The Houston Astros came into the 2025 MLB season with plenty of injuries in the pitching staff, with Cristian Javier, Luis Garcia, Spencer Arrighetti, and J.P. France all missing extended time this season.
Not to mention the Astros have also been without Lance McCullers Jr. for parts of the year, and have had a rotation of pitchers at the back-end of the starting rotation this season. It’s been a tumultuous season for the Astros’ starting pitching outside of Framber Valdez and Hunter Brown.
But, after the return of multiple starters from injury, according to Chandler Rome of The Athletic, the Astros are getting another one of their injured starters back onto the active roster. Except this time, they aren’t going to be a starter, but rather a long reliever.
Astros to Call Up J.P. France to MLB Roster
Rome reports that the Astros are calling up France, a 30-year-old starter who’s missed the entire 2025 season up until this point, for the team’s series against the Toronto Blue Jays.
J.P. France is in Toronto and expected to join the Astros’ active roster during their series against the Blue Jays, sources tell @TheAthletic. France had been working out of the bullpen at Triple-A and provides the Astros another multi-inning relief option.
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) September 9, 2025
It’s a big series which could have huge postseason ramifications, and the AStros are getting a boost ahead of such a series as France is returning to the team.
But, as Rome reports, it won’t be as a starter, but rather as a reliever, like what France has experienced in the minor leagues this season. In his seven outings in the minor leagues, France started four and was a reliever for three of those outings.
He has a 6.59 ERA in the minor leagues this season, and while it’s not the best, he’s shown the ability to pitch multiple innings coming out of the bullpen. Not only could he be an opener or a spot-starter if the Astros need him, but they can utilize him as a long reliever, too.
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Getting France back is a nice addition to the Astros’ bullpen, and with Logan VanWey on his way back to Triple-A to make room for France, the Astros’ rotation and bullpen for the postseason are coming to fruition.
Houston is up two games in the AL West and is currently third in the American League standings. They’re four games back of the Detroit Tigers and the Blue Jays, so a big series against Toronto would go a long way to not only clinching the AL West but also opening the door to a first-round bye.
This France roster move that Rome is reporting on is a sign that the Astros are getting back to full strength. While some players, like Josh Hader and Isaac Paredes, are still out, the team is beginning to come together for a postseason push.
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