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+

54-year old manager Brad Mills seemed to look overmatched early in his rookie year as a major league manager as the Astros were 26-45 (36.6%) in their first 71 games last season. But, then something seemed to click as the Astros finished the year 50-41 (54.9%) in the last 91 games. The Astros were 76-86 (46.9%) overall in Mills’ first year in charge. Mills is really going to be tested in 2011 because the Astros didn’t add much talent over the winter and they are already suffering some injuries in spring training.

31-year old righty Brandon Lyon will be the Astros’ closer in 2011. He pitched in 79 games (0 starts) for the Astros last year and he was 6-6 with 20 saves, a 3.12 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP. Lyon has now pitched in 453 games (21 starts) in his first 9 years in the majors and he is 33-40 with 74 saves, a 4.05 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. I have a feeling that Lyon is going to do a solid, but unspectacular job as the Astros’ closer in 2011.

27-year old righty Wilton Lopez will be the Astros’ set-up man in 2011. Lopez pitched in 68 games (0 starts) for the Astros last year and he was 5-2 with 1 save, a 2.96 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP. He only walked an absolutely stunning 5 batters in 67 innings last season for the Astros! He has now pitched in 76 games (2 starts) in his first two years with the Astros and he is 5-4 with 1 save, a 4.17 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. Don’t be surprised to see Lopez vulture a couple of saves away from Lyon in 2011.

25-year old lefty Fernando Abad comes into the 2011 season as the Astros’ #16 prospect according to Baseball America. Abad pitched in 22 games (0 starts) for the Astros last year and he was 0-1 with a 2.84 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP. He also pitched in 19 games (4 starts) in AA+AAA-ball last year and he was 4-3 with a 2.35 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. Abad could be the lefty the Astros stick with late in games in 2011.

26-year old righty Mark Melancon came over in a deal with the Yankees last year and the Astros like him. He pitched in 20 games (0 starts) for the Astros last year and he was 2-0 with a 3.12 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP. Melancon has now pitched in 35 games (0 starts) in his first two years in the majors and he is 2-1 with a 4.06 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP.

23-year old righty Aneury Rodriguez comes into this season as the Astros’ #11 prospect according to Baseball America. Rodriguez was a Rule 5 Draft Pick off of the Tampa Bay Rays’ roster, so they will have to keep him on the active roster all year long if they want to keep him. He pitched in 29 games (19 starts) in AA+AAA-ball last year and he was 7-5 with a 3.71 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. Rodriguez has now pitched in 141 games (131 starts) in his first six years in the minors and he is 41-43 with a 4.56 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. I look for the Astros to keep Rodriguez active all year long.

31-year old righty Jeff Fulchino will need to pitch better in 2011 if he wants to continue earning a major league paycheck. He pitched in 50 games (0 starts) for the Astros last year and he was 2-1 with a 5.51 ERA and a 1.59 WHIP. Fulchino has now pitched in 111 games (0 starts) in his first two years with the Astros and he is 8-5 with a 4.18 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP.

30-year old lefty Gustavo Chacin is back for 2011. He pitched in 44 games (0 starts) for the Astros last year and he was 2-2 with 1 save, a 4.70 ERA and a 1.85 WHIP. Chacin has now pitched in 102 games (58 starts) in his first five years in the majors and he is 27-17 with 1 save, a 4.23 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP. Chacin needs to limit the baserunners quite a bit more if the Astros are going to use him in 2011.

26-year old righty Samuel Gervacio had issues last season. He pitched in 6 games (0 starts) for the Astros last year and he was 0-1 with a 12.27 ERA and a 2.46 WHIP. Gervacio has now pitched in 35 games (0 starts) in his first two years with the Astros and he is 1-2 with a 3.65 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP. He has the potential to really help the Astros in 2011 if he can remain healthy and focused.

27-year old righty Alberto Arias missed all of the 2009 season due to an injured shoulder. He last pitched in the majors in 2009 with the Astros. Arias has pitched in 45 games (2 starts) in his first two years with the Astros and he is 3-2 with a 3.86 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP. Arias can help the Astros in 2011 if he can stay healthy.

26-year old lefty Wesley Wright is going to have to step up in 2011 if he’s going to be pitching a lot with the Astros in 2011. Wright pitched in 14 games (4 starts) for the Astros last year and he was 1-2 with a 5.73 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP. He has now pitched in 134 games (4 starts) in his first three years with the Astros and he is 8-9 with 1 save, a 5.33 ERA and a 1.55 WHIP. Wright does have a live arm as he has 133 whiffs in his first 133 1/3 innings in his major league career, but he needs to throw more strikes as he walked 72 batters which is way too many.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE ASTROS BULLPEN IN 2011: D

The Astros will likely have a solid starting rotation in 2011. 30-year old righty Brett Myers will likely be the ace of the staff in 2011. Myers started 33 games for the Astros last season and he was 14-8 with a 3.14 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP. He has now pitched in 273 games (216 starts) in his first 9 years in the majors and he is 87-71 with 21 saves, a 4.20 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP. Myers pitched great last season and if the Astros are going to surprise anyone in the N.L. Central, he will have to do it again in 2011.

32-year old lefty Wandy Rodriguez will be #2 in line for the Astros in 2011 and he is solid. Rodriguez started 32 games for the Astros last season and he was 11-12 with a 3.60 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. He has now pitched in 176 games (167 starts) in his first six years with the Astros and he is 62-64 with a 4.18 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. Rodriguez needs to be solid all year around for the Astros in 2011, as he started out very slow last year before finishing strongly.

26-year old righty Bud Norris has a very nice upside. He started 27 games for the Astros last season and he was 9-10 with a 4.92 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP. Norris has now pitched in 38 games (37 starts) in his first two years with the Astros and he is 15-13 with a 4.82 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP. He has whiffed 212 batters in only 209 1/3 innings so far in his major league career which shows what kind of stuff he has, but he has also walked 102 batters. So if Norris can tame the flame, he could have a good year for the Astros in 2011.

28-year old lefty J.A. Happ started 13 games for the Astros last season after coming to them as part of the return for Roy Oswalt and he was 5-4 with a 3.75 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP. He started 16 games overall last season with the Phillies & Astros and he was 6-4 with a 3.40 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. Happ has now pitched in 60 games (44 starts) in his first four years in the majors and he is 19-9 with a 3.27 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. Happ has one big weakness as he likes to nibble too much. He has walked 119 batters in 289 innings so far in the majors, which is way to many. If he can tighten up his control a bit, look out for Happ.

36-year old righty Nelson Figueroa will likely be the #5 starter for the Astros if he just beat out lefty Ryan Rowland-Smith for the gig. Figueroa pitched in 18 games (10 starts) for the Astros last season and he was 5-3 with a 3.22 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. He pitched in 31 games (11 starts) overall last year with the Phillies & Astros and he was 7-4 with 1 save, a 3.29 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP. Figueroa has now pitched in 137 games (60 starts) in his first 8 years in the minors and he is 20-32 with 1 save, a 4.29 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP. He might turn out being a solid #5 starter for the Astros in 2011.

28-year old lefty Ryan Rowland-Smith will duke it out with Figueroa for the #5 spot in the starting rotation. Rowland-Smith pitched in 27 games (20 starts) for the Mariners last season and he was 1-10 with a 6.75 ERA and a 1.69 WHIP. He has now pitched in 115 games (47 starts) in his first four years in the majors and he is 12-17 with 2 saves, a 4.57 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP. Rowland-Smith will likely work as the long man out of the pen in 2011 if he can’t beat out Figueroa.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE ASTROS STARTING ROTATION IN 2011: B

27-year old righty swinging Hunter Pence is one of the most consistent players in the majors leagues. Pence played in 156 games for the Astros last season and he was 173 of 614 (.282 avg, .786 OPS) with 93 runs scored, 25 homers, 91 RBIs and 18 stolen bases. Over his last three seasons, Pence is averaging 82.3 runs scored, 25.0 homers, 82.0 RBIs and 14.3 stolen bases per year, so you know what you’re going to get out of Pence with the bat. Pence had 6 errors in 155 games in RF last season as he showed excellent range there. He also had 9 assists out of RF as he showed off a good throwing arm. Pence is probably the best player on the Astros as he’s good with the bat and the mitt.

Jason Michaels will be Pence’s backup in 2011. Michaels played in 5 error-free games in RF last season for the Astros but he showed pretty awful range.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE ASTROS RF IN 2011: A-