The Launch Angle

I think the Astros really miss Steven Okert.

You can’t really assess the Astros’ bullpen without addressing the elephant in the room: the real lack of depth in the bullpen at this moment. Tatsuya Imai continues to occupy a roster spot despite being essentially relegated to mop-up duty. For a team already stretched thin for pitching depth in both the rotation and bullpen, carrying a pitcher it doesn’t seemingly trust in meaningful situations is a damning indictment of how this roster has been constructed. While this factor is not the sole reason for Saturday’s loss, I feel it is important to make that note before moving forward. There is a trickle-down effect to this stuff.

Without Okert and Imai taking up a roster spot, Joe Espada frankly doesn’t have many options to choose from. Hayden Wesneski not escaping the sixth inning forced Bennett Sousa to make an early appearance. Entering the seventh inning of a 2-1 game presents a dilemma for Espada: which reliever does he choose?

Josh Hader and Bryan Abreu are reserved for the final two innings, with the order depending on the score and situation at hand. Under most circumstances, though, it is Abreu in the eighth and Hader in the ninth. Bryan King pitched in two of the past three days entering Saturday, plus, more importantly, he has reverse splits for his career. The Braves’ switch-hitting Ozzie Albies led off the seventh, followed by lefty Mike Yastrzemski, before righty Austin Riley came to the plate. So, in other words, King wasn’t going to open the inning. Miguel Ullola was probably available, but the team’s faith in him likely isn’t much. The same thought applies to Logan VanWey. Ronel Blanco and Imai aren’t going to appear in a 2-1 game in the seventh inning with postseason hopes still on the line. The only answer, even if he is looking increasingly gassed, was AJ Blubaugh.

Needless to say, it didn’t end well for Blubaugh for the second night in a row, who loaded the bases with one out. In this situation, Espada technically had two choices in Hader and Abreu. Let’s keep it realistic, though, as Hader wasn’t coming into the game in that spot. It was Abreu or bust. And, unfortunately for the Astros, it was a bust with Ronald Acuña Jr.’s grand slam to turn a 2-1 lead into a 5-2 deficit.

That was the dagger in this game and, depending on how the rest of the games play out, this season for Houston.

The lineup also had their issues. Other than Isaac Paredes driving in two and a third run, which was driven in by Yainer Diaz, the lineup was held in check. It was a positive to see ten hits, but this group walked once compared to seven strikeouts. Another generally disappointing performance from the home lineup.

And, just like that, the Astros are below .500 once again with a 77-78 record with only seven games to play. They are also guaranteed to have a losing record at Daikin Park, with this loss moving them to 39-41 on the year. The Rangers won on Saturday, which moves them one game ahead of Houston in the standings. So, for now at least, there is another team atop the AL West.

Feature photo from Astros on X