Why frustrations about Houston Astros bullpen should include some critical perspective, context
REAL TALK
23 September 2024
Will Houston's bullpen live up to expectations? Composite Getty Image.
After a dreadful start to the season, here the Astros are once again, looking to clinch the AL West and head back to the postseason.
Astros GM Dana Brown stood by this team when things were at their bleakest, adamantly saying this team was too talented to be “sellers” at the trade deadline.
The club is on an impressive run, and you don't have to look any further than the 2023 World Series champion Texas Rangers to remind yourself that sustaining success like the Astros is very difficult to do.
The Rangers have already been eliminated from playoff contention, silencing the assertions that the torch had been passed from the Astros to the Rangers. Not so fast, Ranger fan.
Bullpen concerns
If the Astros are going to put together another deep playoff run, they're going to need the bullpen to pitch better. Josh Hader coughed up the lead on Sunday, allowing four runs and only recording one out. Which led to the Angels avoiding the four-game sweep.
It hasn't been all bad with Hader this year, but his ERA has jumped from 1.28 in 2023 to 3.67 in 2024. It's interesting that the Astros felt like they needed a more dominant closer after Ryan Pressly finished with a 3.58 ERA in 2023. Only to have Hader post a higher ERA than Pressly did last year and this year.
A matter of perspective
It's not like the Astros are below average in the pen, they're just not elite like they were in 2022. And who knows, Hader could bounce back with a spectacular season in 2025. He's just not living up to the highest salary in MLB for a closer.
It's important to keep in mind, several of the teams the Astros could face in the postseason won't have a bullpen as strong as Houston's. So as bad as it seems after Hader's poor performance on Sunday, the 'Stros bullpen is better than most.
Don't miss the video above as we discuss how prospective plays a big role in fairly assessing Houston's bullpen, and much more!
*Catch our weekly Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast. Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo discuss varied Astros topics. The first post for the week generally goes up Monday afternoon (second part released Tuesday) via The SportsMap HOU YouTube channel or listen to episodes in their entirety at Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
Wyatt Langford homered with a career-high tying four hits and Adolis García added a solo shot to lead the Texas Rangers to a 7-3 win over the Houston Astros on Friday night.
The Rangers jumped on Lance McCullers Jr. (2-4) early. There were two outs with the bases loaded in the first when Evan Carter’s single to right field knocked in a pair to put the Rangers up 2-0.
The AL West-leading Astros cut the deficit to 2-1 when Cam Smith scored on a groundout in the bottom of the inning.
García homered for a second straight game with one out in the third that made it 3-1. Carter walked with two outs before a single from Jake Burger. Jonah Heim’s double to right field scored them both to extend the lead to 5-1.
McCullers allowed six hits and five runs in three innings as Houston’s losing streak reached a season-high four games.
Langford’s blast came with two outs in the seventh to push the lead to 7-3.
Jack Leiter (5-6) yielded five hits and three runs while striking out six in 5 1/3 innings.
Christian Walker singled to open Houston’s fourth before Victor Caratini’s home run to right field got the Astros within 5-3.Burger was replaced in the middle of the sixth inning with discomfort in his left quad.
Houston’s top prospect, second baseman Brice Matthews, went 0 for 4 with with three strikeouts in his major league debut.
Key moment
Heim’s two RBI double in the third that pushed the lead to four.
Key stat
The Rangers forced McCullers to throw 36 pitches in the first inning.
Up next
Houston LHP Framber Valdez (10-4, 2.90 ERA) opposes RHP Jacob deGrom (9-2, 2.29) when the series continues Saturday.
