J.P. France Undergoes Season-Ending Shoulder Surgery
Houston Astros right-hander J.P. France (shoulder) underwent right-shoulder surgery to fix a capsule tear on Monday and will miss the remainder of the 2024 season. It's been a bad year for France, to say the least. He ended up making only five starts for Houston before getting hurt, going 0-3 with a 7.46 ERA (5.53 FIP) and 1.69 WHIP with 22 strikeouts and 12 walks in 25 1/3 innings of work. France was eventually sent down to Triple-A Sugar Land before going on the seven-day minor-league injured list with his shoulder injury. There's no timetable for the 29-year-old following shoulder surgery, meaning he could be a candidate to open the 2025 campaign on the injured list. France is just one of many Astros starters down for the count in 2024 due to injury.
Houston Astros right-hander J.P. France (shoulder) is dealing with a shoulder injury that will sideline him "a while," according to a person familiar with his situation. Shoulder inflammation delayed France's building in spring training, but he recovered in time to make the team's Opening Day roster. He had a 7.46 ERA in five big-league starts before he was optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land on April 25. France walked four batters and gave up three earned runs in 3 2/3 innings in his only start for Sugar Land. The 29-year-old is now on the seven-day injured list in the minors after suffering a setback with his shoulder. It's a hit to an already thinned Astros rotation, although the club is getting Cristian Javier (neck) back this weekend. France's injury should offer both Hunter Brown and rookie Spencer Arrighetti more security in the big-league rotation.
Houston Astros starter J.P. France was optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land on Thursday evening ahead of the team's trip to Mexico City. France has struggled to the tune of a 7.46 ERA, 1.70 WHIP and 0-3 record so far this season. His demotion opens up a roster spot for Framber Valdez (elbow), who is set to return for Sunday's game against the Colorado Rockies. It is unclear how the rest of the Astros rotation will shake out, but it looks like rookie right-hander Spencer Arrighetti will stick in the majors for the time being. France can be dropped in all formats.
Houston Astros starting pitcher J.P. France (shoulder) will take the mound for his spring debut on Saturday. Astros manager Joe Espada mentioned that France is expected to throw roughly 50 pitches during this outing. The right-hander is behind the rest of the starters but still has plenty of time to get ready in time for Opening Day. There's a decent chance that France begins the season in the rotation with Justin Verlander (shoulder) sidelined right now.
J.P. France Could Make Grapefruit League Debut This Weekend
Houston Astros right-hander J.P. France (shoulder), who threw two innings in a minor-league game on Monday, could make his first Grapefruit League start this weekend, according to manager Joe Espada. France has recovered nicely from right-shoulder inflammation that he was dealing with earlier in spring training, and the team remains optimistic that he'll be ready by Opening Day on March 28. The 28-year-old was relied on heavily for the Astros in his rookie season in 2023 due to injuries to the rest of their starting staff, and he stepped up nicely by going 11-6 with a 3.83 ERA and 1.36 WHIP with 47 walks and 101 strikeouts in 136 1/3 innings over 24 outings (23 starts). However, France almost had an 8.00 ERA in his last six appearances, and his fantasy ceiling is low because of his lack of swing-and-miss stuff.
Jose Urquidy, J.P. France To Start Season In Rotation
Astros general manager Dana Brown said on Tuesday that he is confident in the team's current pitching depth despite Justin Verlander (shoulder) starting the season on the injured list. He stated that the back of the rotation will comprise Jose Urquidy and J.P. France (shoulder). Urquidy managed just 63 innings pitched last season before missing time with right shoulder discomfort, but he has pitched five scoreless innings with four strikeouts to start his spring. France is currently dealing with right shoulder inflammation but is on track for Opening Day and pitched well last season in 23 starts. Both pitchers offer little strikeout upside but could be worth a look at the end of deeper points league drafts at this time.
Houston Astros right-hander J.P. France (shoulder) will face hitters in live batting practice in camp on Wednesday and is on target to begin the 2024 regular season in the starting rotation. France has been working his way back from right-shoulder inflammation in spring training and should have enough time to get stretched out for the start of the regular season. It's good news for the Astros rotation, as they won't have three-time Cy Young winner Justin Verlander (shoulder) ready to go for Opening Day. In his first taste of the majors in 2023, France was solid, going 11-6 with a 3.83 ERA and 1.36 WHIP with 47 walks and 101 strikeouts in 24 outings (23 starts) during the regular season. However, he was hit hard towards the end of the year and doesn't miss quite as many bats as fantasy managers would hope.
Houston Astros right-hander J.P. France (shoulder) said he threw a little off the mound on Wednesday and it went well. France was limited to flat-ground throwing during the first week of camp due to right-shoulder inflammation. It appears that the 28-year-old starter is making some progress, but he's not going to be available to pitch in Grapefruit League games for a while. But as long as he doesn't have any setbacks with his right shoulder, he still has a chance to be ready for Opening Day. France made his major-league debut with the 'Stros in May of last year and really impressed initially before limping to a 7.94 ERA in his last six outings. Walks were an issue for him in the minors, and his strikeout rate left a lot to be desired in his rookie campaign. If France is healthy and has a rotation spot in Houston in 2024, he'll probably be inconsistent for those in mixed leagues.
Houston Astros right-hander J.P. France (shoulder) is dealing with shoulder inflammation at the start of spring training. General manager Dana Brown said France is playing catch and "if he was shut down it would be more concerning." No pitcher ideally wants to already be injured as he reports to camp, but it's still early, and the 28-year-old could still be ready for the start of the 2024 regular season as long as he doesn't encounter any setbacks along the way. If healthy, France should have a spot in the team's Opening Day rotation, especially if veteran Justin Verlander (shoulder) isn't ready to go. He made his big-league debut in 2023 and was solid for the 'Stros, posting a 3.83 ERA and 1.36 WHIP with 47 walks and 101 strikeouts in 136 1/3 frames over 24 outings (23 starts). However, he finished on a bad note and doesn't miss many bats.
Houston Astros right-hander J.P. France intimated that he's adding a new pitch this offseason, but he wants to keep it "on the low down" before eventually debuting it in spring training. France was forced into starting-rotation duty in 2023 due to all of Houston's injuries and finished with 158 1/3 innings, including the playoffs, after never going over 114 innings in his first four minor-league seasons. Fatigue played a part late in the year, as opponents hit slugged .494 with an .855 OPS against him over the final two months of the season. The Astros might have to lean on France in their starting rotation early on, but when all of their starters are healthy, he could be relegated to more of a swing role for Houston. The 28-year-old won't have mixed-league fantasy value unless he's cemented in the team's rotation, but a lack of swing-and-miss stuff also limits his upside.
