Here's what to expect from the Astros rotation in 2020

POINT BLANK PRESENTED BY FITZ ROOFING

The Astros are expected to lose Gerrit Cole in free agency, but at this point no one knows if Jeff Luhnow will bring in a free agent to replace him, or go into the season using the pitchers already on the roster.

4 of the Astros starters seem locked in, with Verlander, Greinke, McCullers, and Urquidy. But who will take the 5th spot?

ESPN 97.5's Joel Blank shares his thoughts on which pitcher the Astros will consider for the 5th spot in the rotation, and much more. Point Blank is presented by Fitz Roofing.

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The Astros beat the A's 13-3. Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images.

Cam Smith hit two of Houston's five home runs and finished with four hits as the Astros routed the Athletics 13-3 on Tuesday night to halt their four-game winning streak.

Jason Alexander, claimed off waivers from the Athletics last month, pitched six shutout innings for Houston before tiring in the seventh. Mauricio Dubón, Christian Walker and Cooper Hummel also homered for the Astros.

Smith and Dubón went back-to-back in the fourth.

Smith connected for leadoff shots in the second and fourth. He drove in three runs and scored three times. The 22-year-old rookie has five major league homers — and two multihomer games.

Dubón followed Smith's second home run with his second this season for a 5-0 lead against A's starter JP Sears, who walked the bases loaded in the first before giving up a two-run single to Jake Meyers.

Smith finished off his first four-hit game with an RBI double in the eighth.

Alexander (1-0) threw a season-high 95 pitches in his 12th career start and first since Sept. 18, 2022, with Milwaukee. He allowed three runs — two earned — and three hits.

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