3 Takeaways from the Houston Astros’ ALDS Game 2 victory

Astros ALDS Game 2 takeaway 2 –Bryan Abreu and Rafael Montero pitched again rather than a rested Ryne Stanek

Dusty Baker has overall made the right moves in the postseason over the past two years with the Houston Astros.

But yesterday was a truly puzzling move leaving the reliever with the lowest ERA not just on this team, but any team in Astros history in the bullpen despite the fact that he didn’t pitch in game one.

The more hitters see the same pitchers the more familiar they get with them and while Bryan Abreu did a fine job in relief, Rafael Montero had some hard hit balls that happened to find gloves (more on that in a moment.)

Giving Montero one out in the seventh to finish off the inning makes sense but to then have him get three more outs when a fresh Ryne Stanek is sitting in the bullpen is confusing to say the least.

While the Astros won the game it was hardly without its fair share of scares with Montero on the mound. The final out of the seventh inning was a hard shot off the bat of Eugenio Suarez which held up just long enough for Alvarez to get to and in the eighth inning Jarred Kelenic narrowly missed a home run to right field.

Montero had also thrown 21 pitches going into his at-bat with Cal Raleigh so to not have Stanek even warming up in case things got out of control as they almost did a couple of times just doesn’t add up.

Baker after the game said Ryne Stanek was available too so there’s no illness or injury holding him back.

Suffice to say it worked out for the Astros today but not without their fair share of luck. Which brings us to the final takeaway.