Priorities, opportunities as Astros early pitching power rankings are revealed
THAT'S HIGH PRAISE
08 March 2024
The Astros have high hopes for their pitching staff this season. Composite Getty Image.
As spring training is progressing for the Houston Astros in Florida, the pitching staff is starting to take shape. We know Justin Verlander will be on IL to start the season. So it's looking like the rotation will consist of Framber Valdez, Cristian Javier, Hunter Brown, Jose Urquidy, JP France, and possibly Ronel Blanco if they opt for a six-man rotation early on.
The Astros are very fortunate that France (shoulder) appears back on track to start the season. He was behind Verlander just a couple of weeks ago.
So what should we expect from the Astros' starters this year? CBS Sports released their rotation rankings recently and have the 'Stros at No. 2 behind the Atlanta Braves. They believe Brown will take a big step forward this season, and expect Javier to have a bounce back year. Not to mention all the depth with Luis Garcia and Lance McCullers expected to come back this summer. And Spencer Arrighetti and Brandon Bielak are waiting in the wings if they need them.
Looking ahead
The schedule will be a big factor for Houston early on as they have some tough opponents. They include the Yankees, Blue Jays, Rangers, Royals, and Braves. The Royals aren't scary, but then again, the Astros couldn't beat them when they were trying to secure a playoff spot at the end of last season. So you never know.
The bullpen is going to be important as well over the first two weeks. If we look at last season, no starting pitcher went more than 5 innings in their first cycle through the rotation. Not to mention, Bryan Abreu is suspended for the first two games. So the club will have to depend on their middle relief guys to be a bridge to Ryan Pressly and Josh Hader.
Plus, how will Framber Valdez adjust to using Pitchcom to call his own pitches?
Be sure to watch the video above for the full conversation!
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Cal Raleigh hit a go-ahead, two-run homer off the right field foul pole and the Seattle Mariners beat the Houston Astros 5-3 on Friday night.
Raleigh's 17th homer followed Julio Rodríguez's tying RBI double in the seventh inning. Leody Taveras homered among his three hits, and Miles Mastrobuoni also hit a solo home run.
Emerson Hancock (2-2) gave up three runs and nine hits in six innings, striking out three and walking none. Hancock won for the first time in six starts, and Andrés Muñoz got the last three outs for 17th save while maintaining his 0.00 ERA.
Isaac Paredes hit his 11th homer of the season and seventh in the past 10 games for Houston.
Jose Altuve had three hits after hitting two homers Thursday. The former second-baseman easily threw out Raleigh when the Mariners' catcher tried to score from second on Taveras' line-drive single to left in the sixth.
Cam Smith also had three hits for the Astros.
Altuve played his 1,870th career game, tying Jośe Cruz for third-most in Astros history behind Craig Biggio (2,850) and Jeff Bagwell (2,150).
Bryan Abreau (1-2) allowed two runs and three hits in 1 1/3 innings, giving up runs for just the second time in 21 appearances. He surrendered three to the Mariners on April 9 for his other loss.
Key moment
Rodríguez, back in the lineup after missing Thursday's game with back tightness, hit Abreu's first pitch for a down the right-field line to score Crawford from first. On the next pitch, Raleigh hit his homer to right.
Key stat
Mastrobuoni’s homer was his first with Seattle, and first in his four-year major league career since 2023 with the Chicago Cubs.
Up next
Seattle's Bryan Woo (5-1, 2.65) pitches against Houston's Framber Valdez (3-4, 3.57) on Saturday.
