown a professional-high 146.1 frames on the campaign). He'll look to build upon this stellar start in what projects to be tougher matchup against Baltimore next week.

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• Astros' Hunter Brown: Rough night against Yankees

  Rotowire Sep 3, 2023

  Brown (10-10) took the loss Saturday, coughing up five runs (three earned) on five hits and four walks over four-plus innings as the Astros were downed 5-4 by the Yankees. He struck out five. A fifth-inning error by Mauricio Dubon on a potential double-play ball right after a leadoff walk to Aaron Judge spelled the end of Brown's night, and both baserunners eventually came around to score after he'd left the mound. The right-hander didn't necessarily deserve a better outcome, though -- he tossed only 54 of 94 pitches for strikes, and the four free passes were the most he'd issued since he walked five Giants on May 2. Brown has been tagged for at least five runs in three of his last five starts, and fatigue could be a factor for him down the stretch as his 137 innings on the season are already a career high. Unless Houston decides to give the 25-year-old some extra rest between starts, his next outing lines up for a home series next weekend against the Padres.

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• Astros' Hunter Brown: Cruises to 10th win

  Rotowire Aug 27, 2023

  Brown (10-9) earned the win Saturday, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks over five innings against Detroit. He struck out nine. Brown bounced back from a poor last start in which he surrendered six runs across 2.2 innings against Seattle to limit the Tigers to four hits on the day. He also notched his best strikeout total since May 26 (14 starts) and gave up just one extra-base hit. The 24-year-old has been very inconsistent as of late, giving up four or more runs in four of his last eight starts while yielding two in each of the other four. He's expected to toe the rubber against the Yankees next.

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• Astros' Hunter Brown: Hit hard in loss

  Rotowire Aug 20, 2023

  Brown (9-9) took the loss Sunday, allowing six runs on eight hits and two walks over 2.2 innings against the Mariners. He struck out five. It was a rough day for Brown, who was charged with two runs in each of the first three innings. The 24-year-old right-hander has struggled to a 6.32 ERA over his last eight outings (37 innings). Overall, Brown's ERA is up to 4.50 with a 1.34 WHIP and 143:41 K:BB across 23 starts (128 innings) this season. If the Astros elect to return to a five-man rotation, Brown could find himself back in the bullpen.

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• Astros' Hunter Brown: Takes eighth loss

  Rotowire Aug 11, 2023

  Brown (8-8) took the loss Thursday, allowing five runs on eight hits over six innings against Baltimore. He struck out seven without walking a batter. It wasn't a good start for Brown, as he gave up a solo home run to Adley Rutschman to open the top of the first inning. The right-hander then allowed runs in the third, sixth and seventh innings, marking the fourth time this season he's allowed at least five runs in a start. Brown has lost five of his last seven decisions and has surrendered at least two home runs in two straight starts. He has, however, still managed to go six innings in each of his last four outings.

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• Astros' Hunter Brown: Yields two runs in no-decision

  Rotowire Jul 23, 2023

  Brown allowed two runs on six hits and two walks while striking out four over six innings in a no-decision versus the Athletics on Sunday. Brown enjoyed his best start of July, though the quality of opponent likely played a role. He'd allowed a total of 12 runs and 24 hits over 12.1 innings across his three previous outings before getting back on track Sunday. The right-hander is now at a 4.19 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 122:35 K:BB through 105.1 innings over 19 starts this season. Brown's career high in innings came last year when he pitched 126.1 between Triple-A and the majors, though it's unclear if the Astros have any plans to reduce his workload over the final two months of this season. He's projected for a home start versus the Rays next weekend -- he previously tossed seven innings of two-hit ball against them April 26.

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• Astros' Hunter Brown: Recovers from rocky beginning

  Rotowire Jul 19, 2023

  Brown (6-7) took the loss Tuesday, allowing four runs on six hits over 5.1 innings against the Rockies. He struck out seven. Brown got into trouble quickly Tuesday, allowing a leadoff single to Jurickson Profar and then serving up back-to-back long balls to Kris Bryant and Ryan McMahon. However, the 24-year-old bounced back from the rough first inning and subsequently tossed 4.1 frames of one-run baseball. Though Brown has been a strong source of strikeouts (10.69 K/9) he's surrendered multiple home runs on four different occasions this season and has struggled over his last five outings (7.13 ERA in 24 innings). He'll look to get back on track in his next start, which is tentatively scheduled to come against the Athletics at Oakland Coliseum.

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• Astros' Hunter Brown: Fans seven in no-decision

  Rotowire Jun 25, 2023

  Brown allowed one run on three hits and two walks over six innings in Sunday's win over the Dodgers. He struck out seven but did not factor in the decision. Brown served up a solo homer to Mookie Betts in the first inning but settled in to produce five straight scoreless frames after. Brown has been shaky recently, posting a 4.60 ERA through 29.1 innings over his last five starts. He's sporting a 3.62 ERA with a solid 97:30 K:BB across 87 frames for the season. Brown's next outing is currently lined up to be on the road against the Rangers.

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