It's a big question to start any baseball season. how many innings will a team get out of its top five--or six--starting pitchers this year?
In 2021, the question is even more fraught. The abbreviated 2021 season meant that no starter went for a full season’s worth of innings, and teams were not able to have their young pitchers ramp up their workload from the previous season.
The Astros have to deal with this general problem. But they also have specific worries about the nature of their roster. With Justin Verlander out for the season after Tommy John surgery and the front office deciding to direct its off-season spending on re-signing Michael Brnatley and adding veteran arms to the bullpen, the Astros have to rely on a young but capable core of five starting pitchers.