The table below describes an Astros pitching staff plan and the availability of each for the rest of the season after the Verlander trade. The Astros will need to develop a careful plan to manage this pitching staff for the rest of the year.
Dusty has been known as a manager that pushes his pitcher's usage. I would implore the team to get ahead of this issue now. Fortunately, the Astros have traded for Justin Verlander, and JV may have never been needed more.
Starting Pitchers- No Restrictions
Verlander, Valdez, and Urquidy can pitch on regular rest days without restrictions.
Starting Pitchers- Load managed
Javier would benefit from pitching every sixth day and this should be enough to not over tax his usage too much.
Brown is near his career max innings already after pitching tonight. I suspect he will be used extremely carefully until mid- September. He probably needs a 3 to 4 week stretch of rest.
France is also near his career max innings already. He is pitching so well now and I am sure the team does not want to disrupt that. I suspect he will be used extremely carefully until mid- September. He probably needs a 3 to 4 week stretch of rest.
Bielak is likely to be used as a long reliever and spot starter. With three options already used he can't be options but twice more. He probably needs a 3 to 4 week stretch of rest.
Blanco is already over his recent innings max season. I suspect he will be transitioned to a long relief role only now that Urquidy is available. He can only be optioned one more time.
Together, the Astros really have four starting pitchers they can use regularly and four starters they need to manage very carefully. How will they fill out the rest of their starts?
Starting Pitchers- Spot Starters
Dubin and Watkins may be called up each for one or two start stints. The team will have to monitor the number of options too. They may share time as a long reliever available as well.
To truly understand Verlander's impact go back and read this and imagine there is no JV to pitch every 5 to 6 days. His presence is a HUGE relief to what was going to be a crisis without him.
Bullpen
Abreu and Maton are tracking for excessive innings for them. Pressly, Neris, Graveman, and Montero are tracking to be at their full loads. All six need to be used less in games with large leads in either direction.
Stanek may see more usage in low leverage roles.
One important note- Pressly, Neris, Graveman, Maton, Stanek, and Montero CANNOT be optioned. They would have to go to the IL or be DFAed.
Additional Relief Pitchers to provide innings
Gage, Kuhnel, and Cousins appear to have only one more option available.
Martinez and Muchinski will also be used to provide relief to the arms in the bullpen.
Note- my counting of options includes the initial option at the beginning of the season for 40-man roster players that did not make the 26-man active roster. This may not be including in the five-option limit. I will monitor.
Conclusion
Overall, the addition of Verlander is HUGE to the innings management of the starters. Graveman adds a high leverage arm who can be used to spread the bullpen load. Overall careful management of the Astros pitchers will be needed.
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