gutiérrez has been a starter in the minor leagues. in the 2006 aa texas league, gutiérrez helped lead the corpus christi hooks (houston) to their lone texas league championship. on august 17, 2007, he was recalled by the houston astros when stephen randolph was placed on the disabled list. on august 23, gutierrez made his major league starting debut against the washington nationals, filling in for injured starting pitcher roy oswalt. he was sent back down to round rock on august 25 to make room for left-handed pitcher troy patton.