In a sense, the Astros were always expected to use at least nine to ten starters this season. It is increasingly rare, if not implausible, to navigate an entire 162-game campaign at the bare minimum with only five to seven starters. Plus, the days of multiple pitchers throwing 200-plus innings on a consistent basis are more a relic of the past than the norm. For example, 31 pitchers threw at least 200 innings in 2012. Fast forward ten years and that figure drops to only eight. Instead, most clubs figure — instead, hope — they can cobble together enough innings from about eight to twelve starters.
Internal Depth Has Buoyed The Rotation
