Astros manager Brad Mills has plenty of arms to evaluate this spring, as a collective group of young and veteran candidates find themselves in the mix for a rotation spot on the Opening Day roster.
Veteran Brett Myers, Wandy Rodriguez and Bud Norris enter Spring Training as the top three starting pitchers in Houston's rotation.
Lefty J.A. Happ, Jordan Lyles, Henry Sosa, Lucas Harrell, Kyle Weiland, Paul Clemens, Zach Duke and Livan Hernandez are among the candidates in the mix for back-end starting rotation spots.
Happ could emerge as the No. 4 starter after he justified a rough 2011 campaign with a respectable final month of last season.
The Astros brought in Duke and Hernandez to create tougher competition for the preexisting pool of young Houston starting candidates.
Hernandez created headlines over the offseason by deciding to sign a minor league deal with the Astros and compete for a rotation spot.
According to Mills, the two-time NL All-Star right-hander and veteran workhorse will be given every opportunity to earn a rotation spot.
"We brought Livan Hernandez in to compete for a spot," Mills said. "Livan has a lot of experience. He always competes and gives a team a chance to win. He goes deep into games. That is big."
The 21-year-old Lyles, who entered last season as Houston's top prospect, could secure a rotation spot with a solid Spring Training.
Mills has his eye on Lyles.
"We're hoping that Jordan can have the same spring this year as he did last season," Mills said. "We are building the whole spring around competing and creating opportunities for our guys."
Mills is also impressed with Clemens, Weiland, Sosa, as well as Harrell.
"Paul Clemens is throwing the ball really well," he said. "The kind of things Kyle Weiland is capable of doing and the way he's able to pitch is good. The sides he [Weiland] has thrown so far before camp and yesterday all looked pretty special. If I start mentioning names, it seems like there's somebody else I forget.
"Henry Sosa and Lucas Harrell are in the mix. There is going to be enough guys battling for spots. There are opportunities here."
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