The Houston Astros face a harsh reality heading into 2025. With Kyle Tucker gone and the rotation in shambles, the team’s most pressing flaw isn’t Alex Bregman’s uncertain future—it’s the alarming lack of reliable arms. Focusing on an extension for Bregman before addressing their pitching depth would be a misstep for a franchise teetering on the edge of contention.

Houston’s rotation, once a hallmark of their dominance, now faces uncertainty. Lance McCullers Jr. hasn’t pitched since the 2022 World Series. Luis Garcia has been sidelined since 2023. Christian Javier and J.P. France remain wild cards as they recover from surgeries. That leaves Framber Valdez, Hunter Brown, Ronaldo Blanco, and the newly acquired Hayden Wesneski as the foundation—a shaky one for a team with postseason aspirations. Banking on midseason reinforcements from injury-riddled pitchers is not a sustainable strategy, especially in a division as competitive as the AL West.

Astros’ pitching depth: The immediate priority

In a recent Foul Territory YouTube video Ken Rosenthal talked about Astro’s weak lineup and Bregman’s potential return. He said the Astros rotation is a little bit thin right now. So you wonder with some of the defensive questions that could arise if Bregman returns, how this is all going to play out.

Meanwhile, Bregman represents a different kind of challenge. His leadership and clutch performances have anchored Houston’s success for nearly a decade, but his declining range at third base and inconsistent power raise questions about committing to him long-term. Bregman’s presence in 2025 is undoubtedly valuable, but the Astros risk tethering themselves to a costly contract at a time when they desperately need to prioritize pitching.

He further added the departure of Tucker compounds the issue. Without his bat and glove, Houston’s lineup leans heavily on Yordan Álvarez, José Altuve, and newcomer Christian Walker. While Walker addresses first base, the outfield defense and offensive depth remain exposed. Even if Bregman stays productive, his impact won’t solve the Astros’ most urgent dilemma: preventing runs.

Bringing in a starting pitcher – not another reclamation player or an unproven rookie is crucial, for maintaining stability in the pitching lineup. The Astros can’t count on their batting lineup to consistently rescue them especially with Tucker absent and several uncertainties, in the batting order.

The upcoming prospects of Bregman should definitely be considered. However, it shouldn’t overshadow the pressing requirement, for bolstering the team’s pitching staff. Houston’s foundation of success has been its pitching lineup, if they aim to regain their position as leaders in the league that’s where their primary attention should lie. Until then, any conversation about Bregman is a distraction from the real issue threatening the Astros’ 2025 season.

The risk of banking on midseason reinforcements

The Astros are counting a lot of their chips in the season by relying on midseason reinforcements to bolster their pitching depth. However, this approach comes with its own risks. Although the comeback of Luis Garcia and Lance McCullers Jr is anticipated in 2025 both pitchers have had breaks from the game Garcia has been out since 2023 while McCullers last pitched during the 2022 World Series. Considering how uncertain recoveries can be especially with McCullers dealing with recurring problems, in his elbow, possibly delaying their return. The Astros have already faced setbacks in the past and can’t afford another extended period of uncertainty in the rotation.

Relying on reinforcements in the middle of the season also limits the Astros’ flexibility when the competition is already stiff in the AL West. The Rangers have aggressively strengthened their roster, notably adding key pitchers to complement their dominant offense, while the Mariners’ rotation continues to impress with arms like Luis Castillo and George Kirby. If Garcia and McCullers take longer than expected to regain form or struggle with inconsistency, the Astros could find themselves scrambling.

The division’s improvement—combined with the Astros’ own internal uncertainty—puts them at risk of falling behind before reinforcements can make a difference.