Houston Astros Spring Training Battles: 4th/5th Starters

JOE MUSGROVE

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Joseph Musgrove is easily the longest shot of the four to win a spot in the starting rotation, but stranger things have happened. Last year, because of injuries, Asher Wojciechowski made the Opening Day roster as the team’s fifth starter.

Even though 2016’s projected starting rotation is substantially better than 2015’s Opening Day rotation, Musgrove has the same slim chance that Wojciechowski did. Musgrove put up an eye-popping 23.2% K-BB ratio and 0.72 BB/9 between Lancaster, Quad Cities, and Corpus Christi in 2015, making him one of the Astros’ most exciting young starters.

At 22-years-old, the Astros do not need to rush the incredibly talented Musgrove immediately. However, the Astros are not afraid to young pitchers up from even Double-A Corpus Christi, as they did with a 21-year-old McCullers last year. Musgrove’s inevitable arrival will benefit the team greatly.

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