The Houston Astros are heading into the 2026 MLB playoffs with a team ERA of 4.45, straight up brutal! That abysmal number landed them a dismal 24th overall across the league this season. You read that right: a Wild Card team is bringing a bottom-tier pitching staff into October, and it’s making everyone wonder how they plan to survive. Four Game 1s kick off the Wild Card Series on Tuesday, and the pitching matchups are going to be everything.
Houston’s Pitching Staff Is Straight Up Rough
Honestly, the Astros’ pitching leaves a lot to be desired. Hunter Brown is a frontline guy, sure, and Peter Lambert has settled in as a decent starter. But after Brown, the playoff rotation is Lambert and Hayden Wesneski. That’s it. Josh Hader is back among the best closers in baseball, and their bullpen is actually pretty solid, but when your starting three after your ace are those guys? And your team ERA is 24th in MLB? Come on, that’s a tough look for any team hoping to make a deep run. This whole bunch just isn’t cutting it overall.
Wild Card Woes: Scary Rotations and Meltdowns
Houston isn’t the only team facing some serious questions on the mound. The Chicago White Sox rotation is straight-up scary, and it could totally cost them a series. Sean Burke might do well, and Anthony Kay *could* have a gem or two in him. Davis Martin has been good sometimes, but then there’s Erick Fedde. Even with rose-colored glasses, that rotation is just bad for the playoffs. Good thing their bullpen is very good, thanks to Grant Taylor and Hagen Smith emerging as reliable late arms, plus Bryan Hudson, Jordan Hicks, and Sean Newcomb for support.
Then you got the Chicago Cubs. Their staff has been subpar most of the season, and their bullpen? Major meltdown issues with basically everyone they’ve tried in the late innings. Can they find some magic formula with David Peterson, Clay Holmes, Matthew Boyd, and Kevin Gausman in the rotation, and starters beefing up the bullpen in front of Daniel Palencia, Ryan Zeferjahn, and Ryan Rolison? It sounds complicated, and frankly, not that promising.
And don’t even get me started on the Cleveland Guardians. They ranked eighth in team ERA, which isn’t terrible, but it’s not the stellar group they’ve had before. Parker Messick looks like a possible playoff ace, and Gavin Williams is a strikeout beast. Big problem: Messick has zero playoff experience, and Williams is super inconsistent. Tanner Bibee is the third starter, and Foster Griffin has been terrible since they acquired him. Cade Smith, their All-Star closer, is a stud, but the bridge to the ninth inning just isn’t as sturdy as it used to be for them.
The Phillies Look Good On Paper, But What’s the Catch?
Alright, for some good news, at least on paper: the Philadelphia Phillies have what looks like the best rotation in the playoffs. If you get the best versions of Christopher Sánchez, Jesús Luzardo, Zack Wheeler, and Aaron Nola, that’s a seriously stellar bunch. The source article cuts off right there, but you gotta wonder what the “context behind the situation” is that they were about to drop. Is it injury? Inconsistency? We’re left hanging, but on the surface, those four could be nasty.
The MLB playoffs are kicking off Tuesday, with teams battling for those division round byes. With pitching staffs like these, it’s going to be a wild ride. Some teams are clearly in a better spot than others, but one thing is for sure: pitching matters more than anything in October. Who’s gonna step up and who’s gonna fall apart? We’ll find out starting Tuesday!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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