Imai struggled Friday night at T-Mobile Park, recording just one out while throwing 37 pitches. He allowed three runs, walked four batters, and hit another, continuing a troubling early-season trend.

The abbreviated outing immediately raised suspicions among team officials, as the lack of command and velocity suggested something beyond routine struggles, prompting closer monitoring of his physical condition moving forward.

The outing marked another inconsistent performance for the 27-year-old pitcher, whose ERA climbed to 7.27 through three starts. Control issues and command struggles once again defined his appearance vs. the Mariners.

After the game, a concerning development emerged regarding his condition. According to an article written by The Athletic’s Chandler Rome, citing MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart, Imai is returning to Houston for further evaluation.

“A day after recording one out in a disastrous start against the Seattle Mariners, Astros right-hander Tatsuya Imai is traveling back to Houston for team physicians to examine his ‘tired arm,’ a team source said on Saturday.”

The Astros will conduct additional evaluations once Imai arrives in Houston. The team has not confirmed a diagnosis or decided on a potential injured list placement.

The situation places added strain on an already thin rotation. Hunter Brown and Cristian Javier also departed the road trip early with shoulder injuries, leaving the club short on starting pitching depth.

Imai, who signed a three-year deal this offseason, was expected to help stabilize the rotation. However, early inconsistency and emerging health issues have complicated that plan.

As the situation develops, the Astros must find answers quickly. Their pitching depth faces an early-season test as uncertainty continues to build around the rotation.