Astros: Top 5 closer candidates to take over for Roberto Osuna

The Houston Astros desperately need a new closer with Roberto Osuna likely out for the year. Here are five candidates to take the job.

The Houston Astros bullpen is festering into the weakest point on the team. The lineup is gradually coming around and the starting rotation is looking deceptively good. But the bullpen, as accentuated by the loss in the second game to the Giants, really needs to find its footing.

This isn’t helped on by the injury to closer Roberto Osuna, who could now be gone for the rest of the year. Optimistically, he could return, but until then, Dusty Baker has to find a guy who can shut the door on late rallies, because as of yet, no one has been able to do it.

What will likely happen is this will become a closer by committee situation, where no single pitcher is given the job, but in the event that Baker does seek the traditional way of having “that guy” who you can count on to turn the lights out, the Astros aren’t exactly starved for options… but they’re pretty close.

The Astros need a closer, so here are five candidates for the job

Still, let’s consider five options. I’m not saying these are five good options, but they are the five best we have, conveniently ranked.

We start with No. 5.

5. Enoli Paredes

Maybe this is just because I really like Enoli Paredes, maybe it’s because I really like cannoli’s, and Enoli’s Cannoli’s is by far my favorite advertisement ever. But Paredes, while still young and unproven, has some electric stuff and if he can learn to harness it, he could find himself as closer material.

As most of this year has been for the bullpen, a lot of it is testing the waters. Seeing what guys fit where. Paredes has faced 40 batters thus far into the year, given up just three runs, secured two holds, and struck out more than he’s walked. It’s not a perfect fit, I’ll admit that, but it might become that.

Paredes never really defined his role in the minors, as he was used as a starter and a late inning guy, but never a closer. Maybe it’s time to see if it sticks.

On to No. 4.

3. Chris Devenski

Yes, I’m aware that Devo is hurt as well, but he’s expected to be back before Roberto Osuna, so maybe he can find himself walking back into the closer role.

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The hard thing about Chris Devenski is he’s kind of a crapshoot. You just never know what he’s going to do. When he’s on, he’s unhittable. But when he struggles, you’d have more luck getting a horse to throw a strike.

Devo has the mentality to be a closer. He’s an intense dude and he flings fire. He strikes out far more than he walks (usually). But these past few years we’ve seen that opposing average creep up from .233 to .250 to the .400 it was at this year before he went down with an injury.

Still, it’s not all that long ago that he was keeping hitters under the Mendoza line, when his WHIP was consistently below 1.00.

Devenski can be a closer. It’s just a matter of keeping him in the right headspace to make that a consistent thing and not a roll of the dice.

Next up, No. 2.

2. Andre Scrubb

Okay, stay with me here. Andre Scrubb, aside from having a good name for a closer, may not be the “closer material” we’d want to see, but all we can do is look at what he’s done so far and judge from there. It may be a small sample size, but it wouldn’t be the first time Brent Strom has worked magic on a seemingly underwhelming pitcher acquisition.

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Thus far into the season, Scrubb has not allowed a run in 8.2 innings. He’s faced 37 batters and given up just five hits. He’s already got a save and a hold and he induces majority ground balls. These are all ideal traits for a closer.

So let’s talk about what isn’t ideal.

He’s walked as many batters as he strikes out and I’m sure I’m not alone in stating that I hate walks.

Also, Scrubb’s numbers this year are some of the best he’s ever put up… and that’s compared to all his seasons in the minors. It’s not ridiculous to think that he’s overperforming right now, and that is definitely a concern, but I’m not going to deny the guy credit for what may happen in the future. That’s not fair.

It’s not an exciting choice, but it has the potential to be effective.

Moving on to No. 1.

1. Fernando Rodney

Look, I’m not all that enthused by the addition of Fernando Rodney. He’s a journeyman who, on occasion, will stumble on a conclusive season where he’s an effective closer. He’s been bounced around so much in recent years I can’t even remember the last time he had a dominant season, but I do recall his time in Tampa. He was good.

Fernando Rodney has 327 career saves. Here’s a guy who knows how to get the job done. Honestly, whatever numbers exist outside of that total pale in comparison. We need experience in this pool of youth and if Rodney can tide us over for a shortened year until we can address the bigger issue, then let’s get to it.

Honestly, it’s not like we can do much worse. We’ve tried.

Also, we signed him for a reason, right? Give him a shot. Between his experience and Strom’s expertise, there has to be the slightest possibility of finding a version Rodney that can replicate what he did with the Rays.

And hopefully not what he did for the Angels.