Altuve has backup: Astros’ star pitchers if Justin Verlander doesn’t return to Houston

MLB

One of the most responsible for the great season that ended in the title of Houston Astros in the 2022 World Series it was Justin Verlander, who decided to become a free agent and may not return to the team. Faced with this possibility, Jose Altuve, Jeremy Pena and company are backed with star pitchers to open games in MLB 2023.

It’s impossible not to wonder what will become of the Astros without Verlander. Justin not only won the 2022 American League Cy Young Award, He also won the Comeback of the Year distinction in the new circuit of the big leagues. Does Houston have what to replace it with?

In the hypothetical case that the Houston Astros cannot pay Justin Verlander $130 million over three years, the narrative is that he would ask for that contract, there are six all-star pitchers who could make up a starting rotation to back up José Altuve, Jeremy Peña, Yordan Álvarez and company.

“No, I haven’t spoken to Jim Crane (Houston team owner) since we last spoke. He sent me a text saying that he wants to get involved in the future. I don’t know what the future holds (…) This trip with the Astros has been nothing short of incredible”, he claimed Justin Verlander about how the negotiations were going to return to the current 2022 World Series champion. They begin to warm up their replacements.

The Astros’ star pitchers if Justin Verlander doesn’t return to Houston in MLB 2023

Applying the popular adage that there is no evil that does not come for good, if the Houston Astros do not have Justin Verlander to the 2023 MLB Season, could form a fearsome starting rotation with six stellar names in the Major Leagues. In parentheses is the ERA (earned run percentage) they had in the 2022 campaign.

• Framber Valdez (2.82)
• Lance McCullers Jr. (2.27)
• Christian Xavier (2.54)
• Luis Garcia (3.72)
• Jose Urquidy (3.94)
• Hunter Brown (0.89)