The Houston Astros announced that 24-year-old AJ Blubaugh will start against the Tigers, marking his major league debut. As a seventh-round pick from the 2022 MLB Draft, Blubaugh has emerged as a notable pitching prospect, pitching to a 4.02 ERA over 268 1/3 minor league innings. Known for his effective fastball and multi-pitch repertoire, he has shown promising strikeout percentages but also faces challenges with walk rates. With the Astros needing to fill a pitching gap, Blubaugh's debut comes at a pivotal time for the team.
Blubaugh's fastball velocity has ticked up early this year, averaging 93.8 MPH, and he combines five pitches effectively.
As one of Houston's top pitching prospects, Blubaugh has a solid 24.5% K rate but also has to overcome a 10.8% walk rate.
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