Astros' Rotation Woes Expose Offseason Pitching Needs

Injuries to Hunter Brown and Cristian Javier highlight Houston's lack of starting pitching depth

Apr. 9, 2026 at 3:22pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A cubist, geometric painting depicting a baseball pitcher's motion broken down into overlapping angular shapes and planes, representing the fragility and instability of the Astros' starting rotation.The Astros' rotation woes expose the need for more pitching depth, as injuries force them to rely on an unstable patchwork of starters.Houston Today

The Houston Astros are dealing with significant injuries to their starting rotation just two weeks into the 2026 MLB season. With Hunter Brown and Cristian Javier both sidelined, the Astros' lack of offseason additions to the pitching staff has become a major issue, exposing their lack of depth and leaving the rotation in a precarious position.

Why it matters

The Astros were one of the top teams in the American League last season, but their early-season rotation woes could derail their chances of returning to the playoffs if they don't address the problem. Their failure to add more starting pitching depth in the offseason is now proving to be a critical oversight.

The details

The Astros' rotation has been hit hard by injuries, with Brown and Javier both expected to miss significant time. This comes on top of other pitchers like Cody Botlon, Hayden Wesneski, Ronel Blanco, and Brandon Walter already on the injured list. With Tatsuya Imai and Michael Burrows struggling, the Astros' rotation is in disarray, and their lack of offseason additions to provide more stability is now painfully apparent.

  • The 2026 MLB season began just two weeks ago.
  • Hunter Brown and Cristian Javier are both currently injured and expected to miss several weeks.

The players

Hunter Brown

A promising young starting pitcher for the Houston Astros who is currently injured.

Cristian Javier

Another key member of the Astros' starting rotation who is also sidelined with an injury.

Dana Brown

The general manager of the Houston Astros who is facing criticism for not adding more starting pitching depth in the offseason.

Lucas Giolito

A veteran starting pitcher who the Astros could potentially sign to help bolster their rotation.

Lance McCullers

One of the Astros' healthy starting pitchers who has performed well so far this season with a 3.27 ERA.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Houston Astros: Not adding another veteran starter. General manager Dana Brown should have been more aggressive in trying to find someone else that could be counted on to make 30-plus starts, at the very least.”

— Tim Kelly, Bleacher Report Writer

What’s next

The Astros will need to explore options to add more starting pitching depth, either through free agency or trades, in order to stabilize their rotation and keep their playoff hopes alive.

The takeaway

The Astros' failure to add more starting pitching depth in the offseason is now proving to be a critical oversight, as injuries to key rotation pieces have left them vulnerable and exposed their lack of quality depth. This is a lesson in the importance of building a well-rounded roster, especially for contending teams like the Astros.