Competition for spots in the Houston Astros’ starting rotation has become one of the most unpredictable storylines of spring training.
Instead of the field narrowing as camp progresses, new candidates seem to emerge almost daily. The latest pitcher to push his way into the conversation is right-hander Kai-Wei Teng — a player the Astros clearly believe has untapped potential.
Houston acquired Teng from the San Francisco Giants in January, sending catching prospect Jancel Villarroel in return. Giving up a young player for a relatively unproven arm suggests the Astros see something intriguing in the 27-year-old.
But turning that potential into a permanent role on the major league roster may not be easy.
A Rotation Spot Isn’t Guaranteed
Part of the uncertainty stems from Houston’s current rotation picture.
Manager Joe Espada recently acknowledged that the team is still weighing whether to open the season with a traditional five-man rotation or expand to six starters. That decision alone could shape the opportunities available for pitchers like Teng.
Even if the Astros choose the six-man route, several rotation spots already appear locked in.
Hunter Brown, free-agent addition Tatsuya Imai, Cristian Javier, and Mike Burrows are all expected to hold starting roles. If Houston ultimately sticks with a five-man rotation, Lance McCullers Jr. — and his $17 million salary — would likely be the favorite to claim the final spot.
That leaves Teng competing for an opportunity that may not immediately exist.
A Talented Arm Still Searching for Consistency
So far this spring, Teng has worked exclusively out of the bullpen. Across three appearances, he has thrown 5⅔ innings while posting a 3.18 ERA.
However, the numbers reveal a familiar concern.
Teng has issued four walks — exactly matching his strikeout total during those outings. That lack of command has been a recurring issue throughout his career.
Across limited major league time in 2024 and 2025, Teng appeared in 12 games (including seven starts) and logged 40⅔ innings. During that stretch, his walk rate climbed to 12.9 percent — a number that makes it difficult for any pitcher to sustain success at the highest level.
The Astros know this well.
Teng Still Sees Himself as a Starter
Despite working in relief this spring, Teng still hopes to earn a role in the starting rotation.
Before joining Houston, he spent most of his minor league career as a starter, and that remains his preference.
“For now, I personally like being a starter,” Teng said. “But whatever the team needs me to do, I’ll do my best. My main goal is to help the team win.”
Houston will give him at least one opportunity to prove himself in that role. Teng is scheduled to start the March 13 game against the St. Louis Cardinals, giving the Astros another look at how his stuff plays in a starting workload.
The Astros Are Already Tweaking His Approach
Internally, the organization appears committed to developing Teng’s arsenal.
The Astros have a long track record of refining pitchers’ repertoires, and they’ve already begun adjusting how Teng uses his pitches in an effort to maximize his strengths. The goal is to unlock more consistency from a pitcher whose raw stuff has always been intriguing.
That belief has already surfaced publicly.
Earlier this spring, Astros beat reporter Chandler Rome mentioned Teng as a potential bullpen option for the Opening Day roster. The comment highlighted the organization’s confidence in his talent — while also underscoring how unclear his eventual role might be.
A Complicated Path Forward
Ironically, if Houston ultimately adopts a six-man rotation later in the season, Teng’s best path to contributing may still come from the bullpen.
A multi-inning relief role could allow him to bridge games while helping preserve the bullpen during heavy stretches of the schedule — particularly early in the season when the Astros face a demanding run of 26 games in 28 days.
That kind of flexibility can be valuable, even if it’s not the role Teng prefers.
For now, the situation remains fluid. The Astros clearly like the pitcher they acquired this winter, but they also have a deep group of arms competing for limited opportunities.
If Teng wants to force Houston’s hand, the path forward is straightforward.
The talent is there. The opportunity may come.
But first, he has to solve the one problem that has followed him throughout his career — the walks.
Leave a Reply