Astros option pitcher after embarrassing loss to Dodgers

An embarrassing 12-2 loss to the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers not only led to a series loss for the Houston Astros. It also led to them sliding into a tie in the AL West basement with the Los Angeles Angels at 15-23 each. Astros starter Lance McCullers Jr. didn’t make it out of the third inning, giving up six runs in 2.2 innings. His relief, Jason Alexander, didn’t fare much better. After allowing five earned runs of his own in 4.1 innings, Alexander was optioned to Triple-A, per Houston beat writer Chandler Rome on X, formerly Twitter.

“The Astros optioned Jason Alexander to Triple-A after the game,” posted Rome Wednesday evening.

The 33-year-old tried to pick up where he left off last year with the Astros. Alexander was a serviceable arm in 2025, starting 13 games for Houston. He went 4-2 with a 4.77 ERA over 71.1 innings with the Stros. Now, as Houston looks to claw their way out of the AL West cellar, another arm will take Alexander’s place in the pitching staff.

In two relief appearances this season, Alexander has an ERA of 14.21 through 6.1 innings. The Astros were likely looking to the veteran arm to provide length out of the bullpen. While he did that on Wednesday, giving up five runs to the Dodgers wasn’t ideal. Especially in a game where Houston’s own offense was struggling to get going. Now that Alexander has been sent back down to the minors, who will be his replacement? If they can provide the same type of impact that Alexander gave the Astros last year, then their quest to get back to October should receive a boost.

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