The Houston Astros 2017 rotation might as well be a used car. It runs fine for a while, but then something breaks and as soon as that is replaced another piece gets broken. 24 hours after the team activated Dallas Keuchel off the disabled list, the team now has placed starter Charlie Morton on the disabled list with a strained lat muscle on his right side. In his place, the team called up reliever Jordan Janikowski from Triple-A Fresno.
Morton, 33, has provided Houston with quality innings and frequent strikeouts so far this season. Across 57 2/3 innings pitched, Morton struck out 65 batters and has a career-best 2.83 K/BB ratio so far. He's performed well as a back-end rotation starter with a 4.06 ERA and 5-3 record on the year. While Morton is on the 10-day disabled list, this specific injury will likely keep him out of action for two-plus weeks.
Mike Fiers, who on Saturday learned he would be demoted to a bullpen role, now will likely regain his role in the Astros rotation. Across nine starts this season, the 31-year-old holds a 5.21 ERA, 7.55 FIP and a 1.52 WHIP. While his numbers have been awfully, especially a 3.47 HR/9, he'll likely have multiple turns through the rotation until Morton or Collin McHugh is able to return to the mound.