PT TOMORROW: AL WEST—Deep thoughts

Houston Astros

Barring injury, a rotation of Zack Greinke (RHP, HOU) Framber Valdez (LHP, HOU), Lance McCullers (RHP, HOU), José Urquidy (RHP, HOU) and Cristian Javier (RHP, HOU) looks set for Opening Day. [EDITOR'S NOTE: This column was filed prior to Valdez's finger fracture on Wednesday.] It's an intriguing group, but also one with plenty of questions, including the pace of what looks like a gentle decline for the 37-year-old Greinke, and the follow-up to Valdez's 11-game 2020 breakout (3.57/2.96 ERA/xERA over 71 IP). Now two years off TJS and a long previous MLB injury history, McCullers missed just 12 days with a neck issue and posted a 3.93/3.46 ERA/xERA over 55 IP with a strong finish. But it was the first time in five years that...

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