[Foul Territory] 2026 Astros Rotation Options (Imai should be listed as a RHP)
January 2, 2026
[Foul Territory] 2026 Astros Rotation Options (Imai should be listed as a RHP)
26 comments
Lol McCullers listed as an “option”
Lmj the restauranter?
imai as a lefty lol
Brown-Javier-Imai-Burrows-Arrighetti is *probably* the starting 5, with Blubaugh as the first call-up for injury or the late season 6 man rotation plans
Though this could all change rapidly if Arrighetti looks bad to start the year
Start the season with the coveted 9 man rotation?
Good to see staff ace Jason Alexander on there
Ullola getting any reps?
Damn crazy how much it’s changed since 2017/ no urquidy no Garcia no verlander no framber
Maybe I missed the news, but did we lose Ronel Blanco?
Am I crazy for thinking Blubaugh should be our #5 on opening day?
I know he needs to win the spot, but didnt we pay Ryan Weiss $10 million to be a starter?
Brown-Imai-Javier-Burrows can be safely penciled in as 1-4, Arrighetti will be the 5th health permitting but I remain concerned about his elbow. I assume Alexander, Pearson and Weiss are all out of minor league options, yes? Hard to see all 3 making the roster. Can see them deploying 6 starters though; keep HB on a normal 5-man schedule but work in the 6th starter to give everyone else an extra day each time through. Blubaugh has options so safe to assume he’ll start in AAA and be the first call up for injuries. France is probably DFA bait by now. Then there’s Lance… barring a miracle I think the only way he contributes is out of the bullpen. Which is probably what’s best for him. All in all I’m happy with both the quality and the depth now.
Blubaugh has really good stuff and shown he can hang for many innings each outing. I think he could make the jump to starter
McCulllers in my view really needs to transition to a bullpen role.
Now that’s all said and done, and with everything that happened to this point…
It’s still weird to not see Framber’s name on the list
I imagine that the Astros will go 6-man for considerable portions of the season to help reduce workload on the young staff.
Feel like an elite 2022 rotation.
I can use Hunter Brown going for Cy Young.
Imai is everything they dream and more.
Pearson/Blueballs/George breakout into a solid starter.
Coffee Boy turn back into a solid contributor.
Spaghatti boy looks solid after being healthy.
I think the only thing they are going to worry about is how to get all the guys starts.
Is Framber officially gone or is it just a near certainty?
I know how most of us feel about it, but framber was a work horse as a starting LHP. Would still be nice to have him despite his moments. If the clubhouse still embraced him that was good enough for me as I couldn’t see him overthrowing our strong locker room. We have had way worse players of questionable morals.
Put some respec on Alexander’s name
What they gonna trade or two for some left handers pretty soon
Ullola
Dozen players here. Many who did admirably last year holding down the fort. Some exceeded expectations. Some we are patiently hoping fully recover from injuries. Given our recent history with injuries, if we open the season with 6 pitchers in the rotation who have good Springs,remained healthy, I’ll be happy. Last year painfully proved that You Can’t Have Too Much Pitching.
If arri and javi are good again this is a terrifying line up.
Astros know he’s right handed, right??
Brown, Javier, Imai, Arrighetti, Burrows, Blubaugh seem like the best 6 options to me.
No idea why we are even including France on this list. He wasn’t good whenever he last pitched what, 2, 3 years ago? If we get down to him in the rotation… Yeesh.
26 comments
Lol McCullers listed as an “option”
Lmj the restauranter?
imai as a lefty lol
Brown-Javier-Imai-Burrows-Arrighetti is *probably* the starting 5, with Blubaugh as the first call-up for injury or the late season 6 man rotation plans
Though this could all change rapidly if Arrighetti looks bad to start the year
Start the season with the coveted 9 man rotation?
Good to see staff ace Jason Alexander on there
Ullola getting any reps?
Damn crazy how much it’s changed since 2017/ no urquidy no Garcia no verlander no framber
Maybe I missed the news, but did we lose Ronel Blanco?
Am I crazy for thinking Blubaugh should be our #5 on opening day?
I know he needs to win the spot, but didnt we pay Ryan Weiss $10 million to be a starter?
Brown-Imai-Javier-Burrows can be safely penciled in as 1-4, Arrighetti will be the 5th health permitting but I remain concerned about his elbow. I assume Alexander, Pearson and Weiss are all out of minor league options, yes? Hard to see all 3 making the roster. Can see them deploying 6 starters though; keep HB on a normal 5-man schedule but work in the 6th starter to give everyone else an extra day each time through. Blubaugh has options so safe to assume he’ll start in AAA and be the first call up for injuries. France is probably DFA bait by now. Then there’s Lance… barring a miracle I think the only way he contributes is out of the bullpen. Which is probably what’s best for him. All in all I’m happy with both the quality and the depth now.
Blubaugh has really good stuff and shown he can hang for many innings each outing. I think he could make the jump to starter
McCulllers in my view really needs to transition to a bullpen role.
Now that’s all said and done, and with everything that happened to this point…
It’s still weird to not see Framber’s name on the list
I imagine that the Astros will go 6-man for considerable portions of the season to help reduce workload on the young staff.
Feel like an elite 2022 rotation.
I can use Hunter Brown going for Cy Young.
Imai is everything they dream and more.
Pearson/Blueballs/George breakout into a solid starter.
Coffee Boy turn back into a solid contributor.
Spaghatti boy looks solid after being healthy.
I think the only thing they are going to worry about is how to get all the guys starts.
Is Framber officially gone or is it just a near certainty?
I know how most of us feel about it, but framber was a work horse as a starting LHP. Would still be nice to have him despite his moments. If the clubhouse still embraced him that was good enough for me as I couldn’t see him overthrowing our strong locker room. We have had way worse players of questionable morals.
Put some respec on Alexander’s name
What they gonna trade or two for some left handers pretty soon
Ullola
Dozen players here. Many who did admirably last year holding down the fort. Some exceeded expectations. Some we are patiently hoping fully recover from injuries. Given our recent history with injuries, if we open the season with 6 pitchers in the rotation who have good Springs,remained healthy, I’ll be happy. Last year painfully proved that You Can’t Have Too Much Pitching.
If arri and javi are good again this is a terrifying line up.
Astros know he’s right handed, right??
Brown, Javier, Imai, Arrighetti, Burrows, Blubaugh seem like the best 6 options to me.
No idea why we are even including France on this list. He wasn’t good whenever he last pitched what, 2, 3 years ago? If we get down to him in the rotation… Yeesh.