Bullpen is shaping up well. Astros just need to do what they should've already done with certain starters over a month ago. Lean on the offense to keep the team winning and the pitching should be rejuvenated before season's end.
Yainer has drawn 3 walks to 0 strike-outs in his last 5 games. Small steps but his plate discipline is getting better.
He also has a big mouth at times. I would take the chance - skip him for at least two starts and then see where he is at. We can talk about conditioning, etc. - but a lot of this is that he hasn't pitched progressively like this before. He is also not likely to ever be a heavy innings pitcher, and that is fine with Valdez and Verlander ahead of him.
You’re way out of line here my breh. Who would have guessed that in the game thread there would be Stros fans talking about the game? Like how would one even know that. Come on. Do better. @Caltex2 I got you.
I don't think it's an either-or thing. Go to a 5.5 man rotation snd skip every other start for him. When he does start, tandem him with Bielak or Urquidy or whomever so he's only pitching 60-80 pitches and 3-4 innings. Then as late September rolls around, ramp him up again and see how he responds. If France holds up (still a big if), Javier can be your #4 starter in the playoffs anyway, so he probably only starts 1 game a series and has that extended rest throughout. If France falters, then you tandem Javier and Urquidy as starter #3 if neither have gotten it together by playoff time, and France/Bullpen as #4 starter. But you can easily reduce his arm fatigue over the next month without shutting him down completely and/or needing rehab assignments.
I would rather Yordan at LF and Brantley DH to ease him back in. Would he have made that catch against the wall yesterday?
I just don’t get it. Great Diaz over Maldonado, but a lot of has been predicting Chas/Diaz are going to suffer the most for Brantley being inserted.
He just cannot bring himself to write the correct lineup. “Well, I guess I have to play Diaz to be consistent with every other time France pitches. I better hold out Chas.” Its like Larry Bird just deciding to shoot left-handed for a game to make it interesting. Except when Larry was on third place.
Dusty could just not f**king help himself and had to put Dubon in CF. It's like he intentionally does this just to prevent the fans of having the satisfaction of a perfect lineup. Maldy will catch tomorrow while Diaz and Brantley sit.