Adrian

Houser

2025 is an odd year, so Houser is due to be serviceable, as he was for the Brewers in 2019 (3.72 ERA in 111 IP), 2021 (3.22 ERA in 142 1/3 IP) and 2023 (4.12 ERA in 111 IP). The even years, on the other hand, have been a mess, which is why he wasn’t able to land a major league contract this winter. The Mets released him after he posted a 5.84 ERA in seven starts and 16 relief appearances last season, and though he later pitched in the Cubs and Orioles organizations, he didn’t return to the majors.

Houser was signed to a minor league contract in September and didn’t pitch for Baltimore. The 31-year-old struggled to the tune of a 5.84 ERA in the majors before being release by the Mets, and is assuredly looking at another non-guaranteed pact before the start of 2025.

Houser was released from his minor league deal with the Cubs on Saturday and it didn’t take him long to find new work. The 31-year-old hurler has made 23 appearances (seven starts) at the big-league level this season, registering an uninspiring 5.84 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and a 45/32 K/BB ratio across 69 1/3 innings.

Houser winds up catching on with the Cubs as low-risk organizational pitching depth just a few days after being released by the Mets. The 31-year-old struggled to a lackluster 5.84 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 45/32 K/BB ratio across 69 1/3 innings (23 appearances, seven starts) this season in his Mets debut before being designated for assignment prior to the trade deadline.

Houser passed through waivers unclaimed after being designated for assignment last Friday. The 31-year-old righty struggled to a lackluster 5.84 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 45/32 K/BB ratio across 69 1/3 innings (23 appearances, seven starts) this season in his Mets debut and there simply wasn’t a spot for him anymore after their influx of trade deadline acquisitions.

Houser had a 5.84 ERA in 23 games (seven starts) with the Mets. He had a 9.00 ERA in five games out of the bullpen in July. The Mets will have a week to trade Houser or place him on waivers.

Houser struck out four and walked one on the night. He posted a 24 percent whiff rate and 26 percent CSW on the night and showed off some improved velocity, throwing 2.3 mph faster on his sinker and 2.7 mph faster on his slider. Despite allowing six hits, he only allowed four hard-hit baseballs on the day; it just so happened that all of them went for extra bases. Houser is now sporting a 7.88 ERA on the season and should the Mets continue to keep him in the rotation over Jose Butto, he’ll get the Dodgers in his next start. You don’t want any part of that.

Houser was scratched from his expected return to New York’s starting rotation last week, but appears in line to take the ball on Tuesday against Cleveland. The decision gives rookie Christian Scott a couple extra days of rest as he’ll take the ball on Friday against the Giants instead at pitcher-friendly Oracle Park.

Lucchesi will take the ball for a spot start in place of Adrian Houser, who wound up being scratched from his scheduled outing after warming up in the event that he was needed during the late stages of Tuesday’s contest. The 30-year-old southpaw will be making his season debut after posting a 2.58 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 28/16 K/BB ratio across 38 1/3 innings (seven starts) for Triple-A Syracuse.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza declined to specify who will take Houser’s place after the 31-year-old righty was forced to warm up in the ninth inning during Tuesday’s contest against the Phillies. It’ll most likely be lefty Joey Lucchesi coming up from Triple-A Syracuse to make a spot start, but nothing official yet. Regardless of who winds up taking the ball, fantasy managers will want to steer clear of that matchup altogether.