Despite actually finishing the year with more runs allowed than runs scored, the Astros compiled a winning record in 2008, even making a late-season playoff push with their 36-18 record over the final two months.

But just like their run differential, their lineup card doesn't in any way suggest their strong finish will continue in 2009.

It's not that they don't have any talent. Lance Berkman and Carlos Lee give them two of the game's most consistent sluggers and project as second- or third-round picks in Fantasy. But the Astros' lack of high-end talent beyond those two and absence of depth up and down the organization give them a razor-thin margin for error and slim hopes of making the playoffs.

Their shortcomings are most apparent in their starting rotation, where they'll have to rely on veteran also-rans to start 60 percent of their games. Yes, Roy Oswalt gives them a legitimate ace and Wandy Rodriguez made significant strides last year, but the back half of the Astros rotation reads like an ode to the 2004 NLDS, with Mike Hampton guaranteed one spot and Brandon Backe and Russ Ortiz competing for another. Those three haven't made an impact since the Curse of the Bambino ended, and their competitors, Brian Moehler and Jose Capellan, hardly qualify as Fantasy sleepers either.

You will find a little more talent in the starting lineup -- after Berkman and Lee, of course -- but not enough to suggest this team can slug its way to the top. Hunter Pence gives the Astros a decent middle-of-the-order bat and some hope for the future, but his poor walk rate suggests he'll need another year or two before he starts playing at an All-Star level. Former AL MVP Miguel Tejada has experienced such a decline in power that he now rates closer to Edgar Renteria than Hanley Ramirez. Kazuo Matsui can steal bases ... if he can stay healthy. Michael Bourn can steal bases ... if he can reach base. Ivan Rodriguez was a desperation signing at catcher, and at third base, the Astros have to resort to a career part-timer in Geoff Blum.

But the Astros' real problem -- the gaping flaw that will undoubtedly rear its ugly head some time during the 162-game grind -- is their lack of depth, the fact that if anything went wrong, they wouldn't have anyone on their bench or anyone in their minor-league system who could help them during that time of need. Outfielder Brian Bogusevic, who was converted from pitcher just last season, rates as perhaps their best hitting prospect in Double-A or higher. He can only do so much so soon.

For all their shortcomings, the Astros don't rate as a bottom-of-the-division club, but they don't rate as a contender either and will likely have to battle just to finish at .500. But at least they do have one factor working in their favor in close games: closer Jose Valverde, a strikeout pitcher who has led the National League in saves each of the last two seasons. He has a tendency to go cold for a week or two at a time, making him surprisingly affordable on Draft Day, but when at his best, he can shut down anybody.

Potential Breakout: Wandy Rodriguez, SP

After flirting with respectability year after year in the Astros starting rotation, Rodriguez finally took that next step forward in 2008, striking out 8.6 batters per nine innings with a 3.54 ERA. But his impressive performance didn't register on most of the statistical spreadsheets since he missed about a month with a groin injury. Yes, for once in Fantasy, an injury might work in your favor by leaving a breakout pitcher in relative obscurity. Rodriguez remains a bit hittable for a strikeout pitcher, but as long as he limits his walks, he has the potential to produce at or even beyond the level of Ted Lilly. His skill set makes him the perfect type of pitcher to target late if you hope to piece together a staff of relative no-names.

Potential Bust: Michael Bourn, OF

Tough category for this team. The two Astros most likely due for letdowns -- Miguel Tejada and Hunter Pence -- already had theirs last year, making them reasonable selections where they currently project to go in the draft. Roy Oswalt's stats had begun to trend in the wrong direction before he caught fire in the second half of 2008, erasing any doubts about him. Really, no Astro looks like a serious threat to disappoint. Of the ones you'd consider drafting, though, the one you'll most likely cut is Bourn, who just doesn't hit well enough to keep his job. The Astros already tried this experiment last year, putting him in the starting lineup to take advantage of his speed. It failed. They can't tolerate another year of him hitting .230 no matter how fast he can run, and they'll turn the job over to Darin Erstad, Reggie Abercrombie or maybe even Bogusevic if Bourn doesn't hit any better in April. Then again, his steals potential if he does start hitting makes him well worth a late-round pick.

Potential Sleeper: Kazuo Matsui, 2B

Long shunned in Fantasy as an overseas bust after coming over from Japan in 2004, Matsui has actually put together halfway respectable numbers each of the last two seasons. You just wouldn't know it because he can't stay on the field. He hit .293 with 20 stolen bases in only 375 at-bats last season and now has 52 stolen bases over his last two seasons. True, he has never played more than 114 games in a season -- a mark he reached as a rookie -- but on a per-game basis, he contributes numbers good enough to start in any mixed league. He has to stay healthy one of these years, and if it happens this year, you'll have a player who substantially outperforms his draft position at one of the hardest positions to fill.

Houston Astros Outlook
Projected lineup
Pos.
Projected Rotation
1 Kazuo Matsui 2B 1 Roy Oswalt RH
2 Michael Bourn CF 2 Wandy Rodriguez LH
3 Lance Berkman 1B 3 Mike Hampton LH
4 Carlos Lee LF 4 Brian Moehler RH
5 Miguel Tejada SS 5 Brandon Backe RH
6 Hunter Pence RF Alt Jose Capellan RH
7 Ivan Rodriguez C Top bullpen arms
8 Geoff Blum 3B CL Jose Valverde RH
Top bench options SU Geoff Geary RH
R J.R. Towles C RP LaTroy Hawkins RH
R Reggie Abercrombie OF RP Doug Brocail RH
R Darin Erstad OF RP Wesley Wright LH
Rookies/Prospects Age Pos. 2008 high Destination
1 Felipe Paulino 25 RH SP Triple-A Triple-A
Can hit triple digits, but shoulder injury might move him to 'pen.
2 Chris Johnson 24 3B Triple-A Triple-A
Power hitter. Could take over at third base for utility man Blum.
3 Drew Sutton 25 2B Double-A Triple-A
High OBP guy with pop for middle infielder. Could arrive midseason.
4 Brian Bogusevic 25 OF Double-A Double-A
Gave up on pitching and better off for it. Could unseat Bourn in time.
5 Bud Norris 24 RH SP Double-A Triple-A
Long shot for rotation spot this spring. Likely the on-call Triple-A guy.
Best of the rest: OF Eli Iorg, SP Jordan Lyles, C Jason Castro, OF Collin Delome, SP Tyler Lumsden, SP Brad James, RP Josh Muecke, OF Yordany Ramirez, OF Jay Austin, SP Ross Seaton, RP Samuel Gervacio, RP Paul Estrada, RP Alberto Arias, SS Tommy Manzella, 2B Edwin Maysonet, 3B Mark Saccomanno and C Lou Santangelo.

You can e-mail us your Fantasy Baseball questions to DMFantasyBaseball@cbs.com. Be sure to put Team outlooks in the subject field. Please include your full name, hometown and state.