Astros fans, at this point in the season, it doesn’t matter if you’re a glass-half-full or glass-half-empty kind of fan, I’m here to tell you there is no need to panic.
Just like after the first series of the season, when I said it was far too soon to get worked up over a rough start, the message remains the same now. Take a breath. It’s early, and everything is still in front of this team. Unlike a lot of teams in MLB, you have replacements waiting in the wings to fill-in where necessary.
Let’s start
with some context. The Astros are currently on the road, playing in Colorado, where the altitude is always a factor. That alone can skew performances, especially for a pitching staff that is still trying to find its footing. Then you go to the Athletics series, where the team is playing in a Triple-A ballpark, a place where the Astros have traditionally struggled, against an A’s offense that tends to perform better at home.
Despite all of that, the offense, aside from the last two games, has been outstanding. In fact, it’s been one of the best in the American League. That’s not something to overlook. You have a big picture example of the depth that I will be focusing on in this article, with what the infield has been able to overcome. Jeremy Pena, Isaac Paredes and Carlos Correa have been able to miss games and the runs and hits keep on coming. Christian Walker has been a huge bright spot and the best should still be yet to come.
When you check the standings, the bigger picture becomes even clearer. The Astros are only a game and a half behind the Texas Rangers entering play Thursday, and the Mariners, Angels and Athletics right now are all bunched up with the Astros. In other words, there’s no ground lost that can’t easily be made up no matter how bad it has looked lately.
Pitching Concerns Are Real, But Manageable
If there is a legitimate concern, it’s the pitching staff.
Bryan Abreu has struggled while trying to fill in for Josh Hader. The starting rotation, overall, has been mediocre at best.
But here’s the good news: help is on the way, and unlike many teams, there are options.
The Astros are approaching a stretch where they’ve already indicated a desire to move to a six-man rotation. That opens the door for several arms to step in and make an impact. With Cristian Javier now dealing with a shoulder issue and headed to the injured list, the opportunity becomes even more real for others.
No, this rotation may not currently feature the same level of established aces as last season with Hunter Brown and Framber Valdez leading the way, but it does have depth. And depth matters over the course of a long season.
Options, Options, Options
The Astros have several viable candidates ready to contribute.
J.P. France has already been called up and is expected to start during the Seattle series. Beyond him, you’ve got arms like Colton Gordon, Jason Alexander, and Spencer Arrighetti, who is scheduled to take the mound Thursday night, all waiting for their chance.
Don’t forget about Miguel Ullola, who impressed in spring training and showed promise last season. He’s another name that could factor in as the season progresses.
This is the time for opportunity. With multiple starters currently sidelined, the Astros need to identify who can step up and replicate the kind of contributions they got a year ago from players like Brandon Walter and Alexander.
Reinforcements Are Coming
It’s also important to remember that no matter what happens now, it won’t affect the future. Pitchers like Ronel Blanco, Walter, and Hayden Wesneski are currently on the injured list recovering from major injuries, but down the road they will add even more depth to the Starting Pitching in the Houston system.
That kind of depth puts the Astros in a far better position than many other teams around Major League Baseball.
And if you’re still looking externally, there are options there too. A veteran like Lucas Giolito remains available on the open market and could be a potential addition if the team decides to explore outside help.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, this rotation may not look exactly like the one you expected coming into the season, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be effective.
There are plenty of capable arms, plenty of opportunities, and plenty of time.
So before you hit the panic button, take a step back and look at the bigger picture. The Astros are still in a good position, with everything they want to accomplish still right in front of them.
