The Crawfish Boxes · Sep 12, 2023
The puzzle that is the Astros’ rotation
Astros starter J.P. France reacts as Padres’ hitter Matt Carpenter rounds the bases.The Astros willl need to use 3 - 4 rounds of the pitching rotation before the end of the season. And, given the playoff race, they all are important games. Assuming the Astros make the playoffs, there is also a question as to who will be the starters in those games. But some confounding issues make the starting pitcher puzzle harder than it has been in recent years.
After the magnificent pitching performances of the 2022 season, the Astros didn’t expect this kind of puzzle. But a combination of factors—injuries, reliance upon rookies, and regression—have made the rotation a question mark in these final games.