Scouting Report: Michael Burrows

Summary

Mike Burrows, acquired by the Houston Astros in the offseason, has had an inconsistent start to his first season with the team. Through his first nine starts, he posted a 5.72 ERA with only two quality starts, though underlying metrics suggest he's been somewhat unlucky. His fastball and slider have been hit hard by opposing batters (.325 and .318 averages respectively), with elevated exit velocities. However, Burrows has shown flashes of brilliance, including a seven-inning shutout against Cincinnati with three hits allowed. He's recorded back-to-back quality starts and lowered his ERA to 5.04 through 44.2 innings. The Astros' rotation has been decimated by injuries (Hunter Brown, Cristian Javier), making Burrows' role critical despite his struggles.