Fansided

Each MLB team’s biggest X-factor

By Joshua Sadlock

TEMPE, AZ - FEBRUARY 24: Shohei Ohtani
TEMPE, AZ - FEBRUARY 24: Shohei Ohtani /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 01: Lance McCullers Jr. #43 of the Houston Astros throws a pitch against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning in game seven of the 2017 World Series at Dodger Stadium on November 1, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Tim Bradbury/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 01: Lance McCullers Jr. #43 of the Houston Astros throws a pitch against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning in game seven of the 2017 World Series at Dodger Stadium on November 1, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Tim Bradbury/Getty Images) /

Houston Astros: Lance McCullers

With the amount of depth the Houston Astros have accumulated all around the diamond and in their starting rotation, it is hard to pin down one specific name who could be an x-factor for their quest to repeat as World Series champions. The Astros are damn good, and still have the best team in baseball despite an aggressive winter by the New York Yankees.

All that being said, the Astros have yet to see the best from their most talented pitching prospect, Lance McCullers. Injuries and innings caps have kept the 24-year-old right-hander from making it through a full season in the big leagues. In the 58 starts he has made over parts of three seasons at the MLB level, McCullers has flashed ace potential. He is 19-16 with a 3.60 ERA and has struck out 10.2 per nine. His curveball has the potential to be one of the nastiest pitches in baseball.

Questions still linger about the best way for the Astros to utilize the talented right-hander. He threw his curveball nearly 50 percent of the time last year, and the violence with which he delivers the pitch does not bode well for his long-term viability as a starter. McCullers has also yet to master a changeup or slider, and opponents hit close to .300 against his sinker and fourseam fastball last year.

If McCullers is truly a two-pitch pitcher, then a move to the bullpen could be in store. Imagine him as a multi-inning reliever? He has not yet flamed out as a starting pitcher, and if he can make make strides as a starter this year, the trio of Justin Verlander, Dallas Keuchel and McCullers would give the Astros a dominant rotation capable of shutting down any lineup in the playoffs.

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