Astros: Peter Solomon is making case for 2022 big-league roster

Rosters expanding to 28 granted more major-league appearances for right-hander Peter Solomon. The Houston Astros‘ hurler bounced back from Tommy John surgery this season with a sufficient Triple-A season, while he has also been lights out in September with the Astros.

Solomon has three relief appearances this month, totaling 11 innings on 170 pitches thrown. The right-hander has struggled with walks (six), as he has punched out eight in the process. Yet, we have likely seen Solomon for the last time this season after his Wednesday outing.

Peter Solomon has made a case for the Astros’ 2022 roster with his late-season success, but have we seen the last of him in 2021?

Solomon has been a starter in Triple-A this season, while his ’21 call-ups haven’t led to major-league starts. The right-hander reached a career high pitch count with 64 thrown on Wednesday, and while averaging four days rest between outings, the right-hander is probably done for the regular season.

The Astros will have to start putting together a 26-man roster for the postseason nearing, and although Solomon has posted a 1.64 ERA since his call-up, it would make the most sense to leave him off the postseason roster.

Even though he is currently a hot hand, Solomon doesn’t have the experience that other Astros’ hurlers have, while the ball club already has three long-relief arms. The 25-year-old has made a case to be rotational depth for the 2022 season, alongside Forrest Whitley and Tyler Ivey.

With the Astros’ magic number remaining at one, it would have benefitted the organization to grant spot starts to starters like Solomon or even Brandon Bielak to close out the season. While not only providing pitching evaluations, spot starts would rests regular starters before heading into the postseason.

Update: Peter Solomon was optioned for Kendall Graveman, who was reinstated from the Paternity List prior to Thursday’s contest.