Two World Series wins with four appearances, six division wins, and two Wild Card appearances since 2015 is a pretty damn good run. Players are getting older. Some are coming up for their third contracts. Others are coming up for their second. In both cases, the Astros are a team trying to keep their window open. If they're going to extend this into a decade plus run of being in high level competition over the next few seasons, they need to solidify some things.

One of those is nailing down a starting rotation. It's my belief they should go with a six-man rotation. The starters are either older, have an injury history, recently hurt, or not experienced enough. Having more guys in the rotation will help alleviate tired arms later in the season. Plus, I feel as though it sets you up for injury if/when they occur. It also gives an extra guy a chance to start regularly instead of sporadic starts and some long relief.

Justin Verlander, Framber Valdez, Cristian Javier, Hunter Brown, J.P. France, and Jose Urquidy should be the six-man rotation to start. Guys like Luis Garcia and Lance McCullers Jr can pop in at any time they're healthy and take a spot start away from Brown or France or somebody needing a rest. I say Brown or France because they're the lower guys on the totem pole. Javier is another who can go to the bullpen/long relief role. He's been in that role previously.

Urquidy is a wildcard here. He has top three on a staff stuff, but inconsistent play and injury derailed him last season. McCullers and Garcia are also wildcards. They're both coming off injury. McCullers was expected back last season. Setbacks and another surgery pushed back his timeline to hopefully July of this coming season. Garcia went down and had Tommy John surgery. He should be ready sometime in July as well, according to GM Dana Brown. Hopefully he doesn't have any setbacks. All three of these guys were seen as locks previously to make the rotation.

Verlander is expected to be the ace. Between his experience, accolades, and paycheck, he's supposed to be the guy. He said he wants to pitch until he's 45. If that's the case, knowing Verlander, he's not going to want to embarrass himself. He'll get himself in great shape and be ready for the season. The thing is, will he stay healthy and be able to maintain his level of play he's used to?

With Framber, it's a matter of consistency. Framber will go out and throw scoreless innings in four consecutive starts, then get shelled for five runs in two innings while throwing 70 plus pitches. He's even had games in which he'll pitch lights out, but have an inning or two where he gives up too many hits and some runs. The control will be off, and he will look like he's got the yips. Then there are days when he looks like a Cy Young candidate. He can be bad for my liver.

Again, this is a way-too-early look at their rotation. I'm no expert. For that, I'd point people to Charlie Pallilo or Patrick Creighton. They're way more well-versed in baseball than I. At some point, we might revisit more way too early Astros content. Until then, bookmark this and let's check it when the season starts to see how right or wrong I am.