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The Houston Astros starting rotation is wide open after, basically, the one and two spots. I thought Jordan Lyles would have a lock on that third spot, but he hasn’t pitched so well this spring. The thing with with Lyles is that no pitcher has really leaped over him. However, with Phil Humber pitching the way he has been pitching, he may have a spot in that rotation as well. There is one pitcher I would keep an eye as an Astros fan.
Brad Peacock has had a decent spring so far this season. The Astros acquired Peacock in the trade that sent Jed Lowrie over to the Oakland Athletics. For the first time in Peacock’s professional career, he struggled in the Minor Leagues. When the Astros first acquired Peacock, I liked him. I knew he had that rough year last season at Triple A, but he has potential. I wasn’t exactly sure what the Astros would get out of him, but so far he has had a decent spring.
Today is when I started to believe Peacock may be able to make the Astros starting rotation. He went out today and pitched a really good game. He really impressed me. Peacock got his two seam fastball up to 94 miles per hour. He had some good movement on his pitches, and he battled out there. While mixing his curveball, fastball, sinker and changeup together, he held the Pittsburgh Pirates to one run over five innings. He ended his good outing with a beautiful curveball for a strikeout.
If Peacock can continue to go out on the mound and string these types of outings together, he could really earn himself a spot in the starting rotation. If not, I believe he’ll go back to Triple A and try work things out. If Peacock doesn’t start the year out in Houston, I believe he’ll be up with the big club before too long.
Lee White is a writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter, ”Like” him on Facebook and add him to your network on Google.
