Burrows' rotation spot in question after latest tough outing

WASHINGTON -- Mike Burrows leads the Astros in innings pitched and games started, which is an indictment against a starting rotation that entered Monday with the third-worst ERA in Major League Baseball. Burrows has been among the worst starting pitchers in baseball and another poor outing in Monday’s 12-11 loss to the Nationals could force the team to consider the viability of his rotation spot.

Staked to a five-run lead in the series opener at Nationals Park after Jose Altuve hit a three-run homer in the second inning and Yainer Diaz hit a two-run homer in the third, Burrows quickly gave it away. The Nationals tagged him for five runs in the third, capped by a three-run homer by CJ Abrams that tied the game.

Curtis Mead led off the fifth with a homer, and the Nats scored six more times that inning -- with four of those runs charged to Burrows -- en route to building a 12-6 lead they nearly coughed up. Burrows gave up 10 runs (seven earned) and nine hits and saw his ERA balloon to 5.99 in 94 2/3 innings.

“It was a tough day,” Burrows said. “I just feel like I let the team down. They gave me a good lead and I spoiled it. Some of the hits felt like they were in bad spots where our guys weren’t, and then there were a couple of pitches I just missed by a little bit and I got beat. Just a tough one.”

The Astros are 6-11 in games started by Burrows, with two of those wins coming when he pitched seven-inning gems -- May 8 at Cincinnati and May 27 at Texas. He’s had only four quality starts, and Monday’s start was his shortest of the season in terms of innings pitched.

Burrows, acquired in December from the Pirates in a three-team trade, has searched for answers all season. He has worked to raise his arm slot and earlier this season even changed where he stood on the pitching rubber. After giving up three first-inning runs Tuesday against the Twins, he said he felt rushed coming out of the bullpen.

Last month, pitching coach Josh Miller said Burrows transformed his delivery last season in Pittsburgh and it had gotten “out of whack this year.” His four-seam baseball has been among one of baseball's most hittable pitches in 2026. The Nationals took 18 swings on the 25 four-seamers Burrows threw Monday and didn’t whiff once. They whiffed twice on nine changeups.

“Just couldn’t get swing and miss on the changeup or the fastball,” manager Joe Espada said. “He got going there a little bit in the second and third inning, but after that it was hard to get quick outs. Credit to that offense.”

Burrows was moved to the bullpen for a “breather” for one outing on June 19 after Hunter Brown was activated from the injured list and has made three starts since rejoining the rotation. Espada gave no hints a move from the rotation could be forthcoming for Burrows.

“We just got to create some opportunities for him to go to areas where we can get some quick outs,” he said. “He showed signs of that, but we need more consistency out of his pitches. We know he’s got the changeup, and when it’s down under he can get ground balls and get swing and miss. The fastball, find areas where he can use it. The breaking ball, at times, he gets it over for strikes.

“We need more consistency. He’s working his tail off. We’ve got to give him credit, but we’ve got to help him through this process and get him right.”

If the Astros move Burrows from the rotation, they have options. Cristian Javier, who was activated from the injured list last week, threw two innings in relief Saturday and could easily be plugged in. He made three starts to begin the season before landing on the IL with a shoulder strain.

Meanwhile, a pair of starting pitchers are nearing the end of their Minor League rehab assignments.

Lance McCullers Jr. will make his third rehab start Tuesday for Triple-A Sugar Land. He’s been on the IL since May 19 with what he described as a right rotator impingement. Ronel Blanco, the Astros’ Pitcher of the Year in 2024 who underwent Tommy John surgery last June, will follow him as a piggyback starter Tuesday in his fourth rehab outing.

“It’s not an issue of confidence,” Burrows said. “Just maybe pitch selection and trying not to miss in-zone, just miss out of zone a little bit more.”