(Ortiz notes) the Astros will go with a four-man rotation for the first turn in the rotation. The fifth starter won’t be needed until April 15.
Footer speculates that would mean the 5th starter, probably Russ Ortiz, would make one start in the Minor Leagues.
But maybe not,
Wandy Rodriguez will be pushed back to Tuesday because of a bruised left index finger, ..
“It just hurts a lot and feels like it’s going to bleed when I throw my curveball. I even tried to [poke] it with a needle (Saturday night) to get the blood out of there, but the blood is still on the tip.”
“I tried to throw my curveball in the bullpen without putting the pressure on the finger, but I didn’t even reach it to the plate,” he said. “It bounced way before it got there.”
Speculation is that Wandy wont have enough starts left to be ready for the season, so he might need a start in the minors also, which makes Mike Hampton on schedule as number 2 in the rotation.
And Footer says
The way things are going, I wouldn’t be at all shocked if Wandy was not ready to start the season, which would allow for both Ortiz and Jose Capellan to make this team.
Moehler seems OK,
Struck by a line drive in his last appearance, the official diagnosis is a contusion — a bruise — of the right shoulder, but Moehler said he would be surprised if he didn’t make his next start. Moehler’s only regret was that he threw only 27 pitches, falling for short of the 85-pitch mark he planned to reach in this outing.
“That was my concern,” Moehler said. “I told [pitching coach] Dewey [Robinson], I didn’t get a lot of pitches in today, but he said I’ve got two more starts.”
Which is good because Backe isn’t an option
Brandon Backe will start the season on the disabled list, general manager Ed Wade confirmed late Sunday morning.
It’s no surprise that Backe will not be ready for the regular season, but the club had two options regarding the right-hander: place him on the disabled list, or, if he had healed from his injury and resumed pitching by April 1, release him and only be responsible for a portion of his $1.55 million contract.
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