Houston Astros: Back end of rotation could be issue in second half

The trade deadline clock is ticking and the Houston Astros have yet to make a move for a starting pitcher. While several options remain on the table, the front office could remain pat, considering the team’s starters boast the fourth-best ERA in the league. If Houston doesn’t make any movies, the back end of the rotation could decide the team’s playoff fate.

Dallas Keuchel and Lance McCullers Jr. will do their thing come October, barring any major injuries. But when the Houston Astros reach a Game 3, who gets the call?

I’m not sure manager A.J. Hinch knows at this point.

Injuries forced Houston to shuffle up its rotation during the first half of the season, with nine pitchers making at least one start. For a team that sits atop the American League West with a gaudy 60-29 record, it’s a little surprising.

The team has managed to make it work, thanks in part to some valiant efforts from fill-in guys like Brad Peacock, and serviceable veterans like Charlie Morton and Mike Fiers.

But the Astros may need to rely more heavily on them in the second half. Based on their resumes, they could flounder at any moment.

Morton has looked like a smart offseason signing for Houston, posting a solid 3.82 ERA with a 9.61 K/9 ratio. The former Pittsburgh pitcher has never been much of a punch-out guy, but looked like one last year with Philadelphia before suffering a season-ending injury after just four starts.

His command has always been a liability – his lowest career BB/9 rate was 2.00 in 2012 – and he’s allowed more than nine hits per nine innings in his career. Surprisingly, he’s yielded more home runs this season than usual at more than one per nine innings. His career average is 0.7 per nine.

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Fiers had a horrid stretch in the beginning of the season, sporting a 4.96 ERA through the first two months. But the 32-year-old found his rhythm as midseason approached. He registered four quality starts over his previous six outings.

While he hasn’t looked as sharp as usual in an Astros uniform, Fiers is a candidate to eat up innings until the playoffs. The experienced right-hander accumulated more than 340 innings in the past two seasons combined. He may also unpredictably toss a no-hitter here and there. (I’m only half-joking.)

Several other pitchers could find their way into the set rotation – maybe even for a playoff spot – including Joe Musgrove, Peacock and Francis Martes. But none are ideal candidates.

Peacock has been impressive so far as a hybrid starter/reliever, racking up 84 strikeouts in just 61 2/3 innings. And even with a high walk rate, he’s managed to keep his WHIP at a respectable 1.29.

His inexperience could an issue, however. The 29-year-old has tallied fewer than 100 innings combined over the past three years, and was ineffective when he possessed a spot in Houston’s rotation during 2013 and 2014.

Musgrove and Martes are both potential-laden prospects that can thrive at the major league level. But this year’s stats – both own ERAs above 5.00 – suggest the Astros may have to wait a year or two before they can contribute to the team as starters, especially in a playoff spot.

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But if for some reason Houston’s staff catches the injury bug, the two youngsters could toss some innings and still garner some wins. It helps to have an offense averaging nearly six runs per game.

As August 1 approaches, the Astros look to be in prime position for a World Series run. Yet, if they don’t deal for a starting pitcher soon, it could be their downfall against teams like the Red Sox and Indians, who both boast solid pitching staffs.

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