How Astros pitching excellence creates huge rotation implications
PITCHING REVOLUTION
03 September 2024
The starting pitchers are leading the way for Houston! Composite Getty Image.
As we begin the month of September, you can't find a pitching staff hotter than the Houston Astros.
Over the last thirty days, the 'Stros have recorded an MLB-best 2.54 ERA and have climbed to 5th overall for the entirety of the season.
How they're getting it done is also a big part of the story. Framber Valdez and Spencer Arrighetti have both flirted with no-hitters recently, and Hunter Brown and Yusei Kikuchi have also been brilliant.
Astros GM Dana Brown recently revealed that Ronel Blanco will move to the bullpen, as the team goes back to a 5-man rotation in the coming days.
One element of the Astros rotation, however, is a bit of a wild card. Can the Astros count on Justin Verlander to deliver in the playoffs?
Before we get to the playoffs, we have to see how he pitches down the stretch. His three starts since returning from injury have delivered mixed results.
He still has time to regain his Hall of Fame form over the month of September, but the clock is ticking. Some Astros fans have already counted Verlander out, believing he's not one of the best four starters on the roster.
There's a narrative about Verlander that many repeat, even though it's not factually accurate. The argument that Verlander isn't good in the playoffs just isn't true.
He's struggled in the World Series, but has pitched very well in the ALDS and ALCS over the years. JV has pitched 226 innings in the playoffs over the course of his career, with an ERA of 3.58.
Just last year, at 40 years old, he pitched in three postseason games. He had two good starts and one poor one. Hopefully, all the starters pitch well down the stretch and give Joe Espada a good problem to deal with.
Astros front office
Houston GM Dana Brown has certainly faced his share of criticism this season, but overall, it's hard not to be impressed with the results entering the last month of the regular season.
He helped navigate an injury ravaged pitching staff through the storm, and come out on the other side as one of the best rotations in baseball.
Not to mention, he was able to convince Jim Crane to move on from Jose Abreu and Rafael Montero. Which couldn't have been easy with Jeff Bagwell in the mix.
Plus, Brown added Kikuchi to the Astros depleted rotation at the trade deadline, which he received a lot of criticism for. It's hard to imagine the Astros having a 6-game lead over Seattle right now without the Kikuchi trade.
Be sure to watch the video above as we examine the Astros playoff rotation, reflect on the job Dana Brown has done as GM in 2024, and much more!
Catch our weekly Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast. Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo discuss varied Astros topics. The first post for the week generally goes up Monday afternoon (second part released Tuesday) via The SportsMap HOU YouTube channel or listen to episodes in their entirety at Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
How Houston Astros look to address major red flags in critical positions
Mar 20, 2025, 4:18 pm
This week started on a positive note for Astros fans as they witnessed Lance McCullers take the mound for the first time since 2022. The right-hander needed just 13 pitches to complete his inning of work, showing signs of the form that made him a key piece of Houston’s rotation. If he continues progressing without setbacks, it wouldn’t be surprising to see McCullers back with the big-league club by the end of April or early May.
However, the news isn't as encouraging for Luis Garcia, who is still recovering from Tommy John surgery. Originally scheduled to throw live batting practice on Thursday, Garcia is now facing a delay due to elbow soreness. Multiple reports indicate that he will be evaluated by team doctors, adding another layer of uncertainty to his rehab process.
Garcia’s recovery has been anything but smooth. According to Chandler Rome, the expectation was that Garcia would return before McCullers, but complications have forced the Astros to slow his rehab down. If Garcia is shut down for several weeks, even in a best-case scenario, it’s unlikely he will be able to contribute over the next three months. The Astros will need to be cautious with his recovery, as the last thing they want is for him to require another surgery.
Fortunately for Houston, neither McCullers nor Garcia were expected to start the season in the rotation. However, their returns were seen as potential boosts to the pitching staff later in the year. This also serves as a reminder that Tommy John recoveries can take longer than the typical 12 to 18 months. That reality makes it difficult to count on Cristian Javier, who underwent the procedure last June, to make an impact in 2025.
Altuve’s transition to left field raises concerns
Jose Altuve had been making steady progress adjusting to left field in spring training. However, after a couple of dropped fly balls, some fans are questioning whether the experiment should continue. The errors occurred as Altuve tried to rush his throws to prevent runners from tagging up. Without the pressure of making a quick throw, he likely would have secured both catches.
Despite these struggles, Altuve has shown good range, making solid plays on balls hit into the left-center gap. His transition may take time, and the key will be ensuring these mistakes don’t get into his head. Altuve has battled confidence issues before, particularly in 2020 when he struggled with throwing to first base. He overcame those challenges, and if he stays focused, he should be fine in left field.
Cam Smith making strong case for Opening Day roster
Heading into spring training, it seemed unlikely that rookie phenom Cam Smith would break camp with the big-league team. The expectation was that Chas McCormick would get the first shot in right field. However, Smith’s scorching performance this spring may force the Astros’ hand. He’s hitting .419 with a team-leading four home runs, 11 RBIs, and a staggering .871 slugging percentage with a 1.371 OPS.
McCormick, to his credit, has been disciplined at the plate, drawing 11 walks and posting a .415 on-base percentage. However, his power numbers have been underwhelming, with a mere .179 slugging percentage and just one extra-base hit.
Given Smith’s explosive bat, the Astros may have no choice but to give him an opportunity to prove himself at the major-league level. If he struggles, they can always send him down to the minors for further development. But at this point, Smith’s performance is too good to ignore as Opening Day approaches.
We have so much more to cover. Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
The countdown to Opening Day is on. Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday. Click here to catch!
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