The Houston Astros have burned through starting pitchers to open the season and have already lost four rotation pieces to the injured list. Before a three-game home series opener against the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday, they made another move. The Astros called up right-hander Peter Lambert for Friday’s start vs. Cardinals, a former top-five pitching prospect in the Colorado Rockies’ system, according to a report by Darragh McDonald of MLB Trade Rumors.
Lambert will start the series opener, making his first major league appearance for any team other than Colorado and his first big-league action since 2024. Lambert turns 29 on Saturday. A corresponding roster move is required. With multiple pitchers on the 15-day IL, Houston is expected to shift at least one to the 60-day IL to clear a 40-man roster spot.
At his peak, Lambert was a legitimate prospect. He ranked as high as No. 5 in the Rockies’ system heading into 2019 and had previously been rated their top pitching prospect, per Baseball America. Evaluators credited him with the best control and best changeup in Colorado’s farm system. He reached the majors by June 2019 and looked like he would stick at the big league level.
Lambert Spent Six Years Fighting Coors Field
What followed was a career shaped as much by geography as ability. Lambert made 74 appearances for Colorado from 2019 to 2024, throwing 243 2/3 innings with a 6.28 ERA. That bloated figure reflects the harsh reality of pitching at altitude, noted the MLB Trade Rumors report. The Rockies outrighted Lambert after the 2024 season, and rather than return to the minors with Colorado, the right-hander elected free agency.
But Lambert did not stay in the major leagues. Instead, he signed with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows of Nippon Professional Baseball, logging 116 1/3 innings over 21 starts with a 4.26 ERA. NPB’s league-wide ERAs have been around 3.00 in recent years, MLB Trade Rumors reported.
Houston signed him to a minor league deal in November. He opted out at camp’s end, then re-signed rather than test free agency again. At Triple-A Sugar Land this season, he has posted a 1.84 ERA in three appearances with a 5.1% walk rate and a 53.7% ground-ball rate, according to stats posted by CBS Sports. His four-seamer has averaged 94.5 mph.
Astros’ Rotation Crisis Left Houston Few Options Before Cardinals Opener
Houston is not turning to Lambert by choice. Hunter Brown and Cristian Javier are on the IL with shoulder strains. Tatsuya Imai followed with arm fatigue. Cody Bolton joined them with back inflammation. Three-fifths of the Opening Day rotation evaporated, then a contingency starter went down, all during a 13-game stretch with no off day.
Houston’s pitchers have posted a minus-20.3 fastball runs above average, the worst in the majors, per Eric Cole of Climbing Tal’s Hill. Lambert’s strong Triple-A ground-ball rate suggests his sinker approach could at least limit hard contact.
The Cardinals arrive in Houston with momentum on their side. The Astros have lost nine of their last 11. The Cardinals, in what was supposed to be a rebuilding year, come in at 10-8 with two straight wins.
Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker is tied for the MLB lead in home runs with eight. Rookie JJ Wetherholt has also been dangerous at the plate. Lambert’s one career start against St. Louis ended with four runs over 4 1/3 innings in August 2019. He will be looking to author a better script in his Astros debut.
Astros Make Roster Move With Ex-No. 5 Pitching Prospect Before Cardinals Game