These 3 Astros pitchers should not be on the team (and here's who should replace them)

The Houston Astros are in an absolute dogfight for the AL West. After being swepy by the Tampa Bay Rays this weekend, Houston holds a tenuous 1 game lead over the Texas Rangers with 12 games remaining.

This is the time of year where performance matters most. Roster spots need to be earned, as every spot could be a critical player in a give moment in the fight for a postseason spot and ultimately, in the postseason. Houston's pitching staff has been suspect all season. Continuing to allow underperforming players to be on the roster should be an untenable situation.

Here are the 3 arms who should be off the roster, and a suggestion on who could replace them on the roster.

3 Astros pitchers who should be replaced (and how Houston can do it)

Off: Tatsuya Imai. Replaced by Roddery Munoz.

Imai hasn't just been banished to the bullpen, he's simply been banished. He has made just 5 appearances since July 27. He couldn't even get in a game the Astros were down 11-0 in at one point Sunday against the Rays. It is clear Houston wants no part of him. Imai, for his part, seems to want to part of the Astros (or maybe MLB). Houston has essentially been operating a man down in the pen for nearly seven weeks. This is an untenable situation, and cannot continue.

Roddery Munoz was a Rule 5 pick of the Astros this offseason. It was notable because the Astros don't make many Rule 5 picks. Munoz struggled at the start of the season, and was DFA April 6. Since then, he has pitched well for Triple-A Sugar Land in a strong hitter's league. In 51 appearances for the Space Cowboys, Munoz is 4-5 with 12 saves in 14 opportunities. He has posted a solid 3.00 ERA and has 73K in just 51 innings, with only 19 walks. He has earned a second chance, and shown that he has gotten his control issues settled over the long haul.

Off: Bryan King. Replaced by Kai-Wei Teng.

What has happened to Bryan King? Since July 10, the wheels have completely come off. King had established himself as a leverage reliever for the Astros over the past 2.5 seasons, and was in the midst of his best season ever. Then July 10 happened. Since then, King has been a disaster, allowing 24 runs (22 ER) over his last 16.2 IP, having been demoted twice in that span. Astros manager Joe Espada chose not to use him in the blowout loss to the Rays Sunday. There was hope he could find his form again, but he has become a total liability.

Meanwhile, Kai-Wei Teng may have gotten himself right at Triple-A recently, with a pair of scoreless innings in relief against the playoff-bound Oklahoma City Comets (Dodgers AAA). For a low leverage arm who can potentially go multiple innings, it's worth taking another flyer on Teng, who pitched well before arm fatigue and injury got to him this season.

Off: Ronel Blanco. Replaced by Alex Santos.

Blanco has been a tragedy unfolding before our eyes this season. Returning from Tommy John surgery this season, his velocity is down and his command is off. In 36 innings with Houston, he has a 7.11 ERA. In Sunday's game, he allowed 5 ER in 4.1 IP. He allowed 2 HR, and got only 4 swings and misses in 62 pitches. Sadly, that has been the norm for him at the MLB level this season. With his velo down, the Astros should be shutting him down and ensuring he doesn't develop a new injury rather than pushing him when he clearly isn't right.

Santos is fresh off being named Astros MiLB Pitcher of the Month for August. Once a highly regarded prospect (He was a 2nd Rd Comp pick in 2020, received for Gerrit Cole's signing with the Yankees), his career has been stunted by injuries and struggles. He moved to the bullpen this year and has thrived. After going 4-2, 3 Saves with a 3.38 ERA for Double-A Corpus Christi (82K in 53.1IP) he was promoted to Triple-A Sugar Land and has dominated. He has allowed 1 ER in 10 innings for the Space Cowboys and struck out 16. He has only allowed 2 hits. Working in lower level sitautions, Santos could have a lot of success with the way he misses bats.

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