With Houston Astros right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. (foot) landing on the 15-day injured list, rookie right-hander Ryan Gusto is being moved up to start Monday's series opener against the Athletics. Gusto was originally scheduled to start Game 2 of the series in Sacramento, but he'll be moved up a day due to McCullers' foot strain. The 26-year-old will now have a two-start week with two great matchups in the A's and Los Angeles Angels. In his first 15 major-league appearances (nine starts) in 2025, Gusto has gone 4-3 with a 4.56 ERA (4.01 FIP) and 1.60 WHIP with 52 strikeouts and 22 walks in 49 1/3 innings pitched. Surprisingly, the A's are in the top 10 in team OPS (.738) on the season, so it won't be a cakewalk for Gusto on Monday. He's more of a control artist than a strikeout guy with a 23% strikeout rate and .285 batting average against.

HoustonAstros pitching prospect Ryan Gusto has made the team's Opening Day roster, according to manager Joe Espada. The 6-foot-4 hurler spent all of 2024 at Triple-A, posting a 3.70 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, and a 14.1 percent K-BB% over 148 1/3 innings of work. The righty showed well enough this spring, too, allowing one earned run on three hits and seven walks while striking out eight in 7 2/3 innings. The former 11th-round draft pick has worked as both a starter and a reliever but is slated to begin the 2025 campaign as a reliever for the Astros. Whenever the 26-year-old pitches, it will be his major-league debut, but he need not be rostered in most fantasy leagues other than deep AL-only formats.