Some Thoughts About Roster Management And Pitcher Injuries

Karen Warren/Houston Chronicle via Getty ImagesSome thoughts and musings as the Memorial Day weekend enters our rearview mirror...

Cristian Javier clearly wasn’t right after returning from his first IL stint earlier in May. On April 14, his final start before the initial IL stint with neck discomfort, Javier's four-seam velocity hovered around 92.5 MPH. In his three starts following his return, the right-hander’s average four-seam velocity, in appearance order, was: 91.6 MPH, 91.3 MPH, and 90.8 MPH.

To put it plainly, it is a worrisome development, especially in light of the reason for his second IL stint, retroactive to May 24: Right forearm discomfort. While it remains too early to jump to…