Tatsuya Imai leads combined Astros no-hitter, the first in MLB since 2024

Tatsuya Imai’s May 12 return from the injured list was a disaster.

The Japanese standout playing in his fourth MLB game for the Houston Astros allowed 5 hits, 6 earned runs, 3 walks and 2 hit-by-pitches in a 10-2 loss to the Seattle Mariners and left the game with a 9.24 ERA.

Those struggles appear to be behind him.

Making his second start since that meltdown against the Mariners, Imai pitched six no-hit innings against the Texas Rangers Monday night. Steven Okert and Alimber Santa combined for three innings of relief to complete the no-hitter, the first in MLB since 2024.

Imai had already thrown 97 pitches through six innings when he left the game. With a 9-0 lead and Imai’s high pitch count, Astros manager Joe Espada opted to not stress the arm of his starter any further. Imai already spent part of his debut MLB season on the IL with arm fatigue.

But the Astros can leave Monday’s outing feeling considerably better about Imai’s MLB outlook than they did two weeks prior. His ERA still stands at a bloated 6.17. But that’s three-plus runs better than it was on May 12.

Imai, 28, joined MLB this season after making three All-Star teams in Japan’s Pacific League as a member of the Seibu Lions. He posted a 1.92 ERA with 178 strikeouts and 45 walks over 163 2/3 innings in his final season with the Lions.

The Astros signed him in the offseason to a three-year contract worth $54 million guaranteed, hoping that he could be a top-of-the rotation starter. Instead, he struggled out of the gates and entered Monday having allowed 3-6 earned runs in four of his five previous starts.

He did deliver one previous outing that hinted at the upside he displayed Monday night. In an 11-0 win over the Athletics on April 4, Imai allowed 3 hits while striking out 9 and walking 3 in 5 2/3 innings of the shutout start.

This story will be updated.