Chandler Rome on the Astros’ Rotation Options as the Schedule Tightens

The Athletic’s Chandler Rome joined The A-Team to discuss Yordan Alvarez needing to hit a few more homers to maintain his MVP lead, while Cal Raleigh’s sudden drop in production has been difficult to explain.Rome also addressed Houston’s pitching uncertainty. Tatsuya Imai didn’t inspire much confidence in his latest outing, and the Astros are still sorting out their rotation beyond the top three as the schedule forces the club to explore additional options. Ronel Blanco, Cristian Javier, Imai, Mike Burrows and Space Cowboys pitcher Ethan Pecko could all be candidates to join the rotation.As for José Altuve’s struggles this season, Rome noted that most players are dealing with some sort of injury in August. Whether Altuve’s struggles are age- or injury-related, the Astros don’t need him to carry the lineup—they simply need him to contribute.