Given Yusei Kikuchi’s recent struggles, as evidenced by his 7.34 ERA over his last seven starts, how confident are the Astros that his ability to generate strikeouts will outweigh his inconsistent performance and contribute positively to the team’s postseason push?

The Houston Astros’ decision to trade three prospects for Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Yusei Kikuchi has garnered mixed reactions. However, general manager Dana Brown believes that critics are missing a key factor in this veteran addition.

Brown addressed the criticism of acquiring Kikuchi, who has a 4.75 ERA in 2024 and a 7.34 ERA over his last seven starts, during his Wednesday appearance on SportsTalk 790. The second-year GM pointed out that earned run average can be misleading and emphasized Kikuchi’s ability to generate strikeouts.

At 33 years old, Kikuchi ranks 12th in the majors with 10.12 strikeouts per nine innings.

“It’s crucial for a rotation to have a pitcher who can provide innings, get strikeouts when needed, and has powerful stuff,” Brown said. “These are the kind of players you want in your organization, especially when you’re making a push for the division and aiming for a deep postseason run. You can’t always rely on earned run average.

“Swing and miss is a big part of our strategy. We have a solid defense, so while earned run average isn’t always the definitive measure, the key indicators are how many swings and misses he’s generating, whether he’s delivering innings, and if he can take the mound every five days. These factors are vital as we aim to finish the season strong.”

The Astros traded rookies Jake Bloss and Joey Loperfido, along with minor league infielder Will Wagner, to Toronto in the deal. The significant trade indicates Houston’s substantial plans for Kikuchi, as Brown hinted during the interview.