Astros playoff bullpen looks unclear as postseason nears

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As the playoffs near, the Astros bullpen looks to be a source of concern.

As good as the Astros offense is, and as good as the Big Three in the starting rotation is, there’s still concern among many fans heading into October. The team’s bullpen has been besieged by injuries and inconsistencies, which could be a recipe for disaster come playoff time.

Making matters worse is Wade Miley‘s recent struggles. If he’s not able to get things turned around, the Astros won’t be able to use him in the playoff rotation. That could force them to use someone such as Brad Peacock who might otherwise be available out of the bullpen.

Even if Miley gets things figured out, the Astros still seem one or two pitchers short of a full, confidence-inducing bullpen. There are some guys they can (or have to) rely on, and others who simply can’t be counted on for meaningful innings. There are also several what-ifs at this point, which will need to be figured out before the playoffs start.

For the purposes of this look at the bullpen, I’m not considering guys who have virtually no chance at making the playoff roster. With all due respect to Cy Sneed, Cionel Perez, Bryan Abreu and Forrest Whitley, it’s just not happening this year.

There are guys who are locks to make the roster, while there are others who may end up on the roster but will only throw meaningless innings. There are also some who have work to do, either in their on-field performance or for health reasons, to join the playoff bullpen.

CLEVELAND, OH – OCTOBER 08: Will Harris #36 of the Houston Astros pitches in the ninth inning against the Cleveland Indians during Game Three of the American League Division Series at Progressive Field on October 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

Who They Have to Rely On

Closer Roberto Osuna isn’t going anywhere despite his struggles. In the second half of the season, he’s pitched to a 4.95 ERA, which is not ideal for a guy who’s supposed to slam the door. Still, the Astros have stuck by him and essentially have no choice but to continue to do so in October, regardless of the results.

The veteran Will Harris has been the team’s best reliever this season, pitching to a 1.62 ERA in 62 appearances. A.J. Hinch will deploy him in key situations in October rather than assigning him to pitch a particular inning. When the team is in a jam, Harris is who they’ll go to, and there’s no one better.

Somewhat quietly, Joe Smith has been outstanding since coming off the injured list. He’s pitched to a 1.33 ERA and 1.033 WHIP in 23 appearances this season. He’ll serve as a great weapon against important right-handed hitters throughout October.

Hector Rondon has been solid this season aside from an abysmal July (9.35 ERA), and he rebounded from that to post a 2.19 mark in August. He’ll be one of the guys forming the bridge to Osuna when the Astros have a lead.

HOUSTON, TEXAS – AUGUST 03: Joe Biagini #29 of the Houston Astros pitches in the eighth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Minute Maid Park on August 03, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /

Who They Can’t Rely On

Joe Biagini may not even make the playoff roster after his recent meltdown in which he allowed six runs without recording an out on Tuesday. He now has a 7.90 ERA with the Astros since the trade deadline deal with Toronto.

Chris Devenski is simply not the pitcher he used to be. He has a 6.20 ERA in the season’s second half, including a putrid 9.00 ERA in August. Whether he makes the playoff roster will depend on how he does down the stretch, but even then, he would only be used in mop-up roles.

The same can be said for Josh James, who’s given up five runs in four innings this month after spending all of August on the IL. He could end up on the playoff roster simply due to his electric stuff, but his lack of control will keep him out of the most meaningful situations.

While he was a great weapon in 2018, it’s possible Collin McHugh has thrown his last pitch as an Astro. The impending free agent has been on the IL since Aug. 31 with elbow discomfort and hasn’t resumed throwing as of Tuesday. Even if he is able to return in time for October, his 4.70 season ERA means he might not make the playoff roster anyway.

ANAHEIM, CA – JULY 17: Robinson Chirinos #28 of the Houston Astros gives a pat on the chest to Ryan Pressly #55 after the final out against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on July 17, 2019 in Anaheim, California. Astros won 11-2. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) /

The Jury’s Still Out

So much relies on the health and effectiveness of Ryan Pressly. He’s nearing a return from knee surgery, and if he’s the Pressly we saw in the season’s first half, the bullpen should be fine. But there’s no guarantee of that, so the Astros will have to wait and see how he looks upon his return.

The same applies to Peacock, who’s been dealing with a shoulder issue since late June. In a best case scenario, Miley reverts to his old self and a healthy Peacock and Pressly join the bullpen. The team’s pitching staff would be stellar if that were to happen, but again, there are no guarantees.

All of a sudden, the idea of Jose Urquidy being on the playoff roster isn’t so far-fetched. The right-hander just struck out 10 batters in five innings of one-hit, one-run ball on Wednesday. It’s possible he’d be needed as a starter if Miley can’t rebound and Peacock isn’t ready, but he could also be deployed as a strike-throwing, multi-inning bullpen weapon too. How he looks the rest of the season will be key.

Next. Correa on pace for rehab assignment Friday. dark

Framber Valdez isn’t likely to be a popular choice among fans, but considering he’s the only left-hander on this list, it’s worth examining. He seems to have exhausted his opportunities as a starter, but he did pitch well out of the bullpen earlier this season. If the Astros use him in that role down the stretch as a sort of audition, it’s possible he could turn out to be useful.

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