The Houston Astros suffered a blow to their starting rotation on Wednesday.
Ronel Blanco is set to undergo season-ending elbow surgery, the team announced. He is expected to return during the 2026 season.
Blanco, 31, was placed on the 15-day injured list with inflammation in his right elbow earlier in May.
He was 3-4 with a 4.10 ERA in nine starts this season. Over 29 starts last season, he posted a 13-6 record with a 2.80 ERA while allowing the fewest hits per nine innings (6.1) in the American League.
The highlight of Blanco’s 2024 campaign came in April when he tossed a no-hitter against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Blanco joins a long list of starting pitchers on the injured list for the Astros. Right-hander Hayden Wesneski, who has been out since early May, was set to have season-ending Tommy John surgery and right-hander Spencer Arrighetti has been out since April after breaking his right thumb in a batting practice mishap. They’re also without right-handers Luis Garcia and Cristian Javier, who are both still recovering from Tommy John surgery.
The Astros sit second in the AL West with a 29-25 record.
–with files from The Associated Press