Burrows works scoreless start in Triple-A rehab appearance

HOUSTON -- Astros right-hander Mike Burrows, who’s been out for more than a month with right elbow neuritis, had a successful rehab start for Triple-A Sugar Land on Friday night, throwing 4 1/3 scoreless while allowing three hits and one walk.

Burrows threw 43 of 67 pitches for strikes at Round Rock, striking out three batters. He hit 97.1 mph with his four-seam fastball, which averaged 95.6 mph. Burrows had 10 swings and misses, including five on his changeup.

It’s not known yet how many more outings Burrows would need before the Astros consider calling him back up.

One of the Astros’ biggest offseason additions, coming to Houston from the Pirates in a three-team trade that cost the Astros’ two top prospects, Burrows posted a 5.99 ERA in 18 games (17 starts). In his last start for the Astros on July 6, Burrows allowed 10 runs (seven earned) in 4 1/3 innings in a loss to the Nationals, leaving him with the second-highest ERA in the American League at the time.

He was initially optioned to the Minor Leagues, but had that rescinded and put on the IL instead. He had been working out at the team’s facility in West Palm Beach, Fla., since.

Burrows’ four-seam fastball has been extremely hittable this year, which is why Burrows made some adjustments to his arm angle in mid-June. His arm slot had gotten too low, which often happens to pitchers who add a two-seam fastball like Burrows did last season.

Burrows, 26, made 23 appearances (19 starts) with the Pirates last season, with a 3.94 ERA and 1.24 WHIP over 96 innings. He had a 24.1% strikeout rate and 7.7% walk rate -- good for 1.3 fWAR.