WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The Astros had enough starting pitching last season to make the playoffs and ultimately the World Series, obviously, yet as their pitchers and catchers just get started in the early days of spring training, it’s reasonably almost a certainty that their starting rotation is even better.
It starts with having three different pitchers who were given the ball on opening day last season.
Dallas Keuchel had the honors for the Astros, while Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole got the ball first for the Tigers and Pirates, respectively.
“It starts with those three, but you could add Lance (McCullers) and (Charlie) Morton too with the stuff they have and the success they have had,” catcher Brian McCann said.
"On paper, I think we have the best starting rotation in baseball,” Keuchel said.
Verlander and Keuchel have Cy Young Awards in their closets. McCullers in the American League Championship Series and then Morton in the World Series were on the hill to close out those two epic seven-game series wins for the Astros.
“We have arms. It all starts with starting pitching,” McCann said. “Now it’s time to go out there and compete and go have some fun."