Eh... I can't argue numbers - he finished top 10 (AL; far fewer MLB) in several key categories beyond just ERA. But he only pitched 167 innings last year and was clearly the 3rd, maybe 4th best pitcher on, granted, an absolutely loaded rotation. I don't think a single Astro fan would've picked Morton over Verlander or Cole to start a game 7 last year - *unless,* of course, they were assuming his *last* game 7 appearance was the guaranteed norm. (And, frankly, I'm not sure they would've picked him over McCullers, assuming Lance was healthy. Man, do they miss that guy.) Morton is - when he's healthy - very good. But health is an issue and he's never been capable of sustaining his great stretches over the course of an entire season. I would not consider him an "ace."
I've got no problem cutting Rondon loose in exchange for a pitcher that can make playoff roster. His fastball has lost its "rise", and his slider isn't good enough by itself. He's skated by most of the season by the skin of teeth, but unless he fixes his fastball, I don't want to see him in playoffs.
Urquidy Saturday, Armenteros Sunday, with Sneed w/ RR on Sunday (I would think) as an option for next Friday (the Astros have Thursday off) if both of them falter. Given the 7.12 ERA from the non-core four, it would be par for the course. IMO it was only because of AAA rotation scheduling that Urquidy is pitching instead of Sneed. Urquidy allowed 13 runs in his list two starts (5IP 8R AAA, 2.1IP 5R Astros), while Sneed allow 1 run in his last two starts (7IP 0R AAA, 5IP 1R Astros). In summary, Urquidy is starting when he's pitching at the absolute worst in his career, and Sneed is sitting when he's pitching at the absolute best in his career, because Sneed's last start was off by one day. Let's hope the trends don't make a difference today. Maybe they're auditioning Urquidy for a trade.
Big start for Armenteros. He clearly low on the depth chart in terms of stuff and organizational priority. However he's shown easily the best results in what little chance he's been given.
I doubt Astros place too much stock in a couple of starts unless there is something mechanical wrong.
That he was, and it was awesome to see. Since McHugh started falling apart in mid-April, that was only the second time a non-four-core starter (not JV, GC, WM, BP) didn't allow more than one run in 19 starts since - no matter how few innings they pitched. As far as lasting at least 5 innings, this was only the fourth time a starter didn't allow more than two runs in those last 19. IOW, that was only the fourth quality start out of the last 19. Given the recent starts in the Astros system overall, let's hope this is part of a new trend. It's like the FO cast a magic spell on July 16 over the entire organization's pitching staff. Some shift somewhere was made. Let's hope it lasts! July 20 Urquidy 7IP 2H 1R 1BB 9K, Bielak 7IP 1H 0R 2BB 7K July 19 Abreu 4IP 2H 0R 0BB 7K July 18 Bukauskas 6IP 7H 1R 2BB 9K, Tyler Ivey 3IP 0H 0R 1BB 2K July 17 Paredes 6IP 3H 0R 2BB 9K July 16 Sneed 7IP 5H 0R 1BB 7K
The streak continues. This is going to provide the Astros with significantly more leverage at the trade deadline than they had just a week ago, no longer being utterly desperate. July 21 Armenteros 5IP 2H 1R 2BB 6K July 20 Urquidy 7IP 2H 1R 1BB 9K, Bielak 7IP 1H 0R 2BB 7K July 19 Abreu 4IP 2H 0R 0BB 7K July 18 Bukauskas 6IP 7H 1R 2BB 9K, Tyler Ivey 3IP 0H 0R 1BB 2K July 17 Paredes 6IP 3H 0R 2BB 9K July 16 Sneed 7IP 5H 0R 1BB 7K