The Astros could finally be back to having their pitching "Big 3" again.
The trade deadline is just around the corner, and despite all of the injuries the team has sustained, the Houston Astros still hold their lead over the Seattle Mariners and the Texas Rangers in the American League West standings.
But as Astros fans should know all too well, there is a major need for the team on July 31: a strong number three at starting pitcher.
Lance McCullers Jr. is great and all, but the team has to draw the line with his injury-proneness at one point or another, and since Justin Verlander parted the team for a second time at the conclusion of last season, Hunter Brown and Framber Valdez have really been all that the team has to offer in terms of starters on the mound.
However, according to Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel of ESPN in their top 50 trade deadline candidates, the Astros were listed as the best fit for current Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Seth Lugo.
After finishing runner-up to Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal in AL Cy Young Award voting in 2024, Lugo has yet again been solid on the mound for the Royals with a 2.95 earned run average, 99 strikeouts, and seven wins in 19 starts after a 16-9 record with a 3.00 ERA last year.
As opposed to what could be his other two counterparts as well as closer Josh Hader, Lugo isn't much of a flamethrower, but Houston isn't in need of that. Lugo's finesse with his breaking ball pitches should allow him to fit into the rotation just fine in H-Town and, if anything, provide a pleasant contrast to the fiery pitching styles of Brown and Valdez.
The Astros just need a strong number three pitcher to start a playoff game, and if Dana Brown doesn't overthink any of this, then he will easily land on Lugo as the answer to the team's starting pitching dilemma.
Category: Baseball
