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Astros still seeking solution to rotation’s struggles
HOUSTON — The Astros are desperate for any of their starting pitchers to work deep into a game, which is why they feel good about rookie right-hander Ronel Blanco getting the ball on Saturday. That would have been an absurd statement to believe a couple of weeks ago, but injuries and short outings by the starters have wreaked havoc on the pitching staff.
Enter Blanco, who has thrown two gems to start the season, including a no-hitter against the Blue Jays on April 1, and will be trying to get Houston’s starting pitchers back on track. J.P. France had hoped to do that before he was rocked for eight runs, eight hits and four walks in four innings in a 12-8 loss to the Rangers on Friday night at Minute Maid Park.
“Sometimes you’re the bug and sometimes you’re the windshield,” France said. “The windshield hurt today.”
Astros starting pitchers have allowed 31 earned runs, 35 hits and 14 walks in 13 1/3 innings in the team’s last five games (20.93 ERA), striking out only 10 batters. Opponents are hitting .473 against Houston’s starters in that span, with the bullpen throwing more than twice as many innings (29 2/3) as the starters.
Blanco has started the season with no runs and one hit allowed in 15 innings in his first two starts, and he’s accounted for two of the Astros’ four wins, as Houston’s 4-11 start is its worst since 2013. Blanco held the Rangers to one hit in six scoreless innings on Saturday in Arlington.
“Hopefully he goes back out there and has quick innings and gives us some quality innings and gives us a chance to win,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “He’s done that all year. He’s the guy we want out there right now.”
France pitched a 1-2-3 second inning after giving up a run in the first and appeared to have settled in. With Hunter Brown giving up 11 hits and nine runs in two-thirds of an inning Thursday in Kansas City, the Astros had their fingers crossed that France could provide some length.
