Peter Lambert left his start Wednesday against the Angels in the seventh inning after a comebacker struck his pitching hand. The good news is he avoided a serious injury and is currently day-to-day.
Lambert walked off the field under his own power and said his hand was sore but felt fine. He reportedly does not believe he will need imaging.
What Happened
Nick Madrigal hit a comebacker that struck Lambert directly on his pitching hand in the seventh inning. Lambert was immediately removed from the game. It was disappointing for Lambert since he had been pitching well up to that point, 6.1 innings, two runs, six strikeouts. He was trying to complete seven innings for the third time this season which would have matched his career high, but couldn't stay in after being hit.
His 2026 Season So Far
Lambert signed as a minor league free agent and nobody expected much. He has been one of the pleasant surprises of the rotation all season, and his current record is 5-4 with a 3.55 ERA, per MLB.
He has given the Astros length and consistency when they needed it most. Losing him even for a short stretch would be a blow to a rotation already dealing with injuries.
The Astros are already without Hunter Brown, who is expected back next week. Losing Lambert, even temporarily, adds more pressure to an already thin rotation. Just as they start to get some of their key pitchers back, they can't afford to lose anyone else. The Astros are monitoring his condition ahead of his next scheduled start. If he misses time, Alimber Santa or another option would likely step in.
The early signs are encouraging, and Lambert seems to have dodged a bullet. The Astros cannot afford another long-term injury to their rotation. Hopefully, he is back in his next turn, and this is nothing more than a scare.
