Houston Astros starting pitcher Hunter Brown (back) was able to have a catch Friday and is feeling better. Brown was scratched from his start on Wednesday with lower back tightness but is apparently feeling well enough to get back to action. It's unclear if he will be out for Opening Day, but he was expected to make the team as the No. 5 starter. He has 10 strikeouts in nine spring innings and if he's healthy, should be on the radar for most league drafts.

Houston Astros starting pitcher Hunter Brown (back), who was scratched from his Grapefruit League outing on Wednesday against the New York Mets with lower back tightness, has yet to resume throwing. There haven't been any other updates on the 24-year-old hurler, who had been expected to open the 2023 regular season as Houston's No. 5 starter. The right-handed pitcher has posted a 5.00 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, five walks and 10 strikeouts in nine innings pitched over his four spring starts to this point, but it's now unclear if he'll be ready for Opening Day next week.

Houston Astros pitching prospect Hunter Brown (back) has been scratched from Wednesday's start due to lower back stiffness. Brown, 24, is the teams top pitching prospect and has been set to replace Lance McCullers (forearm) to open the season. Brown succeeded in his first taste of the big leagues in 2022 with a 0.89 ERA in 20 1/3 innings (two starts). He has struggled this spring with a 5.00 ERA, but managers in all formats should still remain confident in the young arm. If his back issues don't force him to miss time, Brown should be rostered in most formats.

Houston Astros starting pitcher prospect Hunter Brown struggled in his second start of the spring on Monday. The teams top prospect got through the first inning with just a single allowed, but opened the second frame with three walks and was yanked for reliever Ty Buttrey. Buttrey would in turn allow all three inherited runners to score and that left Brown with a line of one hit, three runs, three walks and two strikeouts over one inning. The 24-year-old also struggled with his command by allowing two free passes in his previous outing. Despite his rough start to spring, Brown excelled in seven games (two starts) for the Astros in 2022 with a 0.89 ERA with 22 strikeouts and seven walks over 20 1/3 innings. Brown remains one of the top pitching prospects in the game, but the Astros strong rotation options may make it hard for Brown to break camp with a permanent spot right away. Brown should already be rostered in dynasty leagues and managers in redraft leagues should keep an eye on his status entering the season. If he earns a spot in the rotation, Brown will be worth rostering.

Houston Astros top pitching prospect Hunter Brown, MLB Pipeline's No. 43 overall prospect, appears headed toward a spot in the starting rotation to begin the 2023 season with Lance McCullers Jr. (forearm) injured. Brown struggled with his command in his Grapefruit League start on Wednesday against the Boston Red Sox, and he said refining the location of his slider is his top priority in camp. The 24-year-old right-hander was excellent at Triple-A Sugar Land in 2022 before getting a September call-up to the big leagues. In 20 1/3 innings with the Astros, he allowed just two earned runs while walking seven and striking out 22. Brown has posted elite strikeout rates in the minors and will be fantasy relevant early on with a spot in Houston's rotation, but workload restrictions and a potential move back to the minors when McCullers is healthy could limit his overall impact in 2023.

With Houston Astros starting pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. (elbow) expected to open the season on the injured list, right-hander Hunter Brown figures to slot into the fifth rotation spot and play a prominent role early on. The 24-year-old made his major-league debut last year and had a 0.89 ERA (1.98 FIP), 1.08 WHIP and 22 strikeouts in 20 1/3 innings over seven appearances (two starts) for Houston. He got the opportunity after dominating at Triple-A Sugar Land, and he carried it over to the MLB level, albeit in a very small sample size. Brown has displayed elite strikeout rates in his time in the minors and could be a useful streamer early in 2023 for the Astros while he holds a rotation spot.