As the offseason kicked off, the Houston Astros faced a pressing question: Who would step up as the No. 2 starter behind Hunter Brown in their rotation? With Brown securing a third-place finish in Cy Young voting, the spotlight turned to the rest of the rotation, which was riddled with uncertainty. Injuries and inconsistent performances have plagued Cristian Javier and Lance McCullers Jr., while younger arms like Spencer Arrighetti and AJ Blubaugh have yet to find their footing.

The Astros attempted to bolster their pitching staff, but even with new additions, clarity remained elusive as spring training began. Tatsuya Imai’s arrival from Japan was notable, yet he signed for less than anticipated, adding to the uncertainty. The sheer number of candidates for the back-end rotation highlighted the shaky situation.

Conversely, the veteran-heavy lineup seemed stable, needing only minor adjustments, such as swapping an infielder for a left-handed-hitting outfielder. With Yordan Alvarez back, the Astros appeared to be in decent shape, provided they stayed healthy.

However, reality has diverged sharply from expectations. The Astros’ offense has struggled mightily, ranking last in OPS with a .610 mark over 22 games and 677 at-bats. While spring stats can be misleading, the prolonged struggles are concerning.

Jose Altuve’s performance is particularly worrisome, hitting just .107/.167/.214 in 10 games. As he approaches 36, questions about his decline are inevitable, especially given his recent downward trend. Christian Walker hasn’t inspired confidence either, batting .115/.207/.269 over the same span.

Young prospects like Zach Cole, who was hoped to be the lefty bat the outfield needed, have underperformed with a .172/.306/.276 line. Although players like Carlos Correa and Yordan Alvarez have shown promise, the overall offensive struggles are troubling.

Last season, the Astros’ offense was middle-of-the-pack, ranking 15th in OPS with a .714 mark, partly due to injuries and Alvarez’s absence. Even with Alvarez back in form, consistent contributions from other key players are crucial to avoid offensive woes.

On a brighter note, Houston’s pitching has been impressive, boasting a 3.22 ERA this spring, the second-best in the league. Imai has been stellar, not allowing an earned run in six innings. Even long shots like Peter Lambert and Christian Roa have performed well.

While this is a positive development, relying on strong pitching alone won’t suffice if the offense falters. A balanced approach is essential for success beyond a .500 finish.

It’s important not to jump to conclusions. Spring training can be unpredictable, and there’s potential for the offense to improve. However, the struggles of key players are not new, and if these issues persist, the Astros could face significant challenges this season.