AJ Blubaugh is the pride of the Clear Fork Valley.
Here, you can follow his entire Major League Baseball career as it unfolds before our eyes. Be sure to check back regularly for updated news.
Monday, June 15, 2026: Blubaugh allows on unearned run against Tigers
In the Astros’ 9-3 loss to the Detroit Tigers, AJ Blubaugh worked two innings allowing one unearned run on one hit with two walks and two strikeouts. He threw 32 pitches with 20 going for strikes.
He has had a dominant June allowing three runs, two earned, on six hits with 13 strikeouts in 10 innings of work. He is 1-0 with a 1.80 earned run average for the month.
Friday, June 12, 2026: Blubaugh works two scoreless against Royals
In the Astros’ 10-8 win over the Kansas City Royals, AJ Blubaugh was dominant in his two innings of relief work. He allowed no runs on just one hit with a walk and two strikeouts. He threw 38 pitches with 24 going for strikes.
In five appearances in June, Blubaugh has allowed just two runs on five hits with four walks and 11 strikeouts and owns a 2.25 earned run average.
For the season, he is 3-2 with a 4.03 ERA with 39 strikeouts in 44 ⅔ innings of work.
Tuesday, June 9, 2026: Blubaugh remains dominant in two innings against Angels
In the Astros’ 10-1 loss to the Los Angeles Angels, AJ Blubaugh was a bright spot for Houston. He worked two innings of relief allowing no runs on one hit with two strikeouts and two walks. He threw 34 pitches with 19 going for strikes.
For the month of June, Blubaugh has allowed just two runs on four hits with nine strikeouts in six innings of work and is 1-0 with a 3.00 earned run average.
For the 2026 season, Blubaugh is 3-2 with a 4.22 ERA with 37 strikeouts in 42 ⅔ innings of work. For his career, Blubaugh is 6-3 with a 3.13 ERA with 72 strikeouts in 74 ⅔ innings of work.
Saturday, June 6, 2026: Blubaugh works two scoreless innings against Athletics
In the Astros’ dominant 13-2 victory over the Las Vegas Athletics, AJ Blubaugh worked two dominant innings of relief allowing no runs on no hits with two strikeouts. He threw 29 pitches with 20 going for strikes for his first hitless outing since May 20.
Wednesday, June 3, 2026: Blubaugh earns third win of the season against Pirates
In the Astros’ 11-9 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates, AJ Blubaugh earned the victory for his third win of the season. He worked one inning of relief allowing one run on one hit with two strikeouts and a walk. He threw 22 pitches with 11 going for strikes and improved his season record to 3-2.
Tuesday, June 2, 2026: Blubaugh strikes out three in one inning against Pirates
In the Astros’ 10-6 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates, AJ Blubaugh worked one inning of relief allowing one run on two hits with three strikeouts. He threw 23 pitches with 14 going for strikes.
Tuesday, May 30, 2026: Blubaugh has longest outing of season against Brewers
In the Astros’ 9-2 win over the Milwaukee Brewers, AJ Blubaugh posted the longest outing of his 2026 season working three dominant innings of relief allowing no runs on one hit with four strikeouts. He tossed 37 pitches with 25 going for strikes.
He finished the month of May allowing six runs on 11 hits with 13 strikeouts in 18 ⅓ innings. His May earned run average was 2.95.
Tuesday May 26, 2026: Blubaugh efficient against Texas Rangers
In a 10-7 Houston loss to the Texas Rangers, AJ Blubaugh worked two innings of relief allowing one run on three hits with no walks and no strikeouts. He threw 23 pitches with 17 going for strikes in an efficient outing.
In the month of May, Blubaugh had worked 15 ⅓ innings allowing six runs on 10 hits with nine strikeouts and 10 walks. He has thrown 260 pitches with 150 going for strikes and has a 3.52 ERA for the month.
For the season, Blubaugh is 2-2 with a 4.81 ERA with 24 strikeouts in 33 ⅔ innings of work. For his career, he is 5-3 witha 3.29 ERA and 59 strikeouts in 65 ⅔ innings.
Sunday, May 24, 2026: Blubaugh works two innings at Wrigley Field in Chicago
In an 8-5 Houston win over the Chicago Cubs, AJ Blubaugh found himself standing on the pitchers mound of one of the most historic stadiums in all of Major League Baseball, Wrigley Field.
He worked two innings of relief allowing two runs on one hit, a home run, with a walk. He threw 29 pitches with 19 going for strikes.
Wednesday, May 20, 2026: Blubaugh tosses shutout inning against Twins
In a 4-1 Houston loss to the Minnesota Twins, AJ Blubaugh worked a scoreless inning of relief allowing no runs on no hits with one strike out. He tossed 13 pitches with eight going for strikes in the most efficient inning of work this season. His ERA dropped to 4.55 after the outing.
Monday, May 18, 2026: Blubaugh works two scoreless innings against Twins
In a 6-3 Houston loss to the Minnesota Twins, AJ Blubaugh worked two very strong innings allowing no runs on no hits with a strikeout and a walk. He threw 31 pitches with 19 going for strikes and lowered his ERA to 4.71 after the outing.
Saturday, May 16, 2026: Blubaugh has short outing against Rangers
In a 4-1 Houston win over the Texas Rangers, AJ Blubaugh worked just ⅔ of an inning and allowed no runs on no hits with two walks. He threw 16 pitches with seven going for strikes. It was his shortest outing of the season.
Tuesday, May 12, 2026: Blubaugh works two innings against Seattle
In a 10-2 Houston loss to Seattle, AJ Blubaugh worked two innings of relief. He allowed two runs on two hits with three walks and a strikeout. He threw 46 pitches and sent 27 for strikes.
He did not take a decision so he is still 2-2 on the season with a 5.19 earned run average with 22 strikeouts in 26 innings of work.
Sunday, May 10, 2026: Blubaugh works another scoreless inning against Reds
In a 5-0 loss to the Cincinnati Reds, AJ Blubaugh worked another scoreless inning allowing one hit and one walk but no runs in another strong outing. He threw 21 pitches with eight going for strikes.
He lowered his season earned run average to 4.88 and his May ERA to 1.59. He is 2-2 on the season with 21 strikeouts in 24 innings of work. For his career, he is 5-3 with a 3.05 ERA with 56 strikeouts in 56 innings.
Friday, May 8, 2026: Blubaugh works scoreless inning against Reds
In a 10-8 Astros win over the Cincinnati Reds, AJ Blubaugh worked a scoreless frame allowing one hit with one strikeout. He tossed 21 pitches with 11 going for strikes as he made short work of the Red in his only inning of work. He lowered his earned run average down to 5.09 and has only allowed three earned runs in his last 10 appearances.
Sunday, May 3, 2026: Blubaugh has longest outing of the season in Astros’ win
In a 3-1 win over the Boston Red Sox, AJ Blubaugh recorded his longest outing of the 2026 season working 3 ⅔ innings allowing one run on two hits with five strikeouts. He walked two and hit a batter while eating up the middle innings throwing 59 pitches with 34 going for strikes. He did not earn a decision, but he helped the Astros win their third out of the last four games.
For the season, Blubaugh is 2-2 with a 5.32 earned run average. He has 20 strikeouts in 22 innings of work in 14 appearances.
Thursday, April 30, 2026: Blubaugh efficient in Astros’ win over Orioles
AJ Bluabugh needed just 13 pitches to make short work of the Baltimore Orioles during an 11-5 Houston Astros win. Bluabugh threw eight strikes and recorded a strikeout in his one inning of relief work.
He finished April with a 1-1 record with a 7.07 earned run average in 11 appearances and 14 innings of work. He allowed 14 hits, 11 runs, 11 walks and 10 strikeouts. From April 16 and on, he only allowed one run on four hits in six appearances.
Saturday, April 25, 2026: Blubaugh takes on the Yankees
AJ Blubaugh found himself squaring off against the New York Yankees on April 25. He worked 1 ⅓ innings of relief allowing one run on one hit with two walks. He threw 29 pitches with 15 going for strikes in his outing. It was the first run he had allowed since April 14 as he went four straight appearances without allowing a single run.
The Astros lost the game 8-3.
Blubaugh is now 2-2 with a 6.23 earned run average with 14 strikeouts in 17 ⅓ innings pitched. He has made 12 appearances during the 2026 season.
Wednesday, April 22, 2026: Blubaugh makes second appearance at Progressive Field
By only throwing 15 pitches on April 20, Blubaugh made himself available for the Astros’ series finale against the Cleveland Guardians on April 22. He worked a flawless seventh inning allowing no runs on no hits with a strikeout. He threw 17 pitches with 10 going for strikes to help the Astros maintain a 2-0 lead over the Guardians. The Astros went on to win 2-0 to take two out of three games from the Guardians.
He lowered his earned run average to 6.19 and is now 2-2 with 14 strikeouts in 16 innings this season.
Monday, April 20, 2026: Blubaugh comes home to Cleveland
In his first professional baseball game in Cleveland, AJ Blubaugh put on a show for the home crowd. He worked one inning striking out one and walking one while allowing no runs on no hits. He threw 15 pitches with eight going for strikes. The Astros won 9-2.
For the season, he is 2-2 with a 6.60 earned run average with 13 strikeouts in 15 innings of work in 10 appearances.
Saturday, April 18, 2026: Blubaugh strikes out two in a scoreless inning of work
AJ Blubaugh worked 1 1/3 inning allowing no runs on one hit with two strikeouts in the Astros’ 7-5 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. He threw 16 pitches with 10 going for strikes and lowered his earned run average to 7.07.
Thursday, April 16, 2026: Blubaugh works a perfect two inning
AJ Blubaugh worked a perfect two innings allowing no runs on two hits with two strikeouts. He allowed two hits and issued two walks during the Astros in a 3-2 loss to the Colorado Rockies. He threw 39 pitches with 21 going for strikes.
Tuesday, April 14, 2026: Blubaugh earns the win over Rockies
AJ Blubaugh earned his second victory of the season during the Astros’ 7-6 victory over the Colorado Rockies. He worked 1 1/3 innings of relief allowing one run on one hit with one strikeout but earned the win after the Astros took the lead during his outing. He threw 27 pitches with 16 goings for strikes and had one walk.
He is now 2-2 with eight strikeouts in 10 2/3 innings of work.
Saturday, April 11, 2026: Blubaugh bounces back against Mariners
After two rough outings, AJ Blubaugh settled down in a big way. He worked a perfect inning of relief allowing no runs. He threw 17 pitches with 12 going for strikes in his one inning of work.
For the season, he is 1-2 with a 9.64 earned run average with seven strikeouts in 9 1/3 innings of work. For his career, he is 4-3 with a 3.48 ERA and 42 strikeouts in 41.1 innings.
Wednesday, April 8, 2026: Blubaugh roughed up by Rockies
AJ Blubaugh worked on inning of relief during the Astros’ 9-1 loss to the Colorado Rockies. He allowed five runs on four hits with three walks and didn’t strike out a batter. It was his first game without recording a strikeout this season.
Blubaugh has appeared in five games in 2026 and has seven strikeouts in 8 1/3 innings of work and is 1-2 on the season.
Sunday, April 5, 2026: Blubaugh has tough outing against Athletics
AJ Blubaugh worked two innings of relief during the Astros’ 12-10 extra-inning loss to the Athletics. He allowed four runs on five hits with one strikeout in his two innings of work. He threw 44 pitches with 26 going for strikes. It was his first outing allowing more than one earned run this season.
Wednesday, April 1, 2026: Blubaugh works perfect inning against Red Sox
AJ Blubaugh played his perfect April Fools’ joke on the Boston Red Sox as he made them look foolish during his one inning of relief. Blubaugh allowed no runs on no hits with one strikeout in his one inning of work to help the Astros pick up a 6-4 victory. He threw just 14 pitches with 10 going for strikes in one of the most efficient innings of his young career.
He lowered his earned run average to just 1.69 and now has six strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings of work this season.
Sunday, March 29, 2026: AJ Blubaugh picks up first win of 2026 against Angels
In his second outing of the 2026 season, Blubaugh earned his first victory of the year beating the Los Angeles Angels. Working two innings of relief, Blubaugh allowed no runs on no hits with two strikeouts. He threw just 23 pitches with 17 going for strikes. Opponents are now hitting just .133 against him. He is 1-1 on the season with five strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings.
Thursday, March 26, 2026: AJ Blubaugh effective in loss to Angels
In the 2026 season opener, Blubaugh worked 2 1/3 innings of relief against the Los Angeles Angels allowing one run on two hits with three strikeouts. He threw 41 pitches with 27 going for strikes. While he took the loss, Blubaugh was effective in his outing. It was the first run he allowed in 21 innings.
Wednesday, March 25, 2026: AJ Blubaugh makes Astros’ Opening Day roster
The Houston Astros announced their official opening day roster for the 2026 season and on it is Clear Fork graduate AJ Blubaugh.
He impressed the Astros during Spring Training posting a 1-0 record with a 0.84 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and eight strikeouts over 10.2 innings in six appearances. He is listed as a multi-arm role where he could see a spot start while anchoring a bullpen where he was one of the most effective relivers in the league in the second half of the 2025 season. He currently owns a 21-scoreless inning streak dating back to last season.
2026 Houston Astros Opening Day Roster in numerical order
0. Brice Matthews, INF/Utility.
1. Carlos Correa, SS/INF.
3. Jeremy Peña, SS
6. Jake Meyers, CF.
8. Christian Walker, 1B.
11. Cam Smith, RF.
15. Isaac Paredes, 3B/Utility.
16. Zach Cole, OF.
17. Kai-Wei Teng, RP.
18. César Salazar, C.
20. Nick Allen, INF/Utility.
21. Yainer Diaz, C.
27. Jose Altuve, 2B
31. Joey Loperfido, OF/LF.
39. Hayden Wesneski, RP
43. Lance McCullers Jr., SP.
44. Yordan Alvarez, DH/LF.
45. Tatsuya Imai, SP.
46. Roddery Muñoz, RP.
50. Mike Burrows, SP.
51. Ryan Weiss, RP.
52. Bryan Abreu, RP
53. Cristian Javier, SP.
55. Nate Pearson, RP
58. Hunter Brown, SP
62. Bennett Sousa, RP
65. Enyel De Los Santos, RP.
69. AJ Blubaugh, P
71. Josh Hader, RP
74. Bryan King, RP.
Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025: AJ Blubaugh throws four scoreless innings in start against Angels
Blubaugh earned an important start on Saturday as the Astros continue to hunt for October baseball. He tossed four scoreless innings allowing just one hit with two strikeouts and four walks as he exited the game with a 5-0 lead. He threw 70 pitches with 35 going for strikes. He lowered his earned run averaged to 1.69 and now has 35 strikeouts in 32 innings of work.
Blubaugh has now thrown 21 straight scoreless innings and hasn’t allowed a run in the month of Sept. He has allowed just six hits with eight walks and 19 strikeouts in 18 innings of work in the month.
Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025: AJ Blubaugh tosses three more scoreless innings against Mariners
Blubaugh ate up three innings out of the bullpen for the Houston Astros during a 7-3 loss to the Seattle Mariners. The Clear Fork grad threw three scoreless innings allowing no hits with a strikeout. He threw 34 pitches with 23 going for strikes and held the Mariners to a .160 batting average in the game. He lowered his earned run average to 1.93 and now has 33 strikeouts in 28 innings of work.
Blubaugh has now thrown 17 straight scoreless innings and hasn’t allowed a single run in the month of Sept. where he is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA and has allowed just five hits with four walks and 17 strikeouts in 14 innings of work.
Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025: AJ Blubaugh effective in start against Texas Rangers, earns the win
Blubaugh earned his third start of the season and was lights out against the Texas Rangers. The right-hander worked the first three innings allowing no runs on two hits with seven strikeouts and a walk. He threw 50 pitches with 33 going for strikes. He lowered his earned run average to 2.16 and now has 31 strikeouts in 25 innings of work.
Blubaugh has now thrown 14 straight scoreless innings.
Friday, Sept. 12, 2025: AJ Blubaugh picks up third win of his career
With the Houston Astros leading the Atlanta Braves 4-0 in the fourth inning, Blubaugh was summoned from the bullpen to work the bottom half of the frame. He tossed a scoreless inning allowing no runs on one hit with no strikeouts and no walks. He threw 19 pitches with 12 going for strikes and lowered his earned run average to 2.45.
The Astros scored six runs in the top of the fifth to take a 10-0 lead propting the team to save Blubaugh for another outing. He now has 24 strikeouts in 22 innings of work and hasn’t allowed a run in 11 straight innings.
Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025: AJ Blubaugh tosses 3 ⅓ scores innings of relief against Toronto Blue Jays
In the second-longest relief outing of his professional baseball career, AJ Blubaugh was dominant. Entering with two outs in the second inning of the Astros’ game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Blubaugh worked 3 ⅓ innings allwoing no runs on no hits with four strikeouts and a walk. He threw 40 pitches with 28 going for strikes. He lowered his earned run average to 2.57 on the season.
Blubaugh now has 24 strikeouts in 21 innings of work and hasn’t allowed a single run in 10 straight innigs.
Friday, Sept. 5, 2025: AJ Blubaugh tosses 2 ⅔ scoreless innings against Texas Rangers
In his latest relief appearance, Blubaugh worked 2 ⅔ scoreless inings in a 4-3 loss to the Texas Rangers. Blubaugh allowed just one hit with two walks and three strikeouts in another scoreless outing. He threw 42 pitches with 27 goings for strikes and help opponents to a .197 batting average against him. He lowered his earned run average to 3.06 after the outing and is now 2-1 on the season with 21 strikeouts in 17 ⅔ innings of work.
Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025: AJ Blubaugh strikes out Yankees slugger Aaron Judge in relief appearance
Blubaugh started September off in a mamorable way. With the Houston Astros trailing 7-1 at home against the New York Yankees, Blubaugh was summened from the bullpen to work the ninth inning where he was set to face the reigning American League MVP in Aaron Judge. Blubaugh struck out Judge on his way to a scoreless frame where he struck out two on 20 pitches, 12 going for strikes. He allowed just one hit in his inning of work.
Blubaugh now sports a 3.60 earned run average with 18 strikeouts in 12 innings.
Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025: AJ Blubaugh sees relief appearance against Los Angeles Angels
After earning what seems to be a longer call-up than his previous three, AJ Blubaugh provded some strentgh to the Houston Astros’ bullpen. He worked one inning allowing no runs and no hits with one strikeout as he worked the eighth inning during a 3-0 loss. He threw just 14 pitches with eight going for strikes. He finished the month of August going 2-0 with a 3.60 earned run average allowing four earned runs on six hits with 10 strikeouts in 10 innings of work.
Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025: AJ Blubaugh earns the win in relief as Astros beat Orioles
In his third Major League outing, AJ Blubaugh earned his second career victory.
Pitching in relief, Blubaugh entered in the fourth inning and worked four innings for a longer relief outing. He allowed two runs on three hist with four strikeouts and a walk. He threw 64 pitches with 40 going for strikes and lowered his earned run average to 4.15 on the season.
He allowed runs in the fourth and fifth innings on solo home runs, but quickly settled down with two scoreless innings in the sixth and seventh before seeing his day end with the Astros leading 9-7. They ended up winning 9-8 giving Blubaugh his second win of the season.
He is 2-1 on the year with a 4.15 ERA in 13 innings of work. He had allowed six runs on 11 hits and has 15 strikeouts to his credit.
Tuesday, August 5, 2025: AJ Blubaugh goes five strong innings against Miami Marlins, earns first career win
In just his second Major League outing, AJ Blubaugh proved he belonged.
In a rare relief appearance, Blubaugh worked five strong innings, allowing two runs on three hits, allowing two harmless solo home runs with five strikeouts. He threw 70 pitches with 47 going for strikes and walked just one batter. Blubaugh entered the game in the third inning in a planned extended relief outing and was effective, preserving a 7-3 Houston lead when his day came to an end to start the eighth inning. He held the Marlins to a .229 batting average against him.
He topped out at 98 miles per hour when he struck out Eric Wagaman, stranding the tying run at third base in the fourth inning.
The Astros hung on for the 7-3 victory, giving Blubaugh the first win of his Major League Baseball career.
Monday, August 4, 2025: AJ Blubaugh recalled to Astros for series at Miami
After being sent back to Triple-A Sugar Land after his debut start in April, Blubaugh went 3-6 in his next 15 starts. He was named the Space Cowboys’ Player of the Month for July when he went 2-0 with a 2.31 earned run average with 19 strikeouts in 23 ⅓ innings of work.
His performances were enough to warrant the Astros to recall the right-hander to start a game for their series against the Miami Marlins. He was added to the taxi squad Aug. 4 with the idea of earning a spot start either Aug. 5 or 6.
Wednesday, April 30, 2025: AJ Blubaugh makes Major League Debut with Houston Astros
The 2019 Clear Fork graduate was called up by the Houston Astros on Tuesday night and they wasted no time getting him on the mound. Blubaugh made his Major League Debut in an afternoon home game against the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday.
He worked a perfect first inning, forcing a pop-up to center before striking out the next two batters for his first big league strikeouts of his career.
In the second inning, he allowed a leadoff hit before a two-run home run but settled in nicely, retiring the next three batters and the final one of the inning on strikes.
In the third, Blubaugh allowed a lead-off hit before giving up an unearned run. After the Tigers loaded the bases, a grand slam made it 7-1. All five runs allowed in the third inning were unearned after an error ruined a double play to keep the inning going.
In the fourth, Blubaugh started out the inning with two straight strikeouts, giving him six for the game. He then forced a flyout to right to end the inning for a clean 1-2-3 frame.
Blubaugh was replaced after his four innings. He allowed seven runs, but just two were earned, on five hits with six strikeouts. He sports an earned run average of 4.50 and threw 84 pitches in his first major league start of a young and promising career.
Who is AJ Blubaugh?
Per the Houston Astros Website: Was a three-sport athlete at Clear Fork HS in Bellville, Ohio…was named First-Team All-Mid Ohio Athletic Conference (MOAC) and all-district on the baseball field in his senior season…was part of MOAC titles in all three sports his senior season…was a starting wide receiver in football, catching 30 passes for 450 yards and six touchdowns…averaged 12.9 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists as an All-Northwest District basketball player…was also an honor roll member and a member of the National Honor Society…Went undrafted out of high school and went on to attend the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee for three years (2020-22)…named the Horizon League Relief Pitcher of the Year in both 2021 and 2022…combined to go 5-4 with 14 saves and a 3.54 ERA (33ER/84IP) in 38 appearances (seven starts) in his three collegiate seasons…struck out 92 in 84.0 innings, while allowing a .218 opponent average…After his junior season at Milwaukee, pitched for the Orleans Firebirds in the Cape Cod League, tossing 9.1 scoreless innings while picking up four saves…Blubaugh would become the second-ever alumnus of UW-Milwaukee to reach the Majors, joining Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho…as of 2025, UW-Milwaukee was the only NCAA Division I baseball program in Wisconsin…Selected by the Astros in the seventh round of the 2022 draft…signed by Astros scout Drew Pearson…Was stretched out as a starter in 2023, his first full professional season, as he was utilized in a “piggyback” starter system in his stops with Double-A Corpus Christi and High-A Asheville…he reached up to exactly 100 innings in 2023 and followed up with 128.2 innings in 2024…the addition of a cutter to his repertoire, added during the 2023 Arizona Fall League, while limiting walks (just 51 walks in 128.2 IP in 2024), have aided in his success the transition from college reliever to pro starter…Received his second career invitation to Major League Spring Training camp in 2025…is signed to a Minor League contract for the 2025 season.
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: AJ Blubaugh Tracker: Clear Fork grad effective against Detroit Tigers
Reporting by Jake Furr, Mansfield News Journal / Mansfield News Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jake Furr, Mansfield News Journal | USA TODAY Network
