Not long ago, I felt reasonably confident about the Astros’ starting pitching depth. That changed quickly—first with Spencer Arrighetti fracturing his thumb, then with Hayden Wesneski experiencing elbow issues. Still, the return of Lance McCullers Jr. offered a bit of reassurance, and Ryan Gusto showed some promise as well.
But after watching Saturday and Monday’s games, that optimism took a hit.
To be fair, it’s far too soon to judge McCullers after two years away from the mound, and Gusto has logged just 30 big-league innings. Without Ronel Blanco’s brilliant eight-inning performance on Sunday, though, the rotation might already be in crisis during this grueling 17-game, 17-day stretch. As it stands, they’re teetering on the edge, not yet in emergency mode.
Enter Colton Gordon—another Astros pitching prospect—who’s set to make his MLB debut Wednesday against the Royals.
How will Gordon perform? It’s anyone’s guess, but he’s certainly intriguing. A lefty without overpowering velocity (his fastball tops out around 94–95 mph), he mixes in a slider, curveball, and changeup. While his fastball is average in speed, it plays up thanks to favorable mechanics and a flatter-than-usual approach angle. The Astros are known to value pitchers like him. Keep an eye on his slider, which is considered his best offering.
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During this busy stretch, Houston will likely shuffle pitchers in and out of the bullpen, which is expected to see more turnover than usual. Outside of Framber Valdez, Hunter Brown, and Blanco, the rest of the rotation is a bit unsettled. Gusto will probably get another start, and Gordon’s performance on Wednesday could determine whether he earns a second look. As long as McCullers avoids a major setback, he’ll remain in the mix. A.J. Blubaugh might also get another chance if circumstances allow.
The margin for error with this staff is slim. Valdez and Brown still provide a solid foundation, and Blanco rediscovering his early-season dominance would be a major boost. Any contributions from McCullers are a bonus. But if the Astros want to stay afloat through May, they’ll need meaningful performances from some unexpected arms.
