Questions About Astros’ Pitching and x-ERA

Long view of Astros pitcher Framber Valdez pitching against the Chicago White Sox.On Monday I wrote about the conundrum the Astros face due to the combination of exceedingly thin starting pitching depth and potential work load limitations on certain pitchers. By Monday evening, we learned that Justin Verlander was placed on the 15 day injured list with a sore neck, which again gives us a stress test of the Astros’ pitching depth.

In the immediate future, the Astros must decide whether to move up Spencer Arrighetti as Thursday’s starter in Chicago or call up a AAA starting pitcher (such as Blair Henley, currently scheduled to pitch in AAA on that day). Since Arrighetti would be pitching on…