Baseball maestros and fans alike have been raising their eyebrows at the Houston Astros’ sluggish start to the 2024 season. Sitting at a dismal 7-19 record, the pressure is mounting, and fingers are being pointed. While many are quick to criticize the overall team performance, veteran broadcaster Ben Verlander, brother of the Astros’ ace Justin Verlander, offers a unique perspective, one that separates the blame game into distinct offensive and pitching narratives.

Junior Verlander acknowledges the offensive side’s contributions. “The offense has been good,” he affirms, highlighting the consistent hitting of superstars like José Altuve, Kyle Tucker, and Yordan Alvarez. But where Verlander sees a bright spot, he also sees a glaring red mark. “It’s this rotation; you can’t win with this rotation,” he declares.

Beyond Justin Verlander: A starting pitching conundrum

Verlander’s frustration stems from a series of lackluster performances by the Stros’ extant starting pitchers other than his brother. Rattling off names like Spencer Arrighetti (10.97 ERA), JP France (7.46 ERA), and Hunter Brown (9.68 ERA), Ben highlights their ineffectiveness on the mound.

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“You just can’t win in Major League Baseball trotting out every fifth day—Spencer Arrighetti, JP France, Hunter Brown, and Ronel Blanco,” Verlander emphasizes. He acknowledges the recent return of Framber Valdez, alongside Justin Verlander, but remains concerned about the long-term outlook with Cristian Javier, Lance McCullers, and José Urquidy—all of whom were sidelined with injuries.

“It’s like, you’re just searching for question marks in this rotation. What are you supposed to do?!” Ben throws a rhetorical curveball. He seems to yearn for a return to the days when the Astronauts boasted a star-studded starting pitching staff.

While the bullpen hasn’t exactly been lights-out either, Junior Verlander insists the starting rotation is the crux of the issue. “It’s an abysmal start to the year; a terrible hole they’ve put themselves in,” as he terms it. But is there any hope?

Astros and their history of turning the clock back on glory

Even with the current struggles, Ben, ever the optimist, remains confident in the team’s ability to turn things around. “Look… it’s April 26,” he says with his eyes gleaming. With 130 games remaining in the season, the analyst highlights the vast amount of time left for the team to course-correct. This sentiment aligns with the never-say-die attitude that has become synonymous with the Astros organization in recent years.

History provides some comfort for Verlander’s hopeful outlook. He, along with many Astros fans, likely remembers the team’s improbable run to the 2022 World Series title. That season, the Astros started slow, sitting at 16-9 in early June. However, they defied expectations, going on a tear in the second half and ultimately claiming the Commissioner’s Trophy. Whether the 2024 team can replicate such a dramatic turnaround remains to be seen, but the memory of that comeback surely fuels Verlander’s belief.

Furthermore, Verlander acknowledges the upcoming return of key starting pitchers. “They get Justin back,” he says, referring to his brother’s return from injury. Justin Verlander has been a stabilizing force for the Astros’ rotation for years, and his healthy presence will undoubtedly provide a much-needed boost. While the timeline for the rest of the pitchers remains uncertain, a healthy rotation with a strong core bodes well for the Stars’ future.

Ben Verlander’s unwavering faith in the team is encapsulated by his concluding statement: “The Astros are inevitable. They’ll be fine.” While this may seem like a blind claim of faith to some, Verlander’s belief likely stems from his deep understanding of the team’s talent and proven track record of success. The Houston Astros may be facing an uphill battle currently, but if they can weather the storm and get healthy, Verlander’s prediction might just come true!