Houston Astros’ Bullpen Problems, What’s New?

The Houston Astros Need a Shutdown Closer…Not This Again!

The question around Spring Training this season was who is going to close games for the Houston Astros come regular season play? The answer going into Opening Day was right-handed reliever Luke Gregerson, who saved 31 games for the Astros a year ago with a 3.10 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP.

His first outings in 2016 were solid saving his first seven games in seven save opportunities and only giving up five earned runs and striking out 11 in his 13.2 innings pitched.

However, since May 7th, Gregerson has blown 3 of his last four save opportunities and has given up three earned runs on six hits in his last four innings pitched.

So with an ERA of 6.23 in May so far for Gregerson, should the Astros be ready for a change in the back end of the bullpen? If so, here are three options that could be good options to close games until Gregerson is successful again out of the bullpen.

Next: Option 1

Option 1: Ken Giles– Most Likely

Besides headlining the biggest offseason deal the Astros made, Giles was expected to be the closer going into the 2016 season.

With the numbers he put up as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies, nobody expected anything otherwise. In his two years, he had an ERA of 1.56 while striking out 11.7 batters per nine innings with a fastball that consistently hit 100 miles per hour.

More from Climbing Tal's Hill

• Just how much better is the Houston Astros playoff rotation than the rest?
• Houston Astros: A Lineup Change to Spark Offense
• Astros prospect Hunter Brown throws 6 shutout innings in debut
• Always faithful Astros World Series champion Josh Reddick defends the title
• Michael Conforto declines Astros’ 2-year, $30 million offer

After the trade to Houston, Giles had huge expectations to replicate the same numbers at the back end of the Astros bullpen. That’s not exactly what has happened so far in 2016. In 19 games, Giles has a 0-2 record with an ERA of 6.89 with a WHIP of 1.60. His strikeout percentage has decreased to 28% this season and his BABIP against is at a career high .341.

Those numbers are not long-term, lights-out closer numbers by any means. However, Giles has got better as the season has continued. In the month of May, he has pitched 5.2 innings, giving up two earned runs on three hits while striking out 7. He also has had five straight appearances where opposing batters haven’t scored on him. Also, although Giles’ strikeout percentage is down from his previous seasons, his strikeouts per 9 innings is up to 12.1, second only to his rookie year in Philadelphia. He also has recorded seven holds this season, proving to the Astros that he can pitch is high-pressure situations.

Yes, Giles has given up more home runs this year than he had in his entire career. Yes, Giles, on average gives up 10.9 hits per nine innings. But, he has proved to the Astros in this impressive month of May that he could thrive in the ninth inning. If Giles were to take the closer job and run with it, Gregerson should be very worried about not getting the role back.

Next: Option 2

Option 2: Will Harris– Somewhat Likely

Another example of the redemptive work of pitching coach Brent Strom, Harris, in his two years as a member of the Houston Astros, has quietly become one of the most reliable set-up men in the American League.

Since being claimed from waivers from the Arizona Diamondbacks in November 2014, Harris has a record of 5-6 with a 1.61 ERA and a 0.859 WHIP.

More from Climbing Tal's Hill

• Just how much better is the Houston Astros playoff rotation than the rest?
• Houston Astros: A Lineup Change to Spark Offense
• Astros prospect Hunter Brown throws 6 shutout innings in debut
• Always faithful Astros World Series champion Josh Reddick defends the title
• Michael Conforto declines Astros’ 2-year, $30 million offer

Armed with a cutter and a changeup that Harris throws a combine 94.7% of the time, he has been stellar so far in 2016. In his 18 games, Harris has an ERA and WHIP of 0.48 and 0.70 respectively. He has a batting average against of .159 and leaves runners on base 92.3% of the time.

He is doing all of this with a cutter in the low 90’s and a changeup in the low 80’s. That velocity really doesn’t make him a strikeout type of pitcher, averaging only 8.68 per 9 innings. He is getting the majority of his outs via the ground ball at a whopping 72%.

Why would he be a good fit for the closer role? He is used to those high-pressure situations. So far this season, Harris has already racked up ten holds as the primary set-up man for A.J. Hinch’s bullpen. Also, he does have save experience, recording 2 in 6 chances a year ago.

Like his starting pitcher counterpart Collin McHugh, Harris revived his career as a member of the Astros. Even though it may not be as permanent of a spot if Harris does well like it would be if it were Giles, Harris has earned the opportunity to close games.

Next: Option 3