The Houston Astros have had a tough go this season when it comes to their pitching staff. They lost their ace Hunter Brown at the beginning of the season, and he didn't return until June. They also lost Cristian Javier around the same time with a similar injury, and that is just two of the injuries their pitching staff endured. Then, earlier this week, they traded Lance McCullers Jr. to the Brewers after 11 seasons.
Despite all of their struggles, there have been some bright spots, like Spencer Arrighetti, who had an outstanding first part of the season, but since June, he hasn't looked the same.
Then there is Peter Lambert. Lambert might just be the Astros' most consistent arm of the season so far. Lambert is not the pitcher anyone expected to be holding this rotation together. He was signed to a minor league deal after pitching in Japan last season with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows.
After Lambert's most recent start Wednesday night, he is currently 8-5 with a 3.03 ERA, 17 games, 98 innings pitched, and 94 strikeouts, per MLB. Those are numbers that would make any rotation proud, let alone one that has been as banged up as Houston's.
Peter Lambert took the mound Wednesday night and delivered exactly what the Astros needed. Six innings, two runs, and another quality start for one of the most reliable arms in the AL this season. Lambert has been the quiet backbone of this rotation all year, and Wednesday was no different.
He worked through traffic, limited the damage, and gave the bullpen a much needed breather. His July ERA now sits at a remarkable 1.02 across three starts this month. For a pitcher who came in under the radar after spending last season in Japan, Lambert has been nothing short of a pleasant surprise. The Astros would be in a much worse place without him.
With the trade deadline approaching and the rotation continuing to thin out, Lambert has quietly become one of the most valuable pitchers on this roster. The Astros need him to keep showing up like this if they want to stay in the AL West race.
