Starting pitchers have to go 5. I understand Hinch trying to get out of the inning, especially with Keuchel getting the early hook yesterday. If this is going to be the norm with Lance, he’s going to need a tandem starter available for his starts. Wasn’t Peacock on the mound Monday when Sano almost had that 3 run HR?
Hinch needs to use the off days to adjust our rotation. They need to put McCullers behind Cole until Keuchel and McCullers figure it out. Astros don't want to blow out the bullpen because we have back to back guys that can't get past 5 innings... or 4 this week.
They fought back which I'm happy about, but they had so many blown opportunities to win this game. Look forward to having Yuli back. Hopefully Lance gets it together. Seems like the same issues with him every year.
You pitch like you did today and you aren't going to be taking the ball 29 more time for the Astros. I kid... I kid. Seriously...... 8 runs in 2/3 of an inning? Maybe Fisher should have been brought in to pitch after the first 5-6 runs....
How would you do that? There's a day off tomorrow, Cole-Morton-Verlander go against the Rangers this weekend. You're gonna push Verlander's start back a day and slide Keuchel up on Sunday? I don't see the point of monkeying with the rotation this early at all, but I'm open to ideas. Frankly, getting out of the frozen sh!tass tundra may help the pitchers more than anything else.
The Astros should have Verlander going the 25th to close the series against the Angels and have an off day the 26th. Keuchel would be scheduled the 27th against Oakland. Then put Cole in behind Keuchel on normal rest and McCullers goes after Cole. Since Cole is getting an extra day of rest tomorrow anyway it would work out. Keuchel and McCullers will have 2 more starts before then. You have more time to evaluate them and see if tweaking the rotation is needed.
Yes, we are 13 games in and had 2 off days already. The bullpen isn't used and abused yet. However, if Keuchel and McCullers can't go more than 4 or 5 innings in their next couple starts it might we worth breaking them up so we don't need 8 to10 innings of relief in 2 days.
