Houston Astros: Pitchers auditioning for game four starting role

The Houston Astros have solidified their role as the number two seed (with a chance for the one seed) in the 2017 American League playoffs.

The Houston Astros playoff rotation seems pretty set with Justin Verlander pitching in game one, Dallas Keuchel in game two, and almost assuredly Brad Peacock in game three. But that still leaves one slot open for the game four starter with three options available.

Those three options are Lance McCullers Jr., Charlie Morton and Collin McHugh. And this weekend could determine which of those three gets the ball in game four and which two go to the bullpen against what is likely our first round playoff opponent the Boston Red Sox.

The end of the season for the American League in 2017 couldn’t be coming to a more anti-climactic finish with every post season berth clinched going into the final weekend and the New York Yankees magic number at one for the division crown making the Boston Red Sox division title almost a certainty.

That’s what makes this series between the Astros and Red Sox so unique though. Because while the Astros would like to get the number one overall seed, they need the Cleveland Indians to lose two of their final three games against the Minnesota Twins while sweeping the Boston Red Sox in their four game series. Not a likely scenario considering the Indians have lost three times in their past 35 games.

So this series is basically meaningless. Yet for Charlie Morton, Lance McCullers and Collin McHugh, they have a chance to showcase what they can do against the team they’re about to face in the first round.

It’s a fine line as well because if these pitchers throw to the best of their ability and shut down the Red Sox this weekend that could earn them a spot in the post season rotation, but it would also give the Red Sox a heads-up on the way they plan on attacking them in the post season, giving the Red Sox the ability to game plan when they face these pitchers just a week and a half later back in Fenway Park.

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Each pitcher has something to prove in this series though. Lance McCullers needs to prove he can pitch into the sixth inning and that he is healthy and durable enough to start a post season game.

Collin McHugh faces a similar challenge but more that he can show how he can pitch past the sixth inning, something he has yet to do all year since returning mid-season.

And Charlie Morton needs to prove that his strong September of four starts with a 2.35 ERA and 29 strikeouts over 23 innings is something he can continue into October.

It’s a very bizarre series that has no impact on either team’s playoff eligibility and more than likely no shift in their playoff positioning. Meaning they will probably be seeing each other for a five game playoff series a scant four days after they complete their regular season ending four game series.

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But that doesn’t mean there aren’t certain things at stake. And for these three Houston Astros starting pitchers, It could be their role in the post season they’re all pitching for in Fenway this weekend.

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