Houston Astros Adjust Rotation, Move Starter to Bullpen ‘For Now’
The Houston Astros are making a temporary change to their pitching staff, with more adjustments likely in the near future.
After a rocky start to the season, the Astros have shown improvement in recent weeks. Following an 8-10 beginning to the campaign, they’ve gone 9-6 in their last 15 games, bringing their record to 17-15 as of May 4.
A key factor in their turnaround has been the pitching staff’s strong performance, which has more than compensated for a relatively sluggish offense. One player who has stood out early in the season is Ryan Gusto, who has filled multiple roles for the team.
Gusto began the year as a reliever, making his first four appearances out of the bullpen. However, when starting pitcher Spencer Arrighetti was injured during pre-game batting practice, the team needed to make a quick adjustment. Manager Joe Espada turned to Gusto to take over in the rotation, and he performed admirably. Over four starts, Gusto gave the Astros a chance to win every time, with the team posting a 3-1 record in his outings. He threw 19.1 innings during that stretch.
Now, with Lance McCullers Jr. set to return to the rotation on Sunday against the Chicago White Sox—his first MLB appearance since the 2022 World Series—Gusto’s role is being adjusted once again. According to Espada, Gusto will move back to the bullpen “for now,” as shared by Chandler Rome of The Athletic on X.
Ryan Gusto will be in the Astros’ bullpen today and remain there “for now,” Joe Espada said. The Astros are planning for a six-man rotation once they start their stretch of 17 games in a row on May 9. Gusto will presumably return to the rotation then.
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) May 4, 2025
However, this shift back to a relief role is expected to be short-lived. Espada mentioned that starting May 9, when the Astros begin a stretch of 17 consecutive games, the team plans to use a six-man rotation. Gusto is expected to return to a starting role for this stretch.
In the meantime, Gusto will likely serve as a bulk innings pitcher, ready to step in behind McCullers as he readjusts to Major League competition. Of Gusto’s eight appearances this season, all but one have been for multiple innings.
Overall, Gusto has posted an impressive 3.00 ERA and a 3.13 FIP over 27 innings, striking out 29 batters. He has excelled with his fastball, which has added +4 runs of value according to Baseball Savant. Despite not having overpowering velocity, Gusto’s ability to generate strikeouts and control walks, combined with his six-pitch arsenal, has made him an effective weapon out of both the bullpen and the rotation.
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