Hinch ‘had to pick an order,’ says he isn’t ranking pitchers
shouted from a sofa.
After lauding Verlander as a candidate for the Hall of Fame, Keuchel, a 30-year-old southpaw entering his seventh and final season under contract with the Astros, expressed some disappointment he did not receive the honor.
“He’s got a chance to have an HOF in front of his name,” Keuchel said. “I wasn’t happy by any means, but I’ll gladly let him go Game 1.”
When asked what factors gave Verlander the edge over Keuchel, Hinch said: “I had to pick an order.
“It’s not ranking guys,” the manager added.
Verlander appreciates the meaning of starting opening day, but he does identify as the Astros’ No. 1 starter.
“After game one,” Verlander said, “you’re part of the rotation.”
Dominant run
Semantics aside, Verlander separated himself from Keuchel on the field from the moment he put on an Astros uniform in September through his start in Game 6 of the World Series, a stretch that rivals some of the best in history for a pitcher.
Verlander dominated for 11 regular-season and postseason Astros games (including one relief appearance in the ALDS clincher over the Red Sox), going 9-1 with a 1.66 ERA, 0.74 WHIP and 81 strikeouts in 702⁄3 innings.
Keuchel, the 2015 AL Cy Young Award winner whose emergence as an ace coincided with the franchise’s turnaround from perennial loser to reigning champions, had started the previous three consecutive opening days for the Astros, as well as Game 1 of the World Series.
He had mixed success last year. He was 9-0 with a 1.67 ERA in the first half before a pinched nerve cost him separate stints on the disabled list that lasted two months. His October started off well, but then he went winless and amassed a 6.00 ERA in in his final three postseason starts. In the offseason, it was revealed he also pitched with a broken foot.
The Astros are ramping up Keuchel more slowly than other starters, but he reiterated that his previous injuries are not affecting his spring. He also spent the offseason preparing his body for the year that leads into his free agency.
Keuchel said he added muscle to his frame and altered his mechanics to place more of the workload on his strengthened scapula.
Making his spring debut in Monday’s 5-3 Astros win over the Marlins, Keuchel showed promising velocity but rusty command of his essential two-seam fastball in 12⁄3 innings. He allowed two earned runs on four hits and a walk, striking out three.
Encouraging first start
He checked out the ballpark radar gun readings after several pitches and was pleasantly surprised to see “90 mph” appear.
“It was above what I’m usually at the first start,” he said. “That’s encouraging.
“This is honestly the best I’ve felt in a very long time, just out the gate,” he added. “The command wasn’t very good, but we’ve got plenty of time to get that back on track and make sure everything’s crisp, ready to go here at the end of camp.”
On recent opening days, Keuchel has been too busy to take in ceremonious traditions. He seemed like he still was getting used to the idea that he will have to wait until Game 2 to pitch.
“I get to see all the opening-day festivities,” he said, “and watch JV throw a gem.”