Astros' Dallas Keuchel cleared to begin throwing

Astros lefthander Dallas Keuchel has been cleared to begin throwing and plans to start his normal offseason throwing program just after Christmas, he said on Thursday.

Keuchel, who missed the final five weeks of last season because of inflammation in his pitching shoulder, originally planned to start throwing earlier in December because of his layoff but ultimately decided to stick with the routine that's worked for him in the past.

"I'm sure I'll be a little nervous, a little anxious at first," he said, "but once I get the first couple throws in and the first couple tosses of the first two weeks, I'll be good to go and all will be well."

Keuchel said he's confident the shoulder issue, which he now says he dealt with all of last season, is behind him. He lost a mile per hour off his fastball and regressed by more than two earned runs allowed per nine innings compared to his Cy Young Award-winning campaign of 2015.

"Coming out of spring training it wasn't feeling good, but I'm not one to say anything until I possibly can't throw the baseball anymore," he said. "And until that point (in late August), I could throw. After that, I couldn't. Like I couldn't help the team at all, and I knew there was a problem so (we shut it down).

"But now I know, if something ever pops up, it's better to let somebody know than not say anything at all."

The Astros' hopes of returning to the postseason in 2017 hinge on healthy and successful years by Keuchel and fellow starting pitcher Lance McCullers, workout partners this offseason at Minute Maid Park. General manager Jeff Luhnow revamped the team's offense this offseason by adding Carlos Beltran, Josh Reddick, Brian McCann and Nori Aoki but the rotation remains a question mark.

"(The front office is) definitely showing us that we're going all in, and that's good to see," said Keuchel, who has already been in touch with McCann, his new catcher.

In eight solid innings Sunday, Dallas Keuchel threw 67 of his 95 pitches for strikes and allowed two runs, five hits and one walk in improving to 8-12. In eight solid innings Sunday, Dallas Keuchel threw 67 of his 95 pitches for strikes and allowed two runs, five hits and one walk in improving to 8-12. Photo: Gail Burton, FRE Photo: Gail Burton, FRE Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Astros' Dallas Keuchel cleared to begin throwing 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

"It's no longer the rebuilding or days of getting by with what we have. We're getting guys who have beat us up and we're going to roll with 'em. That's good to see."