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Astros: Postseason format could make things difficult

ByAndrew Gleinser|
OAKLAND, CA - AUGUST 9: Manager Dusty Baker Jr. #12 of the Houston Astros stands on the field prior to the game against the Oakland Athletics at RingCentral Coliseum on August 9, 2020 in Oakland, California. The Athletics defeated the Astros 7-2. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/Oakland Athletics/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - AUGUST 9: Manager Dusty Baker Jr. #12 of the Houston Astros stands on the field prior to the game against the Oakland Athletics at RingCentral Coliseum on August 9, 2020 in Oakland, California. The Athletics defeated the Astros 7-2. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/Oakland Athletics/Getty Images)
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LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 13: Zack Greinke #21 of the Houston Astros pitches against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first inning at Dodger Stadium on September 13, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 13: Zack Greinke #21 of the Houston Astros pitches against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first inning at Dodger Stadium on September 13, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)

How This Affects the Astros

Two words: pitching depth. That has been an issue for the Astros all season, and it’s really going to be tested if they get to the playoffs. It won’t matter so much in the Wild Card round since it’s only a best-of-three, so they’ll only need three starting pitchers at most. But let’s assume Houston wins its Wild Card matchup and moves on to the Division Series.

That would mean the Astros will need a full five-man rotation if the series is to go all five games, unless they plan on using their Game One starter on short rest in Game Five. Given the way pitching injuries have piled up across the league this season, teams may be more reluctant to do that than they otherwise would. Thankfully the league is keeping the rosters at 28.

On top of that, teams can’t ride their best relievers in most games like they can when there are off days. The Astros will need a full bullpen and a full rotation, and that will be even more true if they make the ALCS, which will be seven games in seven days.

During their playoff run in 2017, the Astros got a total of 68.1 percent of their innings from only four pitchers — Justin Verlander, Dallas Keuchel, Charlie Morton and Lance McCullers. The 2019 Nationals got 58.6 percent of their playoff innings from the trio of Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg and Patrick Corbin. Teams won’t be able to do that this year, and they can’t hide shaky bullpens like the last three champions have done.

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