Hayden Wesneski Opens 2025 with Five Gritty Frames
He kept the Astros in it. That’s what you ask from your fifth starter.
Hayden Wesneski came to Houston late in the spring, part of a quiet shuffle as the Astros looked to solidify depth behind the rotation core. He showed enough in camp to get the nod, earning a turn against the Giants to open his 2025.
Six-pitch mix. Elite movement. If the command clicks, look out.
Wesneski made his debut Monday and worked five innings of three-run ball. Not dominant, but effective. He scattered six hits, walked three, and struck out six on 86 pitches. The final line: 5 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, 3 BB, 6 K. No barrels allowed. Enough whiffs to make it interesting. A foundation to build from.
Notably, he issued back-to-back walks to start the third inning, and Willy Adames followed with a two-run double to drive them in.
Wesneski was a question mark coming in and probably will be for a while. But for a pitcher tasked with holding down the back end of the rotation, there’s enough here to dream on. He has the arsenal of a swingman, or maybe more if the execution levels up.
Working With a Deep Arsenal
Wesneski used six pitches, each giving hitters something different to think about. The four-seamer sat at 92.6 mph and played up with a little ride. The cutter had over 17 inches of sweep and helped keep righties honest. He mixed in a sweeper, curveball, sinker, and changeup enough shapes to stay unpredictable.
The sweeper was his most distinct pitch. He threw it just under 14 percent of the time with over 14 inches of horizontal break, giving hitters a completely different look from his other offerings. It didn’t miss many bats in this one, but it stood out for its movement and ability to mess with timing and depth perception. If it becomes more consistent in the zone, it’s a pitch that could anchor his mix.
Execution Came and Went
There’s a quiet theme building in Houston — the changeup. More arms are leaning on it, whether it's a real weapon or just something to show. It didn’t stand out for Wesneski, but it was part of the plan. That tracks with the Astros’ recent approach: show everything, hide nothing, and make hitters adjust.
The arsenal is there, but the command still wobbles. He walked three and worked into a few long counts. The changeup and sinker weren’t reliable, and when they landed, they got hit. He leaned on the fastball and cutter more as the outing went on.
Still, he never let the outing spiral. The Giants never squared him up. And for five innings, he kept Houston in range.
What Played
The four seamer was his foundation. He threw it more than half the time, averaging 92.6 mph with some ride and no barrels allowed. The cutter had the best results, with 33.3% whiffs and late break that helped him get back into counts. The sweeper moved plenty, over 14 inches of break, and while it didn’t miss many bats, it helped mix speeds and angles.
What Missed
The changeup didn’t fool anyone. It missed the zone or caught too much of it. The sinker had some fade but didn’t help him much in tight spots. He threw one curveball, more for show than anything else.
Wesneski gave Houston a shot. And in the back half of a rotation, that’s what matters. Back to the offense. That’s just 13 runs over their last eight home games going back to last season. The rotation has kept them in games, and early in the year, that’s the last place you want to have questions. The offense looks lifeless. Four games in, and they’re still waiting for a spark. The rotation has done more than enough to keep things competitive. Wesneski just gave them another reminder of that — and a reason to keep running him out there.