Astros place Cristian Javier (forearm) on 15-day injured list Monday

Javier started the season off looking like the prime 2022 version of himself, allowing just 4 earned runs across his first 4 starts (23.1 innings) of the year. Things have unfortunately unraveled from there.

The 27-year-old missed two weeks with a neck strain and has pitched to a 8.74 ERA across 11.1 innings in his three games since returning from that injury. He'll now head back to the injured list after experiencing forearm discomfort following his last start -- a disappointing 4-inning outing against the Los Angeles Angels.

The team is also calling up RHP Alex Speas from Triple-A in a corresponding move. Speas has concerningly pitched to a 10.91 ERA at various stops in Triple-A this season and could add another vulnerable arm to the Astros' struggling rotation.