Mike Burrows was looking good again on Friday against the Washington Nationals. His latest outing gave the Astros another reason to take notice. He pitched effectively in Houston’s 7‑1 win, demonstrating the kind of command and sharp pitching that could earn him a spot in the starting rotation. His consistent performances this spring are making him a strong candidate for the rotation.
Taking a look at his stats from yesterday's game, per cbssports:
Mike Burrows (W, 1‑0) pitched 3.2 innings, allowing 1 hit, 0 runs, issuing 2 walks, and striking out 4 batters in Houston’s 7‑1 win vs. the Nationals. His ERA for the outing was 0.00 and his WHIP was 0.81.
Burrows was a part of a three-team trade with the Pirates and Rays, and so far, he has proved to be a solid addition. He had a strong outing against the Nationals on Friday, March 6, and before that against the Cardinals when he made his spring training debut.
Last week against the Cardinals, Burrows threw two scoreless innings, allowing one hit, one walk, and striking out two. In that outing, he worked the strike zone effectively and kept hitters off balance. It was an encouraging performance, giving everyone a look at what he can bring to the mound.
Now, with another solid performance under his belt, Burrows is definitely heating up, and that rotation spot could be his if he keeps it up. His early spring work is exactly what Houston needs to solidify depth in the rotation and give manager Dusty Baker options heading into Opening Day.