Hunter Brown starts Friday against the Rangers, his biggest test since returning from injury. This is exactly the kind of matchup that tells you where a pitcher actually stands.
Brown missed roughly two and a half months this season with a right shoulder strain, landing on the IL in early April and not returning until mid-June. He's currently 2-1 with a 3.45 ERA on the year, per MLB, numbers still recovering from how long he was out and how rough his return initially looked. That's a tough stretch for a guy who was an All-Star just last season.
His first three starts back in July were a genuine struggle, a 7.98 ERA and 1.91 WHIP, clearly a pitcher still finding his rhythm after that much time away. Rust like that is normal after a shoulder injury, but it still had people wondering if Brown would look like himself again this season.
Then came his last start against the White Sox. Brown threw seven shutout innings, allowing just two hits and striking out seven without issuing a single walk, his best outing of the entire season. He retired the final 12 batters he faced. It was the kind of start that makes you forget the rough patch even happened.
That start looked like the real Hunter Brown, the version who made the All-Star team last season. It's exactly the kind of performance the Astros need from him right now, with the rotation banged up and Houston fighting for the AL West down the stretch. This team does not have room for shaky starts right now, not with how tight the division is.
Friday's matchup against Nathan Eovaldi and the Rangers is about as big a test as it gets. If Brown can carry that same form into this one, it's a real sign the rotation is finally rounding into shape at exactly the right time. Houston needs him to be that guy again, and Friday is the perfect stage to prove it.
