Burrows has recorded a 5.99 ERA across his first 94 1/3 innings in Houston. Keith Gillett / Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesJuly 7, 2026 4:10 pm EDT Updated WASHINGTON — The Houston Astros optioned struggling starter Mike Burrows to Triple-A Sugar Land on Tuesday, delivering another blow to general manager Dana Brown’s offseason attempt to augment their pitching staff.Acquired in January as part of a three-team trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Tampa Bay Rays, Burrows boasted a 5.99 ERA across his first 94 1/3 innings in Houston. The Astros lost 11 of his 17 first-half starts, during which Burrows surrendered 21 home runs and allowed a .292 batting average.Staked to a five-run lead before the third inning of Monday’s game against the Washington Nationals, Burrows surrendered 10 runs — seven earned — and failed to finish five innings. After the game, manager Joe Espada reiterated the need for “more consistency” but offered a tepid vote of confidence when asked whether that was possible in the major-league rotation.“Yeah, of course,” Espada said. “That’s how you get it done. We’ve got the coaches to help him through. He’s tough. We just have to help him and continue to show confidence in him.”Burrows had been on schedule to pitch the Astros’ final game of the first half on Sunday against the Texas Rangers, whom Houston is chasing for the final American League playoff spot.Burrows is the fourth of Brown’s six offseason major-league pitching additions to be optioned or taken off the 40-man roster. Both Ryan Weiss and Roddery Muñoz were designated for assignment, passed through waivers unclaimed and remain at Triple-A Sugar Land. Kai-Wei Teng was optioned, too, but had it rescinded after the team learned of a right knee injury.Weiss, Muñoz, Burrows, Teng, Tatsuya Imai and Nate Pearson — Brown’s six pitching additions on the major-league team — have combined for a 5.77 ERA across 256 innings.Jul 7, 2026Connections: Sports EditionSpot the pattern. Connect the termsFind the hidden link between sports terms