AJ Blubaugh failed his first tests after Joe Espada gave him larger Astros task

It's been a very tough week for Houston Astros reliever AJ Blubaugh.

Overall Blubaugh has had a solid first full season in the majors. His ability to go multiple innings in relief has saved the Astros pen (and their position in games) many times this season. In fact, Blubaugh not only leads the majors in innings out of the pen this year, but he also leads the majors in relief outings recording more than three outs, and relief outings of at least two innings.

Following an outing on September 3 against the White Sox, his tenth consecutive scoreless outing, manager Joe Espada praised Blubaugh saying, "the moments are not getting too big for him anymore" and referencing his ability to keep his composure, get out of jams and land big strikeouts.

Things haven't gone quite so well for Blubaugh in his three appearances since, and two of them have resulted in Astros losses.

In those three outings, Blubaugh has been charged with a blown save after giving up a game-tying homer in the 8th against the Diamondbacks, didn't make it through an inning after giving up a run to the Phillies, and surrendered a grand slam to Kyle Schwarber that broke the game open for the Phillies a day later in another loss. In those three outings, Blubaugh's ERA has risen from 3.02 to 3.34.

Now 3.34 is still a highly respectable number, but its the sudden immediacy of these struggles that is the concerning bit. Blubaugh had not allowed runs in back-to-back outings since July 6 and 11, and he had not allowed runs in three straight outings all season. That he has now allowed runs in three straight outings immediately after being publicly praised by his manager for being ready for higher leverage does make you wonder if he is, in fact, ready for higher leverage.

Blubaugh was the obvious candidate to replace Steven Okert as the Astros seventh-inning setup man and stopper, roles Okert has been very successful with this season, while Okert is on the 15-day IL with a right hamstring strain. Blubaugh had the best numbers of the remaining relievers, and has a fastball that can hit 99 MPH. Blubaugh's velocity in the Astros pen is unmatched.

However, this past week has seemingly gotten to him, and he has struggled. Those struggled have played major parts in two Astros losses. While I still think that Blubaugh can and will get the ship righted, he doesn't have a lot of time to waste. The Astros pen right now sure seems like Hader, Abreu, and time to pray because there is no telling what will happen next.

Okert's loss is a big one. Houston needs Blubaugh to get right and fill the gap. They really don't have any other options.

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