HOUSTON – The Houston Astros added depth to their starting staff in a trade-deadline deal, getting left-hander Francisco Liriano from the Toronto Blue Jays for outfielder Nori Aoki and minor leaguer Teoscar Hernandez.
The 33-year-old Liriano, 33 is 6-5 with a 5.88 ERA in 18 starts for the Blue Jays this season.
Aoki hit .272 in 71 games in his first season in Houston. He had 12 doubles and 19 RBIs.
Hernandez, spent most of the season at Triple-A Fresno where he hit .279 with 20 doubles, 12 home runs and 44 RBIs.
Liriano has postseason experience, posting a 2-0 mark in six appearances (three starts) with a 3.97 ERA (10ER/22.2IP). He was the starter, and winner, in the Pirates' 2013 NL Wild Card Game victory over the Reds, allowing one run over 7 innings. Other highlights in Liriano’s career include two Pitcher of the Month Awards and a no-hitter on May 3, 2011.
“Francisco is a versatile, left-handed pitcher that has had a great deal of success throughout his career,” Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow said. “He is a veteran with postseason experience that will help us down the stretch.”
The #Astros have acquired LHP Francisco Liriano from the Blue Jays in exchange for OF Nori Aoki and Teoscar Hernandez.
— Houston Astros (@astros) July 31, 2017
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Houston has the best record in the American League at 68-34, and leads the AL West by 16 games before Monday's games.
The 'Stros have the 5th best ERA in the AL at 4.15, but have the fourth fewest quality starts (41). The team leads the league in strikeouts (1056) and has the second best batting average against (.237).
