Hayden Wesneski made his first MLB start in 449 days Wednesday night against the Angels, and he made it count, helping the Astros complete a three-game sweep with a 7-4 win.
Wesneski last took the mound on May 6, 2025, allowing four runs in four innings in a loss at Milwaukee. Three days later, he landed on the injured list with elbow discomfort, and the diagnosis soon followed: Tommy John surgery, ending his first season in Houston before it really got started, per ESPN.
The Astros acquired Wesneski, a Houston native, from the Cubs in December 2024 in the trade that sent Kyle Tucker to Chicago, a deal that also brought Isaac Paredes and Cam Smith to Houston, per ESPN. Before the injury, Wesneski had shown real promise in his six starts, posting a 1-3 record with a 4.50 ERA but a tidy 1.09 WHIP, and he'd struck out a career-high 10 batters in just his third outing of the year, per RotoWire.
Wednesday's return did not start smoothly. The Angels jumped on him early, scoring three runs in the first inning to put Houston in an early hole. But Wesneski settled in from there, and the Astros' offense picked him up.
He finished the night with five and two-thirds innings pitched, allowing three runs on seven hits while striking out four and walking two, good enough to leave the game with the lead and pick up his first win back. It's a strong sign for a pitcher who spent over a year rebuilding his arm.
Wesneski's comeback has been a smooth one by all accounts. He began his rehab assignment within 13 months of surgery and looked sharp throughout it, firing 20 innings with a 2.25 ERA and 21 strikeouts against just four walks along the way, per MLB Trade Rumors.
With the rotation banged up for much of the season, Wesneski's return gives the Astros a genuine boost heading into the stretch run. If he can keep building on Wednesday's outing, he adds real length and depth to a pitching staff that has needed both all year.
The Astros improved to 55-55 with the win, reaching .500 for the first time since April, and now sit just one game back of Texas in the AL West.
