If you think Jake Odorizzi is concerned after getting tagged with seven runs in his Astros debut against the Washington Nationals on Wednesday night, think again.
"I could give two craps about results in spring training," Odorizzi said. "As long as I get my work in and get pitch count built up and I get my arm strength built up, that's all I care about."
Pitching in a game for the first time since last September, Odorizzi, who signed a two-year, $20.5 million contract with the Astros on March 8, recorded just three outs and allowed six hits, with four of them leaving the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. The first pitch he delivered turned into a double off the bat of Victor Robles. He retired the next two hitters he faced, the second of which was a strikeout of Juan Soto, but then he surrendered home runs to Josh Bell and Ryan Zimmerman.
Odorizzi allowed four runs in the first inning and then three more in the second when he gave up a second long-ball to Zimmerman which was followed by a Kyle Schwarber homer. The Astros right-hander said he threw mostly fastballs so it wasn't surprising he got knocked around.
"It's a week before the season starts and they're getting ready just like I am, I'm just at a different point of my getting ready as opposed to them.
"Stuff wise, fastball, I felt like it had some pretty good command to it. I didn't really throw too much off speed, which is kind of by design. I didn't care that I was getting whacked around. If I would have thrown 15 to 20 (splitters) today it would have done me no good."
Odorizzi says he hopes to throw 60 pitches when he starts the Astros Grapefruit League against the Nationals on March 29, but he won't make his regular debut until the team's first homestand, which starts April 8.
Jake Odorizzi allowed seven runs over one inning in his spring training debut
