If you’ve watched the Astros’ starting rotation this season, then you might be entitled to financial compensation.
We’re only a few games away from the All-Star break and the state of Houston’s rotation is quite unsettled. Other than Hunter Brown and Peter Lambert, there isn’t a lot to like. Mike Burrows finally (and mercifully) was optioned to Sugar Land, and it is easy to see why. Spencer Arrighetti has fallen apart after a terrific May. Tatsuya Imai, honestly, I never know what to expect. He oscillates between pretty good and really terrible, with little middle ground. Everyone else, there also isn’t much cause for optimism.
Frankly, this is one of the worst starting staffs in baseball at the moment. No other staff has accumulated less value by fWAR than the Astros and the A’s, both worth around 1.5 wins. Only the Rockies (5.19) and A’s (5.31) have a worse FIP among starters than the Astros (5.15). And it should be noted that both Colorado and Oakland Sacramento play their home games in hitter-friendly environments. Not exactly the best optics for the organization facing an uncertain future within its front office past this season.
So, where do the Astros go from here?
The one factor keeping Houston in the postseason conversation is the mediocrity known as the American League. But that very thing could also prevent teams caught in the middle from selling. In turn, less supply drives up prices, and the Astros don’t have the farm system or internal depth on the active roster to outbid other suitors for pitchers that can truly turn the tide. But without reinforcements, this starting staff likely won’t improve much between now and the end of the season. Instead, they may have to revert to last year’s initial plan: hold out for Ronel Blanco, Lance McCullers Jr., and Hayden Wesneski to provide reinforcements.
Will that plan work? Eh, I’d venture to speculate it doesn’t. It is one thing to have hope that things will work out. Hope isn’t a plan and this team already learned about that approach the hard way in 2025. But Dana Brown’s contract status makes it increasingly difficult to gauge whether the front office will stand pat or swing for a big trade to further mortgage the future.
Astros @ Rangers Game Information and Gamethread Details
Enough about bad pitching for a moment, though. Hunter Brown is the starter tonight and the hope is that he can right the ship, even if only for one game. The Rangers will counter with Cal Quantrill.
Jeremy Peña is back on the roster, activated from the 10-day IL earlier on Friday. Braden Shewmake was designated for assignment. As far as the lineup goes, this is possibly the best version we’ll see for the remainder of the season.
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Feature photo from Astros on X
My conclusion is very simple. The Astros organization is a mess, and Crane is responsible. I am not going to repeat myself this time. The rotation, the BP, the OF, the manager, the GM, the front office, the farm system, the medical staff, the trainers. A big ugly mess. A few bright spots, true, but the organization is a mess, and it’s a mess because of Crane.
It truly starts at the top and trickles down to every facet of the organization. I truly miss our golden year’s gm.
Obviously, the FO understand some aspects of the game, but none of them can see the forest for the trees.