Houston Astros should keep Josh James in rotation for rest of regular season

The Houston Astros will need at least one new pitcher to hold down a rotation spot for the rest of the regular season. After watching his debut this weekend, Houston should consider Josh James for the position.

Houston Astros fans didn’t just witness an MLB debut in Saturday night’s affair. They watched a pitcher – Josh James – that could become an essential part of the starting rotation throughout the next few years.

And that should be the case, considering James has improved significantly this season.

Houston hopes Charlie Morton can return to his spot after he recovers, but manager A.J. Hinch already said Lance McCullers might be best suited for the pen after his injury. That leaves at least one vacancy in the rotation until the end of the regular season.

Surely, Hinch will not utilize five starters if the Astros qualify for the playoffs. But considering that Houston owns a small lead in the American League West, it needs a reliable option in the fifth spot.

James fits the mold, essentially because he has been one of the most dominant pitchers in the Pacific Coast League this year. And he didn’t begin 2018 as a part of the Fresno Grizzlies, either.

The Triple-A league is notorious for poor pitching, but it also means teams are loaded offensively. But when they squared off against James this year, opposing hitters struggled, sporting a measly .187 average.

Overall, James owned a 1.09 WHIP, 3.40 ERA and allowed just eight home runs across 92 2/3 innings. Just two qualified pitchers boast an ERA below his, whereas no pitcher in the Pacific Coast League have a WHIP better than his.

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A main reason why Houston could use him in the rotation is his ability to miss bats. James ranks fourth in the Triple-A league in strikeouts despite not surpassing the 100-inning mark. He also showcased his power pitching Saturday, hitting 100 mph at one point.

Of course, his strikeout abilities won’t be useful for the Astros unless he can limit runs. James didn’t post a quality start in his debut, and he might not even if he stayed in the rotation.

Yet, Houston boasts a reliable bullpen to lean on. Even though relievers haven’t been as dominant the past two months, they still rank among the best in the league when compared to other teams.

Therefore, if James can slice his way through the lineup two times with limited damage, the Astros would be in contention, even if the offense continues to average fewer than five runs per contest.

Hinch can also transition James into the bullpen if any relievers don’t warrant a postseason roster spot. Lastly, the now-top-10 prospect will likely play a role in the rotation if Houston’s front office refrains from re-signing Morton and Dallas Keuchel.

At this point, any MLB experience is good for James, who is on the verge of becoming a back-end rotation piece. He might continue to impress and thrive under pitching coach Brent Strom’s tutelage.

Compared to other options, he might be the best one. Hinch will ultimately make that decision.