AJ Blubaugh represents clear Astros solution to untimely bullpen injury

Sometimes opportunity comes at unexpected times and in unexpected ways. Opportunity has presented itself for AJ Blubaugh.

Steven Okert's injury is a tough one for the Houston Astros to deal with, as he has been an integral part of the success of the bullpen all season. Okert's ability to strand runners when coming into messy situations has made him manager Joe Espada's most trusted "stopper" - the pitcher he goes to when he needs the door slammed on a rally.

Okert has stranded 26 of the 36 runners he has inherited this season, translating to an excellent 72.2% strand rate.

The Astros don't have much in the way of options to replace Okert's role in the pen, and the best option appears to be AJ Blubaugh.

Blubaugh has had some ups and downs in his first full season in the majors, but it's been far more up than down. Recently, he's only allowed 2 ER over his last 15 appearances, stretching back to July 31. Blubaugh leads the majors in innings out of the bullpen, so many of those outings are multiple innings.

Over those 15 appearances, he has thrown 20.2 IP, allowed only 15 hits, 3 walks, and struck out 20. He's lowered his ERA from 3.74 to 3.07 in that time as well.

Blubaugh is the hardest thrower in the pen as well, regularly at 96 and hitting 98 MPH. He has incredible stuff, as most recently noted by Thomas Nestico of TJStats

Blubaugh is averaging whiff rates of 23.8% on his four-seam fastball, 32.9% on his sweeper, 34.2% on his change, and 52% on his cutter. Opponents are batting .200 vs his four-seam, .212 vs his sweeper, .234 vs. hi change, and .250 vs. his cutter.

Most recently, Blubaugh pitched to an 0.56 ERA in August. he allowed only 1 ER in 16 innings (11 appearances) in August, surrendering only 10 hits and 2 walks with 16 strikeouts.

Recently, manager Joe Espada said of Blubaugh, “We’re looking for guys who can pitch some leverage innings, and he showed he can do that.”

In a similar vein to Okert, Blubaugh has stranded 21 of 26 inherited runners, a terrific 81% strand rate, although they have not always come in the same high leverage situations that Okert has regularly been put in.

This is now Blubaugh's opportunity to step up into a greater role while Okert is sidelines. For a team with division title and postseason aspirations, it is also a great time for Blubaugh to show his potential playoff mettle and give Espada another pen arm he can truly trust in a big spot with Josh Hader, Bryan Abreu and Okert.

A strong perfomance from Blubaugh down the stretch and in the postseason couldhave the Astros needing to make a decision of making him a starter again and putting him in the rotation, or making him the new primary setup man to Hader with Abreu a pending free agent and likely to get a big contract on the open market.

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