Livan Hernandez

Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports that the Braves will sign recently released Livan Hernandez.

Well, that was fast. Hernandez was just released by the Astros a couple hours ago but has already found a new job. He’ll likely slide into the No. 5 spot in the rotation and keep it warm until Tim Hudson is ready, pushing Randall Delgado and Julio Teheran to Triple-A. Hernandez has posted a 5.63 ERA and 1.81 WHIP this spring.

Astros released RHP Livan Hernandez.

It’s a surprising move, as Hernandez was expected to be the team’s No. 4 starter despite posting a 5.63 ERA and 1.81 WHIP this spring. But, the Astros certainly aren’t going anywhere in 2012, and they’ve decided to go with youth in their rotation, giving Jordan Lyles and Kyle Weiland a shot. Hernandez should be able to catch on somewhere with a team needing some starting pitching depth.

Livan Hernandez tossed five scoreless innings Tuesday against the Phillies.

Hernandez outdueled Cole Hamels before leaving a 1-0 game. He’s almost certainly going to be the Astros’ fourth starter to begin the season, not that that’s anything for fantasy leaguers to get excited about.

Livan Hernandez feels fine after being hit on the outside of his right leg by a comebacker during Thursday’s start.

Hernandez tossed 2 1/3 innings and was only scheduled to face one more hitter, so there was no reason to leave him in. He should be fine for his next start.

Livan Hernandez was pulled from Thursday’s start against the Nationals after being hit on the right leg by a comebacker off the bat of Ryan Zimmerman.

No word yet on the severity of the injury, but it’s likely the Astros just took him out for precautionary reasons. Livo tossed 2 1/3 innings before leaving the game, so at least he got his work in.

Despite allowing three hits, Livan Hernandez pitched two scoreless innings Saturday against the Nationals.

Hernandez was penciled in as the Astros’ fourth starter once Brett Myers was shifted to the pen. He could lose the spot with a lousy spring, but he always seems to pitch well in March and April.

Astros signed RHP Livan Hernandez to a minor league contract.

The deal includes a spring training invite. We barely heard a peep about Hernandez this offseason, but he is certainly capable of providing rotation depth. The 36-year-old right-hander posted a 4.47 ERA and 99/46 K/BB ratio over 175 1/3 innings last season for the Nationals. He has logged at least 175 innings in each season since 1998.