Astros Rotation Evaluation after First Series

Jake Odorizzi – Game Score 44 | Strike % 66.7 | Pitches Per Out 5.5

I’m not the biggest Odorizzi fan, but I thought he threw the ball well for the most part. The 66.7% strike ratio was refreshing, but Odorizzi was unable to make it past the fourth inning. This was Jeremy Peña’s night and the Astros blasted the ball all over and out of the park, so the fact that they had to use six pitchers in a blowout win is overlooked.

Simply put, four innings in April is not a big deal, but as the year goes on and the bullpen appearances pile up the Astros need more than four innings from Odorizzi or any starter for that matter.

Odorizzi didn’t walk anyone, which is a plus, but he gave up six hits to the eighteen batters he faced and there were a lot of fly balls and line drives. I’m still not convinced Odorizzi belongs in this rotation, but it’s only one start in a long season and the Astros won the game and I don’t want to over react.

Astros Orbit:

The following prospects were released April 1: OF Jesus Liranzo, SS Sean Mendoza, SS Jose Mendoza, SS Yorbin Ceuta and RHP Jherson Pereira.