The Houston Astros are going to have a lot of pitchers competing for the #4 and #5 spots in the starting rotation for 2012 this spring, and that is a good thing. Here is a look at how the Astros’ starting rotation looks right now:

#1: Brett Myers: 31-year old righty Brett Myers took a step back for the Astros after his excellent year in 2010. Myers pitched in 34 games (33 starts) for the Astros last year and he was 7-14 with a 4.46 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP. He has now pitched in 67 games (66 starts) in his first two years with the Astros and he is 21-22 with a 3.79 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. Myers has now pitched in 307 games (249 starts) in his first 10 years in the majors and he is 94-85 with 21 saves, a 4.24 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP. I look for him to rebound in 2012 as he is a much better pitcher than the one that showed up in 2011.

#2: Wandy Rodriguez: 33-year old lefty Wandy Rodriguez is also a solid pitcher for the Astros. He gives the Astros a chance to win every time he takes the hill. Rodriguez pitched in 30 games (all starts) for the Astros last year and he was 11-11 with a 3.49 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP. He has now pitched in 206 games (197 starts) in his first 7 years with the Astros and he is 73-75 with a 4.07 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. Look for Rodriguez to keep pitching well for the Astros in 2012.

#3: Bud Norris: 26-year old righty Bud Norris stepped up in 2011. He pitched in 31 games (all starts) for the Astros last year and he was 6-11 with a 3.77 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. Norris has now pitched in 69 games (68 starts) in his first three years with the Astros and he is 21-24 with a 4.33 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. The Astros think that Norris has the stuff to be a #1 or #2 starter in the very near future, as he has outstanding stuff.

#4 and #5: J.A. Happ: 29-year old lefty J.A. Happ is going to have to earn a spot in the starting rotation in 2012 this spring. Happ pitched in 28 games (all starts) for the Astros last year and he was 6-15 with a 5.35 ERA and a 1.54 WHIP. He has now pitched in 41 games (all starts) in his first two years with the Astros and he is 11-19 with a 4.85 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP. Happ has now pitched in 88 games (72 starts) in his first five years in the majors and he is 25-24 with a 4.00 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. Happ might get his act back together will his job on the line this spring.

Livan Hernandez: 36-year old righty Livan Hernandez recently signed a minor league deal and he will be in the fray this spring for a rotation spot. He pitched in 29 games (all starts) for the Nationals last year and he was 8-13 with a 4.47 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP. Hernandez has now pitched in 475 games (474 starts) in his first 16 years in the majors and he is 174-176 with a 4.39 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP. Hernandez is a workhorse type who eats a lot of innings, so it’s going to be hard to count him out of this competition.

Zach Duke: 28-year old lefty Zach Duke will also have a decent shot of winning a rotation spot this spring for the Astros. Duke has pitched in 21 games (9 starts) for the D-Backs last year and he was 3-4 with 1 save, a 4.93 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP. Duke has now pitched in 181 games (168 starts) in his first 7 years in the majors and he is 48-74 with 1 save, a 4.56 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP. Duke could also win a job in the pen if he loses out in the competition for the starting rotation.

Jordan Lyles: 21-year old righty Jordan Lyles is one of the Astros’ better prospects. He got his first taste of the majors in 2011 with the Astros and he worked in 20 games (15 starts) in which he was 2-8 with a 5.36 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP. Lyles also pitched in 12 games (10 starts) in AAA-ball last year and he was 3-3 with a 3.55 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. If Lyles is ready, the Astros will have a hard time not giving him a spot in the rotation out of spring training.

Kyle Weiland: 25-year old righty Kyle Weiland came to the Astros in a deal with the Red Sox over the winter. He was roughed up in his first taste of the majors last year. He pitched in 7 games (5 starts) for the Red Sox last year and he was 0-3 with a 7.66 ERA and a 1.66 WHIP. He also pitched in 24 games (all starts) in AAA-ball last year and he was 8-10 with a 3.58 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP. It will be interesting to see if Weiland was just nervous in his first taste of the majors, because he does have good stuff.

Henry Sosa: 26-year old righty Henry Sosa had some ups and downs in his first taste of the majors with the Astros last year. He pitched in 10 games (all starts) for the Astros last year and he was 3-5 with a 5.23 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP. Sosa also pitched in 29 games (10 starts) in AA+AAA-ball last year and he was 10-3 with a 4.53 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP. Sosa will be a longshot to win a job in the Astros’ rotation when the 2012 season starts.

Lucas Harrell: 26-year old righty Lucas Harrell looked good in a late season audition for the Astros in 2011. Harrell pitched in 6 games (2 starts) for the Astros last year and he was 0-2 with a 3.46 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP. He pitched in 9 games (2 starts) overall last year for the White Sox & Astros and he was 0-2 with a 4.50 ERA and a 1.72 WHIP. Harrell has now pitched in 17 games (5 starts) in his first two years in the majors and he is 1-2 with a 4.71 ERA and a 1.95 WHIP.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE STARTING ROTATION IN 2012: C+

The Astros have signed 33-year old righty swinging 1B/3B Mike Hessman to a minor league deal. Hessman played in 48 games in Japan last year and he was 25 for 130 (.192 avg, .637 OPS) with 9 runs scored, 6 homers and 14 RBIs. He last played in the majors back in 2010 with the New York Mets. Hessman has played in 109 games in his first five years in the majors and he is 42 for 223 (.188 avg, .694 OPS) with 29 runs scored, 14 homers and 33 RBIs. He has also whiffed 79 times already in his major league career as he has some pretty big holes in his swing. That being said, Hessman will get a shot to compete for a bench job this spring.

The Astros have signed 36-year old righty starting pitcher Livan Hernandez to a minor league deal. He pitched in 29 games (all starts) for the Nationals last year and he was 8-13 with a 4.47 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP. Hernandez has now pitched in 476 games (474 starts) in his first 16 years in the majors and he is 174-176 with a 4.39 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP. Hernandez will enter the battle to be the Astros’ #5 starter in 2012 this spring.

The Astros have signed 28-year old lefty starter/reliever Zach Duke to a minor league deal. Duke pitched in 21 games (9 starts) for the Diamondbacks last year and he was 3-4 with 1 save, a 4.93 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP. He has now pitched in 181 games (168 starts) in his first 7 years in the majors and he is 48-74 with 1 save, a 4.56 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP. Duke will likely have a good chance of making the Astros’ pitching staff this spring, but he role would be up in the air as he can start or relieve.

The Astros have designated 28-year old righty swinging shortstop Angel Sanchez for assignment. Sanchez played in 110 games for the Astros last year and he was 69 for 288 (.240 avg, .590 OPS) with 35 runs scored, 1 homer, 28 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. He played in 175 games in his two years with the Astros and he was 139 for 538 (.258 avg, .624 OPS) with 65 runs scored, 1 homer, 53 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. The Astros need to try to trade Sanchez because there is no way that he will accept an outright assignment to AAA.

UPDATE: (2/1/2012) - Angel Sanchez has cleared waivers and he has accepted a minor league assignment from the Astros, so he will be in spring training with the team.