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

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Yesterday, we examined the Houston Astros’ situation at first base. Only a few hours before the article was published, the Astros announced that hernia surgery would keep DH Evan Gattis out from four to six weeks. Spring Training playing time and organizational depth was quite literally impacted overnight.

Today, we take a look at the wide array of pitchers battling for the 4th and 5th starter spots. Dallas Keuchel, Collin McHugh, and Mike Fiers have cemented themselves as a formidable 1-2-3. However, with Lance McCullers‘ innings limit, Scott Feldman’s health, and Doug Fister‘s uncertainty, the last two starter spots are a bit of a question mark. And that’s excluding any upstart pitchers from the minors.

Let’s start with the pitcher everyone wants.

Next: Lance McCullers

LANCE MCCULLERS

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McCullers’ 2.8 WAR over 125.2 IP was better than Yordano Ventura, Wade Miley, Jeff Samardzija, Garrett Richards, Jason Hammel, Scott Kazmir, and Mike Fiers, to name a few.

As the entire Astros organization and fan base clamors to see what McCullers can do with a full season, Jeff Luhnow announced that McCullers will have his innings limited in 2016. McCullers is only 22 years old and has established himself as a long-term force in the Astros’ rotation, so he must be protected in the long-term.

It will be interesting to see how his innings limit is handled, which is why he is not a certain lock to start 2016 as a starter at the MLB level.

But you can expect to see him in September and October. Let’s not forget McCullers’ gem in the dreaded Game 4 of the ALDS, holding the Royals to two hits over 6.1 innings with 7 strikeouts. Something else happened that game, but we can’t quite remember.

Next: Doug Fister

DOUG FISTER

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Doug Fister joins the Astros’ pitching staff as a great bounceback candidate.

Fister finished 8th in Cy Young voting in 2014 after three great years with the Detroit Tigers, but an injury-plagued 2015 season and substantial drop in velocity hurt his value.

Luckily, Fister and pitching coach Brent Strom are a match made in heaven. Strom worked wonders for ace Dallas Keuchel, and one can imagine Fister getting a similar diet of refining command and pitching to weak contact.

He is an intriguing project, as he will have every chance to reinvent himself and contend for his first World Series championship.

Next: Scott Feldman

SCOTT FELDMAN

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Outside of a 3.8 WAR 2009 season with the Texas Rangers, Scott Feldman had the best years of his career with the Astros.

Feldman was hit hard by the injury bug after a 1.9 WAR 180.1 IP 2014 season. He only pitched 108.1 innings in 2015, but was still worth 1.4 WAR.

Feldman is entering a walk year at not-quite-full health, but McCullers and now Doug Fister provide a lot of workload flexibility. Fister’s progression could also cut into Feldman’s playing time, but Feldman will have plenty of opportunities if he can stay healthy.

Next: Joe Musgrove

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.

Next: Our Prediction

OUR PREDICTION

Jun 3, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Astros starting pitcher Lance McCullers (43) reacts after getting the final out during the ninth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Minute Maid Park. The Astros defeated the Orioles 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

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McCullers is a lock to be a part of the Astros’ rotation, but it is a question of when.

We predict that he will be on the Opening Day roster. And if he’s not? He all but eliminated the Royals in the ALDS, so expect to see him plenty in 2016.

As for the team’s 5th starter? The Astros don’t always spend on free agents, but when they do, they do it carefully. The $7 million spent on Fister is not just a hopeful project to reinvent a once-stellar pitcher, but it is also an insurance policy on McCullers’ innings, Feldman’s health, and Musgrove’s readiness.

Next: Houston Astros Spring Training Battles: First Base

Keuchel-McHugh-Fiers-McCullers-Fister/Feldman/Musgrove sounds mighty fine.

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

Who will round out the Houston Astros’ rotation?

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