Ronel Blanco, the Astros' right-handed pitcher, is on the 15-day injury list due to a right elbow inflammation

The Houston Astros put right-hand starter Ronel Blanco on Thursday on the 15-day injury list (right elbow inflammation), bringing the opening season to three of the five Tigers on the injury list, while three more are still recovering from major arm injuries.

Head coach Joe Espada said Blanco entered IL ahead of the opening game of the series against the Mariners at Daikin Park and sought a second diagnosis of the injury. Blanco reported a sore elbow to the team in Tampa on Monday and flew back to Houston on Tuesday for further testing.

"We will update the information when the second diagnosis clarifies the injury," Espada said.

The Astros' rotation depth is being tested, with six pitchers hanging up their waiver cards. Left-handed Colton Gordon, who was sent triple-A after starting in Tampa on Monday, is recalled from Sugar City and could be a starter for Sunday's series finale.

"We have to get over it," Espada said, "and this team has shown resilience over the years and is ready to move forward." A crisis is a turning point, and that is our challenge. "

Blanco started 4.10 and pitched 48.1 innings in nine games this season. Last Saturday against the Rangers in six innings and lost by three points, shooting 92 at the time. The next day, Hayden Wesneski was confirmed to undergo Tommy John surgery, and Spencer Arrighetti was hit by a ball in practice on April 7 and fractured his right thumb and could not return until July. Blanco, Wesneski and Aligeti were joined by Hunter Brown and Framber Valdez to open the season.

Lance McCullers Jr. started his fourth start of the season against the Mariners on Thursday after missing a two-and-a-half-season season with a repair of a right flexor tendon and removal of a bone spur. Luis Garcia, who underwent TJ surgery in 2023, suffered a setback in this year's spring training; Cristian Javier continues to recover after TJ surgery last June; J.P. Frans France) underwent surgery to repair the capsule of the right shoulder on July 1 last year.

This Sunday will be the end of the Astros' 17th straight non-stop streak, and they were originally planned to use a six-man rotation, but they have used seven starting pitchers in the last 10 games, and a total of 10 starters in 50 games to start the season.