Astros reveal rotation plans with Tatsuya Imai, Hunter Brown

The Houston Astros could enter the season with a six-man rotation, per The Athletic's Chandler Rome and Andrew Baggarly. 

"The Astros plan to open the season with a six-man rotation, magnifying the need for relievers who can pitch multiple innings," reported Rome and Baggarly. 

Pitchers in Nippon Professional Baseball typically throw after five days of rest, so the Astros ' use of six starters is something that could help Tatsuya Imai acclimate to Major League Baseball. 

One downside of the move is that Hunter Brown, last year's third-place finisher in AL Cy Young voting, would make fewer starts to open the year. Framber Valdez is still a free agent, but a return to Houston remains unlikely. 

Long relief options 

Nate Pearson, Enyel De Los Santos, and trade acquisition Kai-Wei Teng are three options to throw long relief innings for the Astros. 

"Teng will be stretched out as a starter in spring training, but his most straightforward path to making the major league team may be as a long reliever," wrote Rome and Baggarly. 

Teng had a 7.30 ERA in 12 appearances during the last two seasons with the San Francisco Giants. The Astros designated J.P. France for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster for the Taiwanese right-hander. 

More MLB news:

• Team USA's projected WBC lineup is incredible
• Dominican Republic's projected WBC lineup is fierce
• How Trent Grisham's decision ruined the Yankees' offseason plans
• Buster Posey will change Hall of Fame voting forever
• Bo Bichette comments exhibit clear hyprocrisy
• Andrew McCutchen is not happy with the Pirates