The Houston Astros are set to maintain their five-man rotation for the upcoming series against the Cincinnati Reds, with Hunter Brown taking the mound on Friday. Following him, Lance McCullers Jr. and Ronel Blanco are slated to pitch. The Astros are entering a stretch of 17 consecutive games, their longest without a break this season, prompting a strategy shift to a six-man rotation as they look to manage their pitchers' workload more effectively.

Manager Joe Espada has indicated that rookie Ryan Gusto, currently in the bullpen, is a candidate to rejoin the rotation as a sixth starter. With the Astros enjoying an off-day before this series, the starting pitchers will benefit from an extra day of rest, which could be crucial for maintaining performance throughout this demanding stretch. Using a six-man rotation will require starters to cover more innings, alleviating pressure on a bullpen that has been shorthanded but effective, ranking fourth in MLB with a 2.85 ERA.