Houston Astros: Where Gerrit Cole should be placed in the starting rotation

The Houston Astros were able to acquire Gerrit Cole, who had long been rumored to be traded here, making the starting rotation as whole as it could be. This move by the franchise signals that they’re ready to contend again this season. Now that Cole is here, here’s where I think he should be place in the starting rotation.

The Houston Astros now have a filthy starting rotation with Gerrit Cole now added to the lineup. The depth that the team now has with its pitching is the finest as it has been awhile and certainly that his a crucial component to compete for another World Series trophy.

I’m still reeling over our the club’s first World Series win, let alone with me thinking about what it would take to contend for this upcoming season. But with pitchers and catchers set to report in about of month from now, things are about to get real on that front.

So try this on for size — the starting rotation now comprises of Justin Verlander, Dallas Keuchel, Charlie Morton, Lance McCullers Jr. and Cole. I’d pit this rotation up against anybody in this league and they will be difficult to stop in every regard. I’m crossing my fingers that the injury bug doesn’t take a big bite like it did for last season. But for all intents and purposes, A.J. Hinch responded well to the challenges, being able to utilize the bullpen to get the team through the rough patch.

Here’s some interesting debate in my favorite podcast, Houston Sports Talk. Take a listen at what Robert and R.G. have to say:

And now that Joe Smith and Hector Rondon are signed to the team, that’s going to help with the bullpen depth even more. Having the enough depth in that area hurt the team a bit last season but they still were among the tops among ERA as a unit throughout most of 2017.

But let’s talk about where Cole should be placed in the starting lineup. There’s no doubt Cole was the Pittsburgh Pirates No. 1 guy throughout his tenure there. He was their best pitcher but as they’re looking to rebuild, it’s prudent for them to get something for him as he enters his prime years. It shouldn’t be wasted on lackluster seasons that will likely be churned out by the Pirates.

As a matter of fact, that Pirates received Joe Musgrove, Colin Moran, Michael Feliz and Jason Martin in exchange so even though that’s a lot of a haul to give up to get him, I think the Houston Astros still have made off like bandits.

So back to what I was getting at. Although Cole is used to being at the top of the rotation, he should be no earlier or later than the THIRD GUY in the starting lineup. We’re so good that there’s no possible way we could be put him at the top of the rotation. Think about that Houston Astros fans. Verlander is obviously going to take the No. 1 spot and Keuchel has shown that he follow

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with just as a strong performance being the No. 2 guy. I would then fill out the rest of the rotation with McCullers Jr. and Morton to do the honors.

This ensures that our strongest power is at the front of the rotation and we’ll be able to do serious damage in whatever series we’re playing in early. It’s insane that I have the pleasure to write about this because the depth that we have in this rotation is utterly sickening in regard to how good it’s going to be.

We know that his four-seam fastball is his calling card — he can hit the triples on the gun easily but it’s his curveball that will be what will really make him successful in this rotation. Last season, the Houston Astros were one of the top teams in baseball that used that pitch proficiently and McCullers Jr. led the way with that. Cole also has a extremely wicked slider, sinker and change to go with that impressive repertoire.

Regardless, it’s going to be a pleasure to watch this man pitch and I’m strongly leaning toward buying his jersey from the excitement of having such an ace on the staff. It’s also important to mention that they still have two years of club control over him and by the time that period expires, the team may very well have multiple Fall Classic trophies in the case at 501 Crawford.

Next: Projecting how many wins the Astros will have in 2018

We’ll have to see but ya’ll better get your popcorn ready!

Cole, 27, had a 12-12 record, a 4.26 ERA while tossing 196 strikeouts and conjuring up a 1.251 WHIP, an 8.7 K/9 and a mildly mediocre 4.08 FIP through 203.0 innings pitched in 33 starts in 2017.

Go Astros.

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