Astros’ Tatsuya Imai gives up grand slam in 1st game back from IL

Houston Astros starting pitcher Tatusya Imai finally made his return from the injured list on Tuesday. However, it didn’t start out how he or the Astros were hoping for.

Facing off against the Seattle Mariners, Imai made it through a clean first inning before allowing a two-run Randy Arozarena home run in the second. But things got even worse in the fourth inning, when Dominic Canzone hit a grand slam, widening Seattle’s lead to 6-2.

SEA – Dominic Canzone Grand Slam (4)

381 ft | 105.5 mph | 25°
87.1 mph slider (HOU – RHP Tatsuya Imai)
Out in 29/30 parks ( BOS)

SEA (6) @ HOU (2)
4th#TridentsUp pic.twitter.com/4h0NIXfrAd

— MLB Home Runs (@MLBHRs_) May 13, 2026

Imai was pulled after that fourth inning, allowing five hits and three walks alongside his six earned runs, striking out three. His ERA has ballooned to 9.24.

The right-hander had been out since April 10 as he battled arm fatigue. After such a long layoff, Houston was hopeful Imai would be able to find his footing. Instead, the $54 million man’s MLB debut has continued its rocky, to put it lightly, start. At the very least, the Astros will hope Imai didn’t aggravate his arm injury.

Heading into Tuesday’s game, the righty had posted a 7.27 ERA and a 13/11 K/BB ratio over his first three major league starts. In two of them, he allowed at least three earned runs and didn’t last more than three innings.

There have been flashes of brilliance, outside of the fact Imai was a three-time All-Star during his time in NPB. In his second MLB start, he pitched 5.2 innings of scoreless baseball in a win against the Athletics, allowing three hits and three walks while striking out nine.

Imai has not been able to find that version of himself in any other start though. And that became true once again after his home run troubles against the Mariners on Tuesday.

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