It didn’t take long after the Astros acquired Mike Burrows to figure out that a sinker was likely to become a key part of his pitch arsenal. Heck, even the Pirates and Burrows recognized that much as the right-hander implemented a sinker mid-season in 2025. The question is how much Houston’s pitching lab would emphasize the sinker for 2026. I think we’re starting to get an idea of what to expect this upcoming season, particularly against right-handed hitters.
With Burrows scheduled to make another start this afternoon, we’ll get more data to further confirm if this is an adjustment that will stick. At this point, I think that is a given, considering how vocal the organization is about his sinker and the numbers thus far. The pitch was a wonderful addition for Hunter Brown early in the 2024 season, helping him transform into the frontline starter he is today. Time will tell with Burrows if he experiences his own success with the pitch, but the results so far in Spring Training have been positive.
For the lineup, there is a mix of some regulars and some prospects. Jose Altuve will lead off, followed by Yordan Alvarez hitting second. Cam Smith and Joey Loperfido bat third and fourth, respectively. You then get a mix of younger guys filling out the bottom half of the lineup, with César Salazar catching.
And here are some additional camp updates, courtesy of Brian McTaggart of MLB.com.
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Feature photo courtesy of Pixel Pete
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